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:
Jan. 16, 2007
Filed:
Sep. 22, 2004
Applicants:
Shin-hye Kim, Suwon-si, KR;
Min Kim, Seoul, KR;
Seung-jae Lee, Suwon-si, KR;
Inventors:
Assignee:
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Suwon-si, KR;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 21/76 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract
A STI (shallow trench isolation) structure is formed with a liner layer that is converted from an initial material to a subsequent material. For example, the liner layer is initially comprised of nitride during wet etch-back of a dielectric fill material comprised of oxide to protect an oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate. Thereafter, an exposed portion of the liner layer is converted into the subsequent material of oxide to protect the dielectric fill material within the STI opening during etching away of masking layers to prevent formation of dents in the STI structure.