Patent · US Expired

Method for etching a quartz layer in a photoresistless semiconductor mask

US6969568B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 28, 2004
Grant dateNov 29, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 14, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/31116
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A chromeless phase lithography mask (30) that does not require photoresist to manufacture has a quartz substrate (32) is etched by using a plasma (38) containing one of a nitrogen augmented hydro-fluorocarbon oxygen mixture and a nitrogen augmented fluorocarbon oxygen mixture. Various hydro-fluorocarbons or fluorocarbons may be used. The nitrogen addition results in etched openings in the quartz substrate that have substantially vertical sidewalls in a uniform manner across the substrate. Surface roughness is minimized and edges of the openings are well-defined with minimal rounding. The etch rate is rendered controllable by reducing bias power without degrading a desired vertical sidewall profile.

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