Critical dimension control for integrated circuits
US7563723B2 · kind B2 · utility
7Cited by
6References
18Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 3, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jul 21, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 3, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/0338
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods of etching substrates with small critical dimensions and altering the critical dimensions are disclosed. In one embodiment, a sulfur oxide based plasma is used to etch an amorphous carbon hard mask layer. The features of a pattern can be shrunk using a plasma etch to reduce the resist elements on the surface of the masking structure. Features in the pattern can also be enlarged by depositing polymer on the resist elements or by sloping an underlying layer. In one preferred embodiment, features of the pattern are shrunk before being enlarged in order to reduce line edge roughness.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.