`Kepler
`
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`US006030862A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`6,030,862
`Feb.29,2000
`
`[54] DUAL GATE OXIDE FORMATION WITH
`MINIMAL CHANNEL DOPANT DIFFUSION
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Nick Kepler, Saratoga, Calif.
`
`[73] Assignee: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.,
`Sunnyvale, Calif.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/170,060
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Oct. 13, 1998
`
`[51]
`[52]
`
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................. HOlL 21/8238
`U.S. Cl. .......................... 438/217; 438/275; 438/276;
`438/289; 438/290; 438/291
`Field of Search ..................................... 438/275, 217,
`438/276, 289, 290, 291, FOR 68, FOR 204,
`FOR 216, FOR 217, FOR 218
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,554,644
`4,651,406
`5,254,489
`5,283,200
`5,393,677
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`5,497,021
`5,502,009
`5,571,745
`
`............................. 365/154
`11/1985 Chen et al.
`3/1987 Shimizu et al.
`.......................... 29/571
`10/1993 Nakata .
`2/1994 Okamoto .
`2/1995 Lien et al. .
`4/1995 Liao et al. .
`3/1996 Tada ........................................ 257/369
`3/1996 Lin .
`11/1996 Horiuchi .
`
`5,576,226
`5,661,045
`5,674,788
`5,698,458
`5,716,863
`5,716,864
`5,741,719
`5,747,368
`5,759,881
`
`....................... 438/286
`
`11/1996 Hwang .
`8/1997 Manning et al.
`10/1997 Wristers et al. .
`12/1997 Hsue et al. .
`2/1998 Arai.
`2/1998 Abe .
`4/1998 Kim.
`............................. 438/217
`5/1998 Yang et al.
`6/1998 Manning ................................. 438/199
`
`Primary Examiner-Wael Fahmy
`Assistant Examiner-Long Pham
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Sharply-defined dopant profiles in the transistor channel
`region of ultra high density semiconductor devices are
`maintained by selective transistor channel implants to
`reduce exposure to heat cycling, thereby reducing dopant
`diffusion. Embodiments include forming isolation regions
`on a semiconductor substrate, forming a relatively thick first
`gate dielectric layer, then performing transistor channel
`implantations. The first gate dielectric layer is then masked
`and etched, and a second, thinner gate dielectric layer is
`formed. The transistor channel implants are not affected by
`the temperature cycle of the first gate dielectric layer
`formation, thereby enabling dual gate dielectric formation
`without adversely affecting the electrical characteristics of
`the finished device.
`
`20 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
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`Micron Ex. 1020, p. 1
`Micron v. Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1
`IPR2020-01008
`
`
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb.29,2000
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`Micron v. Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1
`IPR2020-01008
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`U.S. Patent
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`Feb.29,2000
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`Micron v. Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1
`IPR2020-01008
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`Micron Ex. 1020, p. 4
`Micron v. Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1
`IPR2020-01008
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`
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`Micron Ex. 1020, p. 5
`Micron v. Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1
`IPR2020-01008
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`Micron v. Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1
`IPR2020-01008
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`Micron Ex. 1020, p. 7
`Micron v. Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1
`IPR2020-01008
`
`
`
`6,030,862
`
`1
`DUAL GATE OXIDE FORMATION WITH
`MINIMAL CHANNEL DOPANT DIFFUSION
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention relates to a method of manufactur(cid:173)
`ing a semiconductor device with transistors comprising gate
`oxide layers of differing thicknesses. The present invention
`has particular applicability in manufacturing high density
`semiconductor devices with submicron design features and
`dual gate oxide thicknesses.
`
`s
`
`2
`Devices with small feature sizes, such as 0.18 µm or less,
`require sharply defined dopant profiles in their channel
`regions to optimize transistor speed and short-channel
`effects. To maintain these sharply defined profiles, tempera-
`ture cycles must be minimized after the transistor channel
`dopants are implanted. Disadvantageously, the extra gate
`oxidation step in the dual gate oxide process flow described
`above diffuses the previously implanted channel dopants to
`such an extent that the channel doping profile is disturbed,
`10 thereby adversely affecting the electrical characteristics of
`the finished device.
`There exists a need for a method of manufacturing a
`semiconductor device having transistors with differential
`gate oxide thicknesses wherein the channel doping profile is
`15 not adversely affected, particularly in semiconductor devices
`having a design rule of less than about 0.18 µm.
