Method to improve isolation layer fill in a dram array area

Abstract

A new method of forming gate conductor lines for a DRAM in the manufacture of an integrated circuit device has been achieved. A semiconductor substrate is provided. Active areas are defined. A gate conductor layer is deposited overlying the semiconductor substrate. The gate conductor layer is patterned to form gate conductor lines. The intersections of the gate conductor lines and the active areas form DRAM transistors. Adjacent gate conductor lines are spaced a first minimum distance in critical regions and are spaced a second minimum distance in non-critical regions. The critical regions are defined as the active areas between adjacent gate conductor lines where bit line contacts are planned. The non-critical regions are defined as areas located between the critical regions and the adjacent gate conductor lines. The second minimum distance is greater than the first minimum distance to thereby decrease the aspect ratio in the non-critical regions to less than the aspect ratio in the critical regions. An insulating layer is deposited overlying the gate conductor lines and the semiconductor substrate. The insulating layer completely fills the non-critical regions without creating voids to thereby eliminate bit line contact to bit line contact shorts without affecting transistor performance.