Patent · US Expired

Process for producing metal interconnections and product produced thereby

US6417572B1 · kind B1 · utility

53Cited by
22References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 16, 1999
Grant dateJul 9, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 16, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A process for producing a multi-level semiconductor device having metal interconnections with insulating passivation layers and the product produced thereby. The product and process improve the resistance of the metallization interconnections to extrusion-short electromigration failures by preventing the insulating passivation layers from cracking. The product and process also reduce the level of resistance saturation or the maximum resistance shift caused by electromigration. By replacing wide-line metallization interconnection conducting lines surrounded by insulating passivation layers with two or more narrow, parallel conducting lines having aspect ratios less than or equal to unity with passivation layers located in between, the incidence of passivation cracking and extrusion-short failures is reduced. The process is especially suited for use in multi-level wiring structures in which the wiring levels have diffusion barriers between the wiring levels caused by redundant metallization layers, interlevel connections, or both.

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