`
`BACKGROUND ART
`Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)
`technologies have traditionally employed a gate dielectric,
`usually a silicon dioxide layer called a "gate oxide" layer, of
`a single thickness in forming all the CMOS transistors on a
`substrate. To meet the demand for increased transistor
`switching speeds, the gate oxide thickness has been
`decreased, while gate oxide processing techniques have
`been improved and power supply voltages have been low- 20
`ered to maintain acceptable gate oxide reliability.
`Current demands for high density and performance
`require design rules of about 0.25 microns and under in
`certain devices such as microprocessors, nonvolatile memo(cid:173)
`ries and programmable logic circuits. Such high density 2s
`demands have accelerated reduction in gate oxide thickness
`( and therefore in power supply voltage) to a greater extent
`than in other semiconductor devices with which they may be
`associated; e.g., other devices on a personal computer moth(cid:173)
`erboard. However, some transistors formed on the same 30
`substrate as microprocessors, memories or programmable
`logic circuits, such as transistors in input/output (1/0)
`circuits, must communicate with devices operating at a
`higher voltage and, therefore, must withstand a higher
`voltage.
`One approach to this problem is to use a dual-cascaded
`1/0 circuit design to spread the higher 1/0 voltage across two
`transistors, thereby providing adequate gate oxide reliability
`even with the thin gate oxide of the microprocessor, memory
`or programmable logic circuits. Unfortunately, as feature 40
`sizes of microprocessors, etc. shrink to 0.18 µm and below,
`the correspondingly thinner gate oxide of these devices ( e.g.
`less than 30 A.) and their lower operating voltage (e.g. 1.5
`volts) are incompatible with the 1/0 voltage (e.g. 3.3 volts)
`of other, higher voltage devices, even if a dual-cascade 1/0 45
`design is employed. It is possible to employ a triple-cascade
`1/0 design, but such a design is disadvantageous because it
`consumes significant amounts of valuable space on the
`wafer.
`To avoid the limitations of cascaded 1/0 circuit design, so
`some CMOS devices with extremely fine features (e.g. 0.18
`µm or less) utilize a "dual gate oxide" approach, wherein the
`gate oxide of 1/0 circuits is thicker than the gate oxide of the
`remainder of the transistors on the substrate. According to
`this technique, field isolation areas are formed on the sub- ss
`strate to define active areas, and then transistor channel
`implants are performed, such as well implants, field
`implants, punchthrough implants and threshold adjust
`implants. A first, thick gate oxide is formed, as by thermal
`oxidation, over the active areas to a thickness of, e.g., about 60
`50 A, then the thick gate oxide is masked and etched to
`remove it from the portions of the active areas that are to
`have a thinner gate oxide. A second, thinner gate oxide is
`then formed, as by thermal oxidation, on the active areas to
`a thickness of, e.g., about 30 A, resulting in transistors 65
`having two different thicknesses of gate oxide on the same
`wafer.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`An advantage of the present invention is a method of
`manufacturing a semiconductor device having transistors
`with two different gate dielectric thicknesses while main(cid:173)
`taining sharply defined dopant profiles of transistor channel
`implants.
`Additional advantages and other features of the present
`invention will be set forth in part in the description which
`follows and in part will become apparent to those having
`ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following
`or may be learned from the practice of the present invention.
`The advantages of the present invention may be realized and
`obtained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
`According to the present invention, the foregoing and
`other advantages are achieved in part by a method of
`manufacturing a semiconductor device, which method com(cid:173)
`prises forming a field oxide region to isolate an active area
`35 on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate; forming a
`first gate dielectric layer on the active area; implanting
`impurities into the substrate through the first gate dielectric
`layer; forming a mask on the first gate dielectric layer, the
`mask having openings over portions of the active area;
`etching the first gate dielectric layer to expose the portions
`of the active area; and forming a second gate dielectric layer
`on the exposed portions of the active area to a thickness less
`than a thickness of the first gate dielectric layer.
