Texas Instruments Corporation

Jeanee Jones

James F Belcher

Steven N Frank

John P Long

A novel multiple level mask (e.g. tri-level mask 36) process for masking achieves a desired thick mask with substantially vertical walls and thus improves the ion milling process of ceramic materials (e.g. BST). An embodiment of the present invention is a microelectronic structure comprising a ceramic substrate, an ion mill mask layer (e.g. photoresist 42) overlaying the substrate, a dry-etch-selective mask layer (e.g. TiW 40) overlaying the ion mill mask layer, the dry-etch-selective mask layer comprising a different material than the ion mill mask layer, a top photosensitive layer (38) overlaying the dry-etch-selective mask layer, the top photosensitive layer comprising a different material than the dry-etch-selective mask layer, and a predetermined pattern formed in the top photosensitive layer, the dry-etch-selective mask layer and the ion mill mask layer. The predetermined pattern has substantially vertical walls in the ion mill mask layer.

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Plano, TX, United States of America

Jeanee Jones