Simplified pitch doubling process flow
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A partially formed integrated circuit, comprising:
- a substrate;
a plurality of mandrels overlying the substrate, each mandrel having a long dimension and a short dimension as seen in a top-down view;
a plurality of spacer loops disposed at sidewalls of the mandrels;
a hard mask layer disposed on a same level as the spacer loops; and
a mask disposed directly over the hard mask layer and ends of the spacer loops disposed at sidewalls of the mandrels, while leaving mid-sections of the spacer loops exposed, wherein the mid-sections are disposed between opposing ends of each spacer loop, and wherein each mid-section comprises a spacer portion immediately adjacent a midpoint of the long dimension of the mandrels.
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Abstract
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises patterning a layer of photoresist material to form a plurality of mandrels. The method further comprises depositing an oxide material over the plurality of mandrels by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The method further comprises anisotropically etching the oxide material from exposed horizontal surfaces. The method further comprises selectively etching photoresist material.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A partially formed integrated circuit, comprising:
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a substrate; a plurality of mandrels overlying the substrate, each mandrel having a long dimension and a short dimension as seen in a top-down view; a plurality of spacer loops disposed at sidewalls of the mandrels; a hard mask layer disposed on a same level as the spacer loops; and a mask disposed directly over the hard mask layer and ends of the spacer loops disposed at sidewalls of the mandrels, while leaving mid-sections of the spacer loops exposed, wherein the mid-sections are disposed between opposing ends of each spacer loop, and wherein each mid-section comprises a spacer portion immediately adjacent a midpoint of the long dimension of the mandrels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A partially formed integrated circuit, comprising:
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a plurality of spacer loops formed of spacer material and disposed directly adjacent a plurality of mandrels, the spacer loops and mandrels overlying and in contact with an underlying layer, wherein each mandrel has a long dimension and a short dimension as seen in a top-down view; a layer of spacer material on the underlying layer; and a patterned protective layer directly overlying ends of the spacer loops disposed directly adjacent the plurality of mandrels, wherein the protective layer leaves exposed mid-sections of the spacer loops between opposing ends of each spacer loop and wherein each mid-section comprises a spacer portion immediately adjacent a midpoint of the long dimension of the mandrels. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A partially formed integrated circuit, comprising:
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a plurality of mandrels extending across an array region and into a peripheral region of the partially formed integrated circuit; a plurality of spacer loops formed of spacer material extending along sidewalls of the mandrels, wherein ends of the spacer loops are disposed in the peripheral region; a layer of spacer material disposed in the peripheral region and on a same level as the spacers; and a mask disposed directly over the layer of spacer material and the ends of the spacer loops extending on sidewalls of the mandrels, while leaving exposed portions of the spacer loops in the array region. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification