Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Yen-Shih Ho

Chun-Hon Chen

Ssu-Pin Ma

Kong-Beng Thei

Ta-Hsun Yeh

Kuo-Reay Peng

Heng-Ming Hsu

Chi-Wu Chou

Hun-Ming Hsu

Jau-Yuann Chung

Hun-Jan Tao

Tzong-Sheng Chang

Jun-Lin Tsai

Ruey-Hsin Liou

Yuan-Cheng Yu

Within a method for fabricating an inductor structure there is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a planar spiral conductor layer to form a planar spiral inductor, wherein a successive series of spirals within the planar spiral conductor layer is formed with a variation in at least one of: (1) a series of linewidths of the successive series of spirals; and (2) a series of spacings of the successive series of spirals. The method contemplates a planar spiral inductor structure fabricated in accord with the method. A planar spiral inductor structure fabricated in accord with the method is characterized by an enhanced Q value of the planar spiral inductor structure.

Planar spiral inductor structure having enhanced Q value

Method of fabricating a planar spiral inductor structure having an enhanced Q value

A method for fabricating an improved metal-insulator-metal capacitor is achieved. An insulating layer is provided overlying conducting lines on a semiconductor substrate. Via openings through the insulating layer to the conducting lines are filled with metal plugs. A first metal layer is deposited overlying the insulating layer and the metal plugs. A capacitor dielectric layer is deposited overlying the first metal layer wherein capacitor dielectric layer is deposited as a dual layer, each layer deposited within a separate chamber whereby pinholes are eliminated. A second metal layer and a barrier metal layer are deposited overlying the capacitor dielectric layer. The second metal layer and the barrier metal layer are patterned to form a top plate electrode. Thereafter, the capacitor dielectric layer and the first metal layer are patterned to form a bottom plate electrode completing fabrication of a metal-insulator-metal capacitor.

Method of making a metal-insulator-metal capacitor in the CMOS process

Within a method for fabricating a microelectronic fabrication there is first provided a substrate. There is then formed over the substrate a spirally patterned conductor layer which terminates in a microelectronic structure within the center of the spirally patterned conductor layer. The spirally patterned conductor layer forms a planar spiral inductor, and the microelectronic structure formed within the center of the spirally patterned conductor layer further comprises a series of electrically interconnected sub-patterns. The method contemplates a microelectronic fabrication fabricated in accord with the method. The microelectronic fabrication is fabricated with optimal performance while occupying minimal microelectronic substrate area.

Planar spiral inductor structure with patterned microelectronic structure integral thereto

A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure and method of fabrication for CMOS circuits having copper interconnections are described. The method provides metal capacitors with high figure of merit Q (X/R) and which does not require additional masks and metal layers. The method forms a copper capacitor bottom metal (CBM) electrode while concurrently forming the pad contacts and level of copper interconnections by the damascene process. An insulating (SiN) metal protect layer is formed on the copper and a capacitor interelectrode dielectric layer is formed. A metal protecting buffer is used to protect the thin interelectrode layer, and openings are etched to pad contacts and interconnecting lines. A TiN/AlCu/TiN metal layer is deposited and patterned to form the capacitor top metal (CTM) electrodes, the next level of interconnections, and to provide a pad protect layer on the copper pad contacts. The thick TiN/AlCu/TiN CTM electrode reduces the capacitor series resistance and improves the capacitor figure of merit Q, while the pad protect layer protects the copper from corrosion.

Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure in copper-CMOS circuits using a pad protect layer

This MIM structure provides metal capacitors with high figure of merit Q (X /R) and does not require additional masks and metal layers. A copper capacitor bottom metal (CBM) electrode is formed, while concurrently forming the pad contacts and level of copper interconnections by the damascene process. An insulating (Si N ) metal protect layer is formed on the copper and a capacitor interelectrode dielectric layer is formed. A metal protecting buffer protects the thin interelectrode layer, and openings are etched to pad contacts and interconnecting lines. A TiN/AlCu/TiN metal layer is deposited and patterned to form the capacitor top metal (CTM) electrodes, the next level of interconnections, and to provide a pad protect layer on the copper pad contacts. The thick TiN/AlCu/TiN CTM electrode reduces the capacitor series resistance and improves the capacitor figure of merit Q, while the pad protect layer protects the copper from corrosion.

