Patent · US Expired

Aluminum spiking inspection method

US6107201A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
7References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 1995
Grant dateAug 22, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/28512
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for inspection which involves the complete and sequential removal of an aluminum containing metallization layer, and other metal and insulator layers, from the surface of a silicon substrate. The layers are removed through sequential chemical etch processes tailored specifically to the composition of the individual layers. Upon removal of all layers, the surface of the silicon substrate is etched in a buffered aqueous etchant solution. The surface of the silicon substrate may then be inspected with the aid of an optical microscope to determine level to which the aluminum containing metallization layer has spiked into the silicon substrate.

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