Patent · US Active

Method of controlling trench microloading using plasma pulsing

US8658541B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
1References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2010
Grant dateFeb 25, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 5, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/308
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling microloading, such as within cell microloading between adjacent cells or isolated/dense microloading between areas of isolated or dense features during shallow trench isolation (STI) fabrication processes, or other trench fabrication processes, are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for fabricating STI structures may include providing a substrate having a patterned mask layer formed thereon corresponding to one or more STI structures to be etched; etching the substrate through the patterned mask layer using a plasma formed from a process gas to form one or more STI structure recesses on the substrate; and pulsing the plasma for at least a portion of etching the substrate to control at least one of a depth or width of the one or more STI structure recesses.

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