Method for making a new metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor structure in copper-CMOS circuits using a pad protect layer

A process for integrating the fabrication of a thick, copper inductor structure, with the fabrication of narrow channel length CMOS devices, has been developed. The integrated process features the use of only one additional photolithographic masking step, used to form the opening in an IMD layer, that will accommodate the subsequent inductor structure. After forming damascene type openings in the same IMD layer, in the CMOS region, copper is deposited and then defined, to result in a thick, copper inductor structure, in the opening in the IMD layer, in a first region of a semiconductor substrate, as well as to result in copper interconnect structures, in the damascene type openings located in a second region of the semiconductor structure, used for the narrow channel length CMOS devices. The use of a thick, copper inductor structure, equal to the thickness of the IMD layer, results in increased inductance, or an increased quality factor, when compared to counterparts formed with thinner metal inductors.

Method of fabricating a damascene copper inductor structure using a sub-0.18 um CMOS process

In many mixed-signal or radio frequency Rf applications, inductors and capacitors are needed at the same time. For a high performance inductor devices, a thick metal layer is needed to increase performance, usually requiring an extra masking process. The present invention describes both a structure and method of fabricating both copper metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors and thick metal inductors, simultaneously, with only one mask, for high frequency mixed-signal or Rf, CMOS applications, in a damascene and dual damascene trench/via process. High performance device structures formed by this invention include: parallel plate capacitor bottom metal (CBM) electrodes and capacitor top metal (CTM) electrodes, metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors, thick inductor metal wiring, interconnects and contact vias.

Dual damascene interconnect structures that include radio frequency capacitors and inductors

Copper process compatible CMOS metal-insulator-metal capacitor structure and its process flow

A method for forming a Schottky diode. There is first provided a silicon layer. There is then formed upon the silicon layer an anisotropically patterned first dielectric layer which defines a Schottky diode contact region of the silicon layer. There is then formed and aligned upon the anisotropically patterned first dielectric layer a patterned second dielectric layer which is formed of a thermally reflowable material. There is then reflowed thermally the patterned second dielectric layer to form a thermally reflowed patterned second dielectric layer having a uniform sidewall profile with respect to the anisotropically patterned first dielectric layer while simultaneously forming a thermal silicon oxide layer upon the Schottky diode contact region of the silicon layer. There is then etched while employing a first etch method the thermal silicon oxide layer from the Schottky diode contact region of the silicon layer while preserving the uniform sidewall profile of the thermally reflowed patterned second dielectric layer with respect to the anisotropically patterned first dielectric layer. There is then formed and thermally annealed upon the thermally reflowed patterned second dielectric layer and the Schottky diode contact region of the silicon layer a metal silicide forming metal layer to form in a self aligned fashion a metal silicide layer upon the Schottky diode contact region of the silicon layer, a protective oxide surface layer upon the metal silicide layer and a metal silicide forming metal layer residue upon the thermally reflowed patterned second dielectric layer. There is then stripped from the thermally reflowed patterned second dielectric layer the metal silicide forming metal layer residue. Finally, there is then etched while employing a second etch method the protective oxide surface layer from the metal silicide layer, where the second etch method also preserves the uniform sidewall profile of the thermally reflowed patterned second dielectric layer with respect to the anisotropically patterned first dielectric layer.

Uniform sidewall profile etch method for forming low contact leakage

A process is described for the manufacture of a capacitor having low V.sub.cc. Said process is fully compatible with standard IC manufacturing and introduces minimum modification thereto. The process involves the formation of a capacitor having both upper and lower electrodes that comprise layers of a metal silicide. The lower electrode is formed as a byproduct of the SALICIDE process while the upper electrode is formed by first laying down a layer of polysilicon followed by a layer of a silicide-forming metal such as titanium, cobalt, or tungsten. Sufficient of the metal must be provided to ensure that all of the polysilicon gets transformed to silicide.

Method for manufacturing a silicide to silicide capacitor

A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming of layers of polysilicon and dielectric layers in manufacturing a semiconductor device and patterning the layers into devices using phototlithography and etching process steps. End point mode detection is used in the etching process in a way in which the area exposed during etching is increased to enhance the end point detection capacity, by adding a surplus pad area before pad formation. Specifically an EPROM device is formed with a first level of polysilicon above a gate oxide layer patterned into a floating gate electrode of an EPROM device. Then form an ONO layer above the floating gate electrode. Define array protection, grow a second gate oxide layer, deposit a second level of polysilicon, define peripheral gates from the second level of polysilicon, and define an EPROM transistor gate electrode from the second level of polysilicon.

Growing community of inventors

Hsin-Chu, Taiwan

Yen-Shih Ho