Patent · US Expired

Method to eliminate top metal corner shaping during bottom metal patterning for MIM capacitors

US6284590A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
8References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 30, 2000
Grant dateSep 4, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 30, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/957
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for fabricating a metal-insulator-metal capacitor wherein top metal corner shaping during patterning is eliminated is described. An insulating layer is provided overlying a semiconductor substrate. A first metal layer is deposited over the insulating layer. A capacitor dielectric layer is deposited overlying the first metal layer. A second metal layer is deposited overlying the capacitor dielectric layer and patterned to form a top metal electrode. A flowable material layer is deposited overlying the capacitor dielectric and the top metal electrode and anisotropically etched away to leave spacers on sidewalls of the top metal electrode. A photoresist mask is formed overlying the capacitor dielectric and the top metal electrode wherein the spacers provide extra photoresist thickness at the sidewalls of the top metal layer. The capacitor dielectric layer and the first metal layer are patterned wherein the patterned first metal layer forms a bottom metal electrode and wherein the spacers protect the top metal layer from etching during the patterning. The photoresist mask is removed, completing fabrication of a metal-insulator-metal capacitor.

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