Dry-etching process simulator
First Claim
1. A dry-etching process wherein minute patterns formed in a lithography process are used as mask and an operation unit in a topography simulator evaluates etching and deposition rates for determining the optimum etching conditions in forming on a substrate patterns of the same sizes as that of the mask, said rate evaluation process in the dry-etching process comprising the steps of:
- (a) evaluating a coverage ratio by absorbed materials on individual small areas of the substrate surface from the density of the respective radicals and ions in an active gas plasma and the reaction rate of the respective radicals and ions, and(b) evaluating etching and deposition rates on the individual small areas of the substrate surface from the coverage ratio by the absorbed materials.
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Abstract
A new surface reaction model has been presented to simulate topological evolutions by taking into account the existence of absorbed radicals on the substrate surface. The model treats the etching rate as a function of the coverage ratio by absorbed radicals on the surface. Based on the model, a two-dimensional topography simulator has been provided. The simulator is applied to silicon-dioxide trench teachings made by hydrofluorcarbon gases. The topography simulator is used in a dry-etching process for realizing sub-half micron patternings.
38 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A dry-etching process wherein minute patterns formed in a lithography process are used as mask and an operation unit in a topography simulator evaluates etching and deposition rates for determining the optimum etching conditions in forming on a substrate patterns of the same sizes as that of the mask, said rate evaluation process in the dry-etching process comprising the steps of:
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(a) evaluating a coverage ratio by absorbed materials on individual small areas of the substrate surface from the density of the respective radicals and ions in an active gas plasma and the reaction rate of the respective radicals and ions, and (b) evaluating etching and deposition rates on the individual small areas of the substrate surface from the coverage ratio by the absorbed materials. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A dry-etching process wherein minute patterns formed in a lithography process are used as mask and an operation unit in a topography simulator evaluates etching and deposition rates for determining the optimum etching conditions in forming on a substrate patterns of the same sizes as that of the mask, said rate evaluation process in the dry-etching process comprising the steps of:
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(a) evaluating the coverage ratio by absorbed materials on individual small areas of the substrate surface, and (b) evaluating etching and deposition rates on the individual small areas of the substrate surface from the coverage ratio by the absorbed materials.
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6. A dry-etching process wherein minute patterns formed in a lithography process are used as mask and an operation unit in a topography simulator evaluates etching and deposition rates for determining the optimum etching conditions in forming on a substrate patterns of the same sizes as that of the mask, said dry-etching process comprising the step of:
(a) taking into account the amount of reaction between absorbed materials and a substrate for etching rate evaluation when etching profiles are simulated during the dry-etching process.
Specification