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:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 23, 1999
Chin-Yi Huang, Hsin-Chu Hsien, TW;
Chin-Jen Huang, Hsin-Chu, TW;
Chen-Chin Liu, Yun-Lin Hsien, TW;
Yun Chang, Hsin-Chu, TW;
Macronix International Co., Ltd., Hsin-Chu, TW;
Abstract
The invention relates to a shallow trench isolation method used in a semiconductor wafer that comprises a plurality of predetermined active regions, a plurality of shallow trenches used for electrically isolating the plurality of active regions, and a wafer alignment region wherein at least one recess having a predetermined pattern is formed on the surface of the wafer. In the method of the present invention, an insulation layer is first formed on the surface of the semiconductor wafer to fill the recesses in the wafer alignment region and the plurality of shallow trenches. An etching process is then implemented to reduce the thickness of the insulation layer on the surface of the working region, the working region having a relatively high density of active regions. Also, the insulation layer is completely removed from the recesses within the wafer alignment region. Finally, a chemical mechanical process (CMP) is performed on the surface of the semiconductor wafer to remove the insulation layer and to keep the surface of the insulation layer in the shallow trenches even with the semiconductor wafer.