METHOD FOR PATTERNING CONTACT ETCH STOP LAYERS BY USING A PLANARIZATION PROCESS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- forming a first stress-inducing layer above a first device region and a second device region, said first stress-inducing layer having an intrinsic stress of approximately 1.5 Giga Pascal or higher;
forming a first planarization layer above said first and second device regions to planarize a surface topography of said first and second device regions;
forming a first resist mask above said first planarization layer to cover said first device region; and
removing an exposed portion of said first planarization layer and said first stress-inducing layer from said second device region.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
By performing a planarization process, for instance based on a planarization layer, prior to forming a resist mask for selectively removing a portion of a stressed contact etch stop layer, the strain-inducing mechanism of a subsequently deposited further contact etch stop layer may be significantly improved.
20 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
forming a first stress-inducing layer above a first device region and a second device region, said first stress-inducing layer having an intrinsic stress of approximately 1.5 Giga Pascal or higher; forming a first planarization layer above said first and second device regions to planarize a surface topography of said first and second device regions; forming a first resist mask above said first planarization layer to cover said first device region; and removing an exposed portion of said first planarization layer and said first stress-inducing layer from said second device region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method, comprising:
-
forming a planarization layer above first and second transistors having formed there-above a first stress-inducing layer having a first type of intrinsic stress; forming a resist mask on said planarization layer, said resist mask covering said first transistors; removing said first stress-inducing layer from above said second transistors; and forming a second stress-inducing layer above said first and second transistors, said second stress-inducing layer having a second type of intrinsic stress that differs from said first type of intrinsic stress. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method, comprising:
-
forming a first stress-inducing layer having a first type of intrinsic stress above a first device region and a second device region, said first and second device regions comprising first and second transistors, respectively; forming a first interlayer dielectric material above said first and second device regions, said first interlayer dielectric material having said first type of intrinsic stress, and reducing height differences of a surface topography of said first and second device regions; selectively removing said first stress-inducing layer and said first interlayer dielectric material from said second device region; selectively forming a second stress-inducing layer having a second type of intrinsic stress above said second device region; and forming a second interlayer dielectric material above said first and second device regions, said second interlayer dielectric material having said second type of intrinsic stress. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification