Patent · US Expired

Forming of close thin trenches

US6972240B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
5References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 19, 2003
Grant dateDec 6, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 21, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76229
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for forming narrow trenches in a silicon substrate, comprising the steps of: etching the substrate to form first trenches separated by first silicon ribs; performing a thermal oxidation of the substrate to form a silicon oxide layer around the substrate, to obtain second trenches and second silicon ribs; filling the second trenches with fingers of an etchable material; etching the oxide down to the upper surface of the second ribs while keeping oxide portions between said material fingers and the second ribs; etching away the second silicon ribs and said material fingers; etching the oxide to expose the substrate at the bottom of the oxide portions, while keeping oxide fingers; and etching the substrate between the oxide fingers to form narrow trenches in the substrate.

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