Patent · US Expired

Self-aligned, low contact resistance, via fabrication process

US6245657A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
4References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 3, 2000
Grant dateJun 12, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76885
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A process for fabricating an upper level, metal interconnect structure, self-aligned to an underlying metal plug structure, which in turn overlays, and contacts a lower level, metal interconnect structure, has been developed. The process features the formation of a recessed metal plug structure, in a via hole, overlying and contacting a portion of the top surface of the lower level, metal interconnect structure. Deposition of a metal layer is followed by a patterning procedure which results in the formation of a metal structure component, located on the surface of an insulator layer, defined by an overlying photoresist shape, with the metal structure component attached to a metal ring component, which is located in a top portion of a via hole, overlying and contacting, portions of the top surface of the recessed metal plug structure, with the metal ring component formed during the same patterning procedure, however unprotected by the photoresist shape. The metal ring structure is comprised of metal spacers, located on the sides of the top portion of the via hole.

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