IP Library Granted Patent US 6,844,230
Granted Patent B2
US 6,844,230 · App. 10/082,594 · Granted Jan 18, 2005

Methods of forming capacitors and resultant capacitor structures

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,844,230
App. No.
10/082,594
Granted
Jan 18, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods of forming capacitors and resultant capacitor structures are described. In one embodiment, a capacitor storage node layer is formed over a substrate and has an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume. At least a portion of the rim is capped by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion. After the rim is capped, a capacitor dielectric region and a cell electrode layer are formed over the storage node layer.

Claims (94)

1. A method of at least partially forming a capacitor comprising:

forming a capacitor storage node layer over a substrate, the capacitor storage node layer having an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume; and

prior to forming a capacitor dielectric layer, forming a cap by capping at least a portion of the rim within the interior volume by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capping of the rim portion comprises forming an insulative material thereover.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capping of the rim portion comprises forming an insulative material within less than an entirety of the interior volume.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the capping of the rim portion comprises forming an insulative material layer over the substrate and anisotropically etching the insulative material layer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to the capping of the rim portion, filling less than the interior volume with a filler material which is present during the capping.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising prior to the capping of the rim portion, filling less than the interior volume with a filler material which is present during the capping, and wherein the capping of the rim portion comprises forming an insulative material layer over the substrate and the filler material and anisotropically etching the layer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming a capacitor storage node layer within the container; and

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the capacitor storage node layer comprises roughened polysilicon.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming a capacitor storage node layer within the container;

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material; and

after the capping of the rim portion, removing at least some of the container-defining material.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the removing of the container-defining material comprises removing said container-defining material selectively relative to the capping material which is formed over the rim portion.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming a capacitor storage node layer within the container;

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material; and

wherein the capping of the rim portion comprises forming an insulative material layer over the substrate and anisotropically etching the insulative material layer.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming a capacitor storage node layer within the container;

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material; and

further comprising prior to the capping of the rim portion, filling less than the interior volume with a filler material.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming of the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming a capacitor storage node layer within the container;

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material; and

further comprising prior to the capping of the rim portion, filling less than the interior volume with a filler material, and

wherein the capping of the rim portion comprises forming an insulative material layer over the substrate and the filler material and anisotropically etching the insulative material layer.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after capping the rim, forming the capacitor dielectric layer and a cell electrode layer over the capacitor storage node layer within the interior volume.

15. A method of at least partially forming a capacitor comprising:

forming a capacitor storage node layer over a substrate, the capacitor storage node layer having an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume; and

forming a layer of material over the uppermost rim within only an upper portion of the interior volume.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising anisotropically etching said layer of material sufficient to leave a portion of the material occluding the opening.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising anisotropically etching said layer of material sufficient to leave a portion of the material extending into the interior volume.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising anisotropically etching said layer of material sufficient to leave a portion of the material extending into the interior volume and occluding the opening.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the forming of the layer of material comprises forming a portion of said layer to contact the storage node layer.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising anisotropically etching the layer of material.

21. A method of forming a capacitor comprising:

forming a capacitor storage node layer comprising roughened polysilicon over a substrate, the capacitor storage node layer having an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume;

forming an insulative cap by capping at least a portion of the rim within the interior volume by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion; and

after the capping of the rim, forming a capacitor dielectric region and a cell electrode layer over the capacitor storage node layer.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein capping comprises forming an insulative material within less than an entirety of the interior volume.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein capping comprises forming an insulative material layer over the substrate and anisotropically etching the insulative material layer.

24. The method of claim 21 , further comprising, prior to capping, filling less than the interior volume with a filler material which is present during capping.

25. The method of claim 21 , further comprising, prior to capping, filling less than the interior volume with a filler material which is present during capping, and wherein capping comprises forming an insulative material layer over the substrate and the filler material and anisotropically etching the insulative material layer.

26. The method of claim 21 , wherein forming the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming the capacitor storage node layer within the container; and

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material.

27. The method of claims 21 , wherein forming the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming the capacitor storage node layer within the container;

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material; and

after capping, removing at least some of the container-defining material.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein removing the container-defining material comprises removing said container-defining material selectively relative to the capping material which is formed over the rim portion.

29. A method of at least partially forming a capacitor comprising:

forming a capacitor storage node layer over a substrate, the capacitor storage node layer having an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume;

forming a cap by capping at least a portion of the rim within the interior volume by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion; and

prior to the capping of the rim portion, filling less than the interior volume with a filler material which is present during the capping.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the capping of the rim portion comprises forming an insulative material layer over the substrate and the filler material and anisotropically etching the layer.

31. A method of at least partially forming a capacitor comprising:

forming a capacitor storage node layer over a substrate, the capacitor storage node layer having an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume; and

forming a cap by capping at least a portion of the rim within the interior volume by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion, wherein the forming of the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming a capacitor storage node layer within the container;

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material; and

after the capping of the rim portion, removing at least some of the container-defining material.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the removing of the container-defining material comprises removing said container-defining material selectively relative to the capping material which is formed over the rim portion.

33. A method of at least partially forming a capacitor comprising:

forming a capacitor storage node layer over a substrate, the capacitor storage node layer having an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume; and

forming a cap by capping at least a portion of the rim within the interior volume by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion, wherein the forming of the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming a capacitor storage node layer within the container;

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material; and

further comprising prior to the capping of the rim portion, filling less than the interior volume with a filler material.

34. A method of at least partially forming a capacitor comprising:

forming a capacitor storage node layer over a substrate, the capacitor storage node layer having an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume; and

forming a cap by capping at least a portion of the rim within the interior volume by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion, wherein the forming of the capacitor storage node layer comprises:

forming a container into a container-defining material over the substrate;

forming a capacitor storage node layer within the container;

recessing the capacitor storage node layer to below an uppermost surface of the container-defining material; and

further comprising prior to the capping of the rim portion, filling less than the interior volume with a filler material, and

wherein the capping of the rim portion comprises forming an insulative material layer over the substrate and the filler material and anisotropically etching the insulative material layer.

35. A method of forming a capacitor comprising:

forming a capacitor storage node layer over a substrate, the capacitor storage node layer having an uppermost rim defining an opening into an interior volume;

forming a cap by capping at least a portion of the rim within the interior volume by forming a material which is different from the capacitor storage node layer over the rim portion; and

after capping the rim, forming a capacitor dielectric region and a cell electrode layer over the capacitor storage node layer within the interior volume.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF U.S. PATENT AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Oct 12, 2018
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 047645/0424 →
U.S. PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) Recorded Sep 9, 2014
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CPPIB CREDIT INVESTMENTS INC., AS LENDER; ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS LENDER
Reel/Frame 033706/0367 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Sep 3, 2014
From: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 033678/0096 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2014
From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 868 INC.; CONVERSANT IP N.B. 276 INC.
Reel/Frame 033484/0344 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 13, 2014
From: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: CONVERSANT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 032439/0638 →
U.S. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT (FOR NON-U.S. GRANTORS) - SHORT FORM Recorded Jan 10, 2012
From: 658276 N.B. LTD.; 658868 N.B. INC.; MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
Reel/Frame 027512/0196 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2009
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MOSAID TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 023438/0614 →