The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 19, 1998
Albert H Liu, San Antonio, TX (US);
Philips Semiconductors of North America Corp., Tarrytown, NY (US);
Abstract
A semiconductor fabrication process uses a buried, oxygen-rich layer as a stop etch in a trench isolation area, with minimal masking. According to one embodiment, the process involves applying a mask to protect selected portions of a silicon-based substrate, and then using the mask to implant an oxygen-based substance into unmasked portions of the substrate, thereby forming a buried oxygen layer at a selected depth within the substrate. The same mask is then used in an etching process to form the desired trench structure. The depth of the trench is defined as a result of terminating the etch process upon reaching the buried oxygen layer.