Resistance-based etch depth determination for SGT technology
First Claim
1. A method for determining etch depth, comprising:
- a) forming a layer of material over a portion of a substrate having a trench formed thereon in such a way that the material fills the trench;
b) forming a mask over a test portion of the layer of material, wherein the mask does not cover the trench, wherein the mask defines a test structure that lies underneath a portion of the mask;
c) isotropically etching the layer of material;
d) measuring a signal related to a resistance change of the test structure during or after etching;
e) determining an amount of lateral undercut DL of the test structure from the signal; and
f) determining an etch depth DT of the material in the trench based on the amount of lateral undercut DL.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining the depth etch, a method of forming a shielded gate trench (SGT) structure and a semiconductor device wafer are disclosed. A material layer is formed over part of a substrate having a trench. The material fills the trench. A resist mask is placed over a test portion of the material layer thereby defining a test structure that lies underneath the resist mask. The resist mask does not cover the trench. The material is isotropically etched and a signal related to a resistance change of the test structure is measured. A lateral undercut DL of the test structure is determined from the signal and an etch depth DT is determined from DL. The wafer may comprise one or more test structures forming a bridge circuit; one or more metal contacts that electrically connect the test structures through contact holes: and resist layer including over the test structures.
32 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method for determining etch depth, comprising:
-
a) forming a layer of material over a portion of a substrate having a trench formed thereon in such a way that the material fills the trench; b) forming a mask over a test portion of the layer of material, wherein the mask does not cover the trench, wherein the mask defines a test structure that lies underneath a portion of the mask; c) isotropically etching the layer of material; d) measuring a signal related to a resistance change of the test structure during or after etching; e) determining an amount of lateral undercut DL of the test structure from the signal; and f) determining an etch depth DT of the material in the trench based on the amount of lateral undercut DL. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of forming a shielded gate trench (SGT) structure, comprising:
-
a) filling a trench with polysilicon wherein a polysilicon film is formed over the trench; b) placing a mask over the polysilicon film, wherein one or more polysilicon test structures are defined under a portion of the photoresist mask; c) isotropically etching the polysilicon film, wherein the polysilicon in the trench is etched to an etch depth DT; d) measuring a signal related to a resistance of one or more of the polysilicon test structures during or after etching; e) determining an amount of lateral undercut DL of one or more of the polysilicon test structures based on the resistance; and f) determining the etch depth DT based on the length of the amount of lateral undercut DL. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
Specification