Patent · US Expired

Method of forming a floating metal structure in an integrated circuit

US7227212B1 · kind B1 · utility

1Cited by
38References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 23, 2004
Grant dateJun 5, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S257/924
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In one embodiment, a sacrificial layer is deposited over a base layer. The sacrificial layer is used to define a subsequently formed floating metal structure. The floating metal structure may be anchored into the base layer. Once the floating metal structure is formed, the sacrificial layer surrounding the floating metal structure is etched to create a unity-k dielectric region separating the floating metal structure from the base layer. The unity-k dielectric region also separates the floating metal structure from another floating metal structure. In one embodiment, a noble gas fluoride such as xenon difluoride is used to etch a sacrificial layer of polycrystalline silicon.

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