Patent · US Expired

Bi-layer trim etch process to form integrated circuit gate structures

US6541360B1 · kind B1 · utility

55Cited by
11References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 2001
Grant dateApr 1, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/952
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A bi-layer trim etch process to form integrated circuit gate structures can include depositing an organic underlayer over a layer of polysilicon, depositing an imaging layer over the organic underlayer, patterning the imaging layer, selectively trim etching the organic underlayer to form a pattern, and removing portions of the polysilicon layer using the pattern formed from the removed portions of organic underlayer. Thus, the use of thin imaging layer, that has high etch selectivity to the organic underlayer, allows the use of trim etch techniques without a risk of resist erosion or the aspect ratio pattern collapse. That, in turn, allows for the formation of the gate pattern with widths less than the widths of the pattern of the imaging layer.

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