Directional ion etching process for patterning self-aligned via contacts
First Claim
1. A directional ion etching process for patterning self-aligned via contacts comprising:
- depositing a photoresist on a patterned layer;
masking the photoresist to provide at least one protected area, the photoresist being developed to remove the photoresist from the non-protected area;
depositing a dielectric coating upon the patterned layer and the remaining photoresist; and
ion etching at a low angle relative to the patterned layer to remove the dielectric coated photoresist, the removal of the photoresist thereby providing at least one self-aligned via contact.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a directional ion etching process to pattern self-aligned via contacts in the manufacture of semiconductor devices such as high density magnetic random access memory (MRAM). In a particular embodiment, a semiconductor wafer is prepared with vertically arranged layers, including a patterned layer in electrical contact with a conductive row layer. The patterned layer may be a magnetic tunnel junction layer. A photoresist is deposited on the junction layer, masked, exposed and developed. The non-protected junction layer is etched to provide appropriate junction stacks. The remaining photoresist caps are not dissolved, rather they and the surface of the wafer are coated with a dielectric. Directional ion etching at a low angle relative to the junction stack layer removes the coated photoresist caps and thereby provides at least one patterned self-aligned via contact.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A directional ion etching process for patterning self-aligned via contacts comprising:
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depositing a photoresist on a patterned layer; masking the photoresist to provide at least one protected area, the photoresist being developed to remove the photoresist from the non-protected area; depositing a dielectric coating upon the patterned layer and the remaining photoresist; and ion etching at a low angle relative to the patterned layer to remove the dielectric coated photoresist, the removal of the photoresist thereby providing at least one self-aligned via contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A directional ion etching process for patterning self-aligned via contacts, comprising:
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depositing a first conductive layer on a wafer substrate; depositing a junction layer upon the first conductive layer, the junction layer being in electrical contact with the first conductive layer; depositing a photoresist upon the junction layer; masking the photoresist to provide a plurality of junction stacks, the photoresist being developed and the exposed junction layer being etched; depositing a dielectric coating upon the etching exposed surfaces and the photoresist; and ion etching at a low angle relative to the wafer substrate to remove the dielectric coated photoresist, the removal of the photoresist thereby providing at least one self-aligned via contact. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A directional ion etching process for patterning self-aligned via contacts comprising:
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depositing a first conductive layer upon a wafer substrate; depositing a first photoresist layer on the first conductive layer; masking the first photoresist layer to provide conductive rows, the photoresist being developed, the exposed conductive layer being etched and the remaining photoresist being dissolved to expose the conductive rows; depositing a first dielectric to insulate the conductive rows, the first dielectric being planarized to expose the top of the conductive rows; depositing a junction layer upon the planarized dielectric, the junction layer being in electrical contact with the conductive rows; depositing a second photoresist upon the junction layer; masking the second photoresist to provide a plurality of junction stacks, the second photoresist being developed and the exposed junction layer being etched; depositing a second dielectric to coat the etching exposed surfaces and the second photoresist; and ion etching at a low angle relative to the wafer substrate to remove the dielectric coated second photoresist, the removal of the second photoresist thereby providing at least one self-aligned via contact. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification