Patent · US Expired

Method of forming trench for semiconductor device isolation

US6255176A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
3References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 2, 2000
Grant dateJul 3, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 2, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76232
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of forming a trench for semiconductor device isolation includes the steps of making a trench at a device isolation area of a silicon wafer overlaid with a pad oxide and a nitride through photolithography and etching, forming a liner oxide at an inner wall of the trench, filling the trench through depositing an insulating layer onto the entire surface of the silicon wafer, densifying the insulating layer, and planarizing the densified insulating layer such that the insulating layer is left only at the inside of the trench. The step of forming the liner oxide includes the sub-steps of forming a first liner oxide through performing rapid thermal processing with respect to the silicon wafer with the trench, forming a second liner nitride on the first liner oxide through performing the rapid thermal processing with respect to the silicon wafer with the first liner oxide, and forming a third liner wet oxide on the second liner nitride through performing the rapid thermal processing with respect to the second liner nitride. The trench so formed has removed corners. The three rapid thermal processing may be performed in situ in a single rapid thermal processing machine without exp…

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