Patent · US Expired

Interconnect passivation and metallization process optimized to maximize reflectance

US6190936A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
30References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 18, 1999
Grant dateFeb 20, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 18, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F2201/123
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A metal surface having optimized reflectance is created utilizing the following process steps alone or in combination: 1) performing alloy/sintering of the metal-silicon interface prior to a chemical mechanical polish of the intermetal dielectric before the reflective metal electrode is formed; 2) chemical-mechanical polishing the intermetal dielectric layer again after vias are formed; 3) forming a metal adhesion layer composed of collimated titanium over the underlying dielectric; 4) depositing metal upon the adhesion layer at as low a temperature as feasible to maintain small grain size; 5) depositing at least the first layer of the reflectance enhancing coating on top of the freshly deposited metal prior to etching the metal; and 6) depositing the initial layer of the reflective enhancing coating at a temperature as close as possible to the temperature of formation of the metal electrode layer in order to suppress hillock formation in the metal. Deposition of the REC serves two distinct purposes. First, the REC coats the freshly deposited metal layer immediately following deposition, preserving the metal in its highly reflective state. Second, the REC generates constructive int…

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