Patent · US Expired

Method for improving a stepper signal in a planarized surface over alignment topography

US6501188B1 · kind B1 · utility

4Cited by
18References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 3, 1997
Grant dateDec 31, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 3, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/975
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and resulting structure for reducing refraction and reflection occurring at the interface between adjacent layers of different materials in a semiconductor device, assembly or laminate during an alignment step in a semiconductor device fabrication process. The method comprises forming a planar-surfaced layer of material, having a first index of refraction, over a substrate of the semiconductor device, assembly or laminate. A corrective layer is formed over the planar-surfaced layer and a second layer, having a second index of refraction, is then formed over the corrective layer. The corrective layer is composed of a material having an intermediate index of refraction between the first index of refraction and the second index of refraction. The method can also be modified to include one or more layers of materials and/or intermediate refraction layers interposed between or above any of the aforementioned adjacent layers. The aforementioned method and resulting structures can be further modified by forming an additional layer of material, having the requisite intermediate index of refraction, over an uppermost layer to further reduce reflection occurring at the interface bet…

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