T or T/Y gate formation using trim etch processing
First Claim
1. A method for fabricating a T-gate structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a silicon layer having a gate oxide layer, a protection layer over the gate oxide layer, a first sacrificial layer over the protection layer and a second sacrificial layer over the first sacrificial layer;
forming a photoresist layer over the second sacrificial layer;
forming an opening in the photoresist layer;
forming an opening in the second sacrificial layer beneath the opening in the photoresist layer;
expanding the opening in the photoresist layer to expose portions of the top surface of the second sacrificial layer around the opening in the second sacrificial layer;
extending the opening of the second sacrificial layer through the first sacrificial layer and expanding the opening in the second sacrificial layer to form a T-shaped opening in the first and second sacrificial layers;
removing the photoresist layer; and
filling the T-shaped opening with a conductive material.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for fabricating a T-gate structure is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a silicon layer having a gate oxide layer, a protection layer over the gate oxide layer, a first sacrificial layer over the protection layer and a second sacrificial layer over the first sacrificial layer. A photoresist layer is formed over the second sacrificial layer. An opening is formed in the photoresist layer. An opening is then formed in the second sacrificial layer beneath the opening in the photoresist layer. The opening is then expanded in the photoresist layer to expose portions of the top surface of the second sacrificial layer around the opening in the second sacrificial layer. The opening is extended in the second sacrificial layer through the first sacrificial layer and the opening is expanded in the second sacrificial layer to form a T-shaped opening in the first and second sacrificial layers. The photoresist layer is removed and the T-shaped opening is filled with a conductive material.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for fabricating a T-gate structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a silicon layer having a gate oxide layer, a protection layer over the gate oxide layer, a first sacrificial layer over the protection layer and a second sacrificial layer over the first sacrificial layer;
forming a photoresist layer over the second sacrificial layer;
forming an opening in the photoresist layer;
forming an opening in the second sacrificial layer beneath the opening in the photoresist layer;
expanding the opening in the photoresist layer to expose portions of the top surface of the second sacrificial layer around the opening in the second sacrificial layer;
extending the opening of the second sacrificial layer through the first sacrificial layer and expanding the opening in the second sacrificial layer to form a T-shaped opening in the first and second sacrificial layers;
removing the photoresist layer; and
filling the T-shaped opening with a conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19)
- providing a silicon layer having a gate oxide layer, a protection layer over the gate oxide layer, a first sacrificial layer over the protection layer and a second sacrificial layer over the first sacrificial layer;
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15. A method for fabricating a T-gate structure comprising the steps of:
- providing a silicon layer having a gate oxide layer, a protection layer over the gate oxide layer and a single sacrificial layer over the protection layer;
forming a photoresist layer over the single sacrificial layer;
etching an opening in the photoresist layer exposing a portion of the single sacrificial layer;
etching the exposed portion of the single sacrificial layer to extend the opening partially into the single sacrificial layer, the opening in the single sacrificial layer extending from a top surface of the single sacrificial layer to a first depth;
expanding the opening in the photoresist layer to expose portions of the top surface of the single sacrificial layer around the opening in the single sacrificial layer;
etching the opening in the expanded opening in the photoresist layer to extend the opening of the single sacrificial layer through the single sacrificial layer to the protection layer and expand the opening in the single sacrificial layer at the first depth to form a T-shaped opening in the single sacrificial layer;
removing the photoresist layer; and
filling the T-shaped opening with a conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
- providing a silicon layer having a gate oxide layer, a protection layer over the gate oxide layer and a single sacrificial layer over the protection layer;
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20. A method for fabricating a T-gate structure comprising the steps of:
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providing a silicon layer having a gate oxide layer, a protection layer over the gate oxide layer, a first sacrificial layer over the protection layer and a second sacrificial layer over the first sacrificial layer;
forming a photoresist layer over the second sacrificial layer;
etching an opening in the photoresist layer exposing a portion of the second sacrificial layer, the etching being highly selective to the photoresist layer over the underlying second sacrificial layer;
etching the exposed portion of the second sacrificial layer to extend the opening into the second sacrificial layer, the etching being highly selective to the second sacrificial layer over the photoresist layer and the underlying first sacrificial layer;
expanding the opening in the photoresist layer to expose portions of the top surface of the second sacrificial layer around the opening in the second sacrificial layer using an oxygen plasma etch;
etching the opening of the second sacrificial layer through the first sacrificial layer and expanding the opening in the second sacrificial layer to form a T-shaped opening in the first and second sacrificial layers, the etching being highly selective to the second sacrificial layer and the first sacrificial layer over the photoresist layer and the underlying protection layer;
removing the photoresist layer;
filling the T-shaped opening with a conductive material;
removing the first and second sacrificial layers employing an anisotropic gaseous stripping process; and
removing portions of the protection layer and the gate oxide layer not forming a part of the T-gate structure by performing an etch on the protection layer and the gate oxide layer using a wet etch.
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Specification