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. 28, 2006
Filed:
Sep. 30, 2002
Applicants:
Subramanian Karthikeyan, Orlando, FL (US);
Sailesh M. Merchant, Orlando, FL (US);
Inventors:
Subramanian Karthikeyan, Orlando, FL (US);
Sailesh M. Merchant, Orlando, FL (US);
Assignee:
Agere Systems Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 21/4763 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A process for preventing interconnect metal diffusion into the surrounding dielectric material. Prior to the formation of a metal interconnect in an opening of a dielectric region, the underlying metal surface is cleaned, during which metal can be deposited on the sidewalls of the opening. This metal can diffuse into the dielectric and cause leakage currents. To prevent deposition of the metal onto the sidewalls a barrier layer is deposited into the opening and sputtered onto the sidewalls before the metal surface cleaning step.