Lucent Technologies Inc.

Agere Systems Guardian Corp.

Edward P Martin

Daniel Patrick Chesire

Daniel Joseph Vitkavage

Leonard Jay Olmer

Morgan J Thoma

Rafael N Barba

Barbara D Kotzias

The invention provides a method of planarizing an irregular surface of a semiconductor wafer. In one embodiment, the method comprises applying a photoresist material over recessed areas and protruding areas of the irregular surface, etching the photoresist, etching partially into protruding areas of the irregular surface to remove a portion of the irregular surface, and polishing the irregular surface to a substantially planar surface. In some embodiments method may include chemically and mechanically polishing the irregular surface.

Method of planarizing a surface on an integrated circuit

A method of forming a passivation layer over features located on a top layer on a semiconductor device comprises depositing a first void-free layer of a dielectric over the top layer using high density plasma chemical vapor deposition. A second void-free layer can additionally be deposited over the first void-free layer. The first void-free layer can be formed from a silicon oxide, and the second void-free layer can be formed from a silicon nitride. The first void-free layer has a top surface that is disposed at a height higher than the features. The first void-free layer can be applied in two steps. First, the void-free layer is deposited at a D/S ratio between 3.0 and 4.0 to a depth of at least 40% of the feature's height, and then deposited at a D/S ratio of between 6.0 and 7.0.

High density plasma passivation layer and method of application

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Orlando, FL, United States of America

Edward P Martin