Mandrel/trim alignment in SIT processing
US7381655B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 14, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jun 3, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 13, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10D30/024
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an imaging method for patterning component shapes (e.g., fins, gate electrodes, etc.) into a substrate. By conducting a trim step prior to performing either an additive or subtractive sidewall image transfer process, the method avoids the formation of a loop pattern in a hard mask and, thus, avoids a post-SIT process trim step requiring alignment of a trim mask to sub-lithographic features to form a hard mask pattern with the discrete segments. In one embodiment a hard mask is trimmed prior to conducting an additive SIT process so that a loop pattern is not formed. In another embodiment an oxide layer and memory layer that are used to form a mandrel are trimmed prior to the conducting a subtractive SIT process. A mask is then used to protect portions of the mandrel during etch back of the oxide layer so that a loop pattern is not formed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.