Patent · US Expired

Method for forming stepped contact hole for semiconductor devices

US6444574B1 · kind B1 · utility

54Cited by
10References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 6, 2001
Grant dateSep 3, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 6, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76829
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming a contact hole having a stepped sidewall is disclosed. First, a capping layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and then, a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer having different etch rates are formed on the capping layer. A preliminary contact hole is anisotropically etched through the layers, and part of the way through the substrate. After this, the sidewalls of the preliminary contact hole are isotropically etched with an etching agent having a higher etch rate for the second dielectric layer than for the first dielectric layer, thereby forming a step sidewall. Finally, the exposed portions of the capping layer are removed to complete the contact hole fabrication.

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