Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for low-temperature annealing of metallization microstructures in the production of a microelectronic device

US6508920B1 · kind B1 · utility

41Cited by
102References
53Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 31, 1999
Grant dateJan 21, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 31, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76883
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for filling recessed microstructures at a surface of a microelectronic workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer, with metallization is set forth. In accordance with the method, a metal layer is deposited into the microstructures with a process, such as an electroplating process, that generates metal grains that are sufficiently small so as to substantially fill the recessed microstructures. The deposited metal is subsequently subjected to an annealing process at a temperature below about 100 degrees Celsius, and may even take place at ambient room temperature to allow grain growth which provides optimal electrical properties. Various novel apparatus for executing unique annealing processes are also set forth.

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