Filling Cavities in Transistor Insulation Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for manufacturing microelectronic components, particularly transistors, face issues with residual voids in electrical insulation zones, leading to short-circuits and reduced reliability due to the consumption of dielectric material during processing steps.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the partial or complete filling of cavities in electrical insulation zones with a carbonaceous material before high-temperature heat treatments, which is then removed to prevent further material consumption and protect the insulation zones from damage, thereby preventing the formation of residual voids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If stress layers are deposited to increase transistor performance, then device performance is improved, but filling defects and short-circuits occur due to cavity formation in insulation zones

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransistor performanceVSAvoidfilling defects and short-circuits
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by depositing a protective layer of dielectric material (such as silicon oxide) on the insulation zones before depositing the stress layers. This protective layer is deposited in advance to prevent the harmful effects of cavity formation during subsequent stress layer deposition, thereby eliminating filling defects and short-circuits while maintaining transistor performance improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple processing steps are performed to manufacture transistors, then manufacturing precision is achieved, but dielectric material is consumed and cavities deepen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransistor structure precisionVSAvoiddielectric material consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by forming a protective dielectric layer on the insulation zones before the series of processing steps that cause material consumption. This layer is deposited in advance to compensate for the dielectric material that will be consumed during subsequent etching, cleaning, and heat treatment steps, thereby preventing cavity deepening while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by depositing an additional layer of dielectric material that serves as a buffer against material consumption. This cushioning layer compensates for the dielectric material loss during processing steps, preventing the insulation zones from becoming too deep and forming cavities, thus maintaining both manufacturing precision and material integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If insulation zones are exposed to enable transistor fabrication, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to material consumption and cavity formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransistor fabrication accessibilityVSAvoidinsulation zone integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by depositing a protective dielectric layer on the exposed insulation zones before transistor fabrication steps. This protective layer is applied in advance to prevent material consumption and cavity formation during subsequent processing, thereby maintaining insulation zone integrity while allowing ease of manufacture through exposed insulation zones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively stops the deepening of cavities and eliminates or limits residual voids, enhancing the reliability of transistor manufacturing by preventing short-circuits and maintaining the integrity of insulation zones during subsequent processing steps.

Implementation Method 1

A method involving the partial or complete filling of cavities in electrical insulation zones with a carbonaceous material before high-temperature heat treatments, which is then removed to prevent further material consumption and protect the insulation zones from damage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal protection:

Implementation Method 2

A method involving the partial or complete filling of cavities in electrical insulation zones with a carbonaceous material before high-temperature heat treatments, which is then removed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP3783644B1Method for manufacturing microelectronic components
Publication Date: 2022.12.28 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP3783644B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3783644B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7B
  • EP3783644B1 patent drawingFigure 8~13

AI summary

Method for manufacturing microelectronic components. The invention relates to a method for producing a component based on a plurality of transistors on a substrate comprising at least one active area (11) and at least one electrically insulating area (12) adjacent to each transistor in the plurality of transistors comprising a gate (21) and spacers (22) on either side of the gate (21), the method comprising the following steps: - forming the gates of the transistors, - forming the spacers, and - forming a mechanically constraining layer (15) on the transistors, the method being characterized in that it further comprises, after forming the spacers and before forming the mechanically constraining layer: - at least one filling step configured to fill with a filling material cavities (13) between the gates of the transistors within the at least one electrically insulating area.