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:
Apr. 14, 2015
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2008
Vladimir Alexeevich Ukraintsev, Allen, TX (US);
Craig Lawrence Hall, Allen, TX (US);
Vladimir Alexeevich Ukraintsev, Allen, TX (US);
Craig Lawrence Hall, Allen, TX (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
Dimensions of structures in integrated circuits are shrinking with each new fabrication technology generation. Maintaining control of profiles of structures in transistors and interconnects is becoming more important to sustaining profitable integrated circuit production facilities. Measuring profiles of structures with many elements in integrated circuits, such as MOS transistor gates with recessed regions for Si—Ge epitaxial layers, is not cost effective for the commonly used metrology techniques: SEM, TEM and AFM. Scatterometry is technically unfeasible due to the number of elements and optical constants. The instant invention is a simplified scatterometry structure which reproduces the profiles of a structure to be profiled in a simpler structure that is compatible with conventional scatterometric techniques. A method of fabricating a transistor and an integrated circuit using the inventive simplified scatterometry structure are also disclosed.