IP Library Granted Patent US 7,172,914
Granted Patent B1
US 7,172,914 · App. 09/753,011 · Granted Feb 6, 2007

Method of making uniform oxide layer

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,172,914
App. No.
09/753,011
Granted
Feb 6, 2007
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming an isolation region in a semiconductor substrate. A first oxide layer is on the substrate, a first sacrificial layer is on the first oxide layer, and a first nitride layer is on the first sacrificial layer. The first oxide layer may be a screen oxide layer, and the method provides consistency in the thickness of the screen oxide layer.

Claims (82)

1. A method of forming a semiconductor structure, comprising:

providing a semiconductor substrate, wherein

a first oxide layer is on said substrate,

a first sacrificial layer is on said first oxide layer, wherein said first sacrificial layer comprises an oxide, and

a first nitride layer is on said first sacrificial layer; followed by

forming an isolation region in said substrate, wherein said forming an isolation region comprises:

etching a trench into said substrate; and

filing said trench with said oxide;

wherein a second sacrificial layer is between said first sacrificial layer and said first oxide layer,

wherein said first sacrificial layer comprises silicon oxide, said second sacrificial layer comprises silicon nitride, said isolation region comprises an oxide, and said substrate comprises silicon.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

removing said first nitride layer;

removing said first sacrificial layer; and

removing said second sacrificial layer.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising implanting ions in said substrate through said first oxide layer.

4. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a semiconductor structure by the method of claim 3 ; and

forming a semiconductor device from said semiconductor structure.

5. A method of forming an electronic device, comprising:

forming a semiconductor device by the method of claim 4 ; and

forming an electronic device, comprising said semiconductor device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second sacrificial layers each have a thickness less than the thickness of said first nitride layer.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein

said first sacrificial layer has a thickness of 10 to 250 Å; and

said second sacrificial layer has a thickness of 10 to 500 Å.

8. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a semiconductor structure by the method of claim 1 ; and

forming a semiconductor device from said semiconductor structure.

9. A method of forming an electronic device, comprising:

forming a semiconductor device by the method of claim 8 ; and

forming an electronic device, comprising said semiconductor device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said forming an isolation region comprises depositing an oxide onto said first nitride layer and into a trench adjacent to said first nitride layer, said first sacrificial layer, and said first oxide layer.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said forming said isolation region:

forming said first oxide layer on said substrate by thermal oxidation;

forming said second sacrificial layer on said first oxide layer by CVD;

forming said first sacrificial layer on said second sacrificial layer by CVD; and

forming said first nitride layer on said first sacrificial layer by CVD.

12. A method of forming a semiconductor structure, comprising:

providing a semiconductor substrate, wherein

a first oxide layer is supported by said substrate,

a first sacrificial layer is supported by said first oxide layer, wherein said first sacrificial layer comprises an oxide, and

a first nitride layer is supported by said first sacrificial layer; followed by

forming an isolation region in said substrate, wherein said forming an isolation region comprises:

etching a trench into said substrate; and

filing said trench with said oxide,

wherein a second sacrificial layer is between said first sacrificial layer and said first oxide layer.

13. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a semiconductor structure by the method of claim 12 ; and

forming a semiconductor device from said semiconductor structure.

14. A method of forming an electronic device, comprising:

forming a semiconductor device by the method of claim 12 ; and

forming an electronic device, comprising said semiconductor device.

15. A method of forming a semiconductor structure, comprising:

providing a semiconductor substrate, wherein

a first oxide layer is on said substrate,

a first sacrificial layer is on said first oxide layer, wherein said first sacrificial layer comprises an oxide, and

a first nitride layer is on said first sacrificial layer; followed by

forming an isolation region in said substrate, wherein said forming an isolation region comprises:

etching a trench into said substrate; and

filing said trench with said oxide;

wherein a second sacrificial layer is between said first sacrificial layer and said first oxide layer,

wherein said first sacrificial layer comprises silicon oxide, said second sacrificial layer comprises silicon nitride, said isolation region comprises an oxide, and said substrate comprises silicon, and

said first and second sacrificial layers each have a thickness less than the thickness of said first nitride layer.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to said forming said isolation region:

forming said first oxide layer on said substrate by thermal oxidation;

forming said second sacrificial layer on said first oxide layer by CVD;

forming said first sacrificial layer on said second sacrificial layer by CVD; and

forming said first nitride layer on said first sacrificial layer by CVD.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein

said first sacrificial layer has a thickness of 10 to 250 Å; and

said second sacrificial layer has a thickness of 10 to 500 Å.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein a second sacrificial layer is between said first sacrificial layer and said first oxide layer.

19. A method of forming a semiconductor structure, comprising:

providing a semiconductor substrate, wherein

a first oxide layer is supported by said substrate,

a first sacrificial layer is supported by said first oxide layer, wherein said first sacrificial layer comprises an oxide, and

a first nitride layer is supported by said first sacrificial layer; followed by

forming an isolation region in said substrate, wherein said forming an isolation region comprises:

etching a trench into said substrate; and

filing said trench with said oxide,

wherein a second sacrificial layer is between said first sacrificial layer and said first oxide layer, and

said first sacrificial layer is in contact with said first nitride layer.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE 8647899 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 035240 FRAME 0429. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTERST. Recorded Nov 3, 2020
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 058002/0470 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
To: MONTEREY RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 040911/0238 →
PARTIAL RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Aug 11, 2016
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
Reel/Frame 039708/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2015
From: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION; SPANSION LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 035240/0429 →