Patent · US Expired

Method for forming a horizontal surface spacer and devices formed thereby

US6100172A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
13References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 29, 1998
Grant dateAug 8, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 29, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10D84/038
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for forming self-aligned spacers on the horizontal surfaces while removing spacer material from the vertical surfaces. The preferred method uses a resist that can be made insoluble to developer by the use of an implant. By conformally depositing the resist over a substrate having both vertical and horizontal surfaces, implanting the resist, and developing the resist, the resist is removed from the vertical surfaces while remaining on the horizontal surfaces. Thus, a self-aligned spacer is formed on the horizontal surfaces while the spacer material is removed from the vertical surfaces. This horizontal-surface spacer can then be used in further fabrication. The preferred method can be used in many different processes where there is exists a need to differentially process the vertical and horizontal surfaces of a substrate.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.