`Additional advantages of the present invention will
`become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the
`following detailed description, wherein only the preferred
`embodiment of the present invention is shown and
`described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode
`contemplated for carrying out the present invention. As will
`be realized, the present invention is capable of other and
`different embodiments, and its several details are capable of
`modifications in various obvious respects, all without
`departing from the present invention. Accordingly, the draw-
`ings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in
`nature, and not as restrictive.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein
`elements having the same reference numeral designations
`represent like elements throughout, and wherein:
`FIGS. lA-lK schematically illustrate sequential phases
`of a method in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`Conventional dual gate dielectric methodologies subject
`the transistor channel implants to plural heat cycling,
`
`Micron Ex. 1020, p. 8
`Micron v. Godo Kaisha IP Bridge 1
`IPR2020-01008
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`
`
`6,030,862
`
`5
`
`3
`4
`Next, a cleaning step is carried out, and a thin oxide layer
`thereby disturbing the desired sharply defined doping
`106, called a sacrificial oxide layer, is grown on main surface
`profiles, resulting in a dimunition of device characteristics.
`The present invention addresses and solves problems stem(cid:173)
`100a to alter the shape of the edges of field oxide regions
`ming from such heat cycling of the transistor channel
`102 to improve the quality of the edges of the subsequently
`dopants in conventional manufacturing processes.
`formed gate dielectric. As depicted in FIG. lB, sacrificial
`According to the methodology of the present invention,
`oxide layer 106 is removed from active areas 104, as by a
`active regions where source/drain and channel areas are to
`hydrofluoric acid (HF) dip, and a first gate dielectric layer
`be formed are electrically isolated by the formation of a
`108 is formed on active areas 104, such as silicon dioxide by
`conventional field isolation. As used throughout the present
`thermal oxidation, silicon dioxide by LPCVD, silicon nitride
`disclosure and claims, the term "substrate" denotes a semi(cid:173)
`10 by LPCVD or tantalum oxide. First gate dielectric layer 108
`conductor substrate or an epitaxial layer formed on the
`will ultimately be part of the thicker of the dual gate
`semiconductor substrate. A first gate dielectric layer is then
`dielectric layers.
`formed, as by thermal oxidation or deposition, on the active
`Referring now to FIG. lC, impurities such as phosphorus
`areas. The substrate is then implanted with impurities
`are implanted, as by ion implantation, deep into substrate
`through the first gate dielectric layer to form transistor 15
`100 to form n-well implant 112 after formation of photore(cid:173)
`channel implants (i.e., well implants, field implants, punch(cid:173)
`sist mask 110. Well implants set the background doping for
`through implants and threshold adjust implants), such as by
`subsequently formed devices. Well implants are typically
`ion implantation. The first gate dielectric layer is then
`doped lightly enough so they do not interfere with electrical
`masked and etched away from the portions of the active
`activity at main surface, and heavily enough to create a
`areas that are to have a thinner gate dielectric. A second gate 20
`low-resistance path deep in substrate to facilitate substrate
`oxide layer, thinner than the first gate dielectric layer, is then
`current flow.
`formed, as by thermal oxidation, on the active areas to
`As shown in FIG. 1D, mask 110 is then removed and
`complete the gate dielectric formation process.
`impurities such as boron are implanted into substrate 100, as
`The present invention avoids unduly disturbing the tran(cid:173)
`by ion implantation, to form n-channel field implant 116
`sistor channel doping profile by performing the transistor 25
`after photoresist mask 114 is formed to block implantation
`channel implantations after the formation of the first gate
`of n-well areas. Field implants, which are implanted into a
`dielectric layer. The transistor channel implants are,
`substrate below field oxide regions, optimize isolation of
`therefore, not affected by the temperature cycle of the first
`active areas. In this example, n-channel field implant 116 is
`gate dielectric layer formation. They are exposed only to the
`implanted deep enough to serve a dual purpose as a p-well
`temperature cycle for forming the second, thinner gate 30
`implant. However, a separate p-well implant could be per(cid:173)
`dielectric layer, which is necessarily shorter and/or per(cid:173)
`formed instead.
`formed at a lower temperature than the temperature cycle
`Next, as shown in FIG. lE, impurities such as boron are
`necessary to form the first gate dielectric layer, and is the
`implanted into substrate 100, as by ion implantation, to form
`same or less severe than the temperature cycle they would
`an n-channel punch-through implant 118 above n-channel
`have been exposed to during a conventional single gate 35
`field implant 116. Punch-through implants under a transis(cid:173)
`dielectric manufacturing process. Thus, the present inven(cid:173)
`tor's channel region prevent leakage between its source/
`tion provides a dual gate dielectric formation process with(cid:173)
`drain regions in the active areas remote from the substrate
`out adversely affecting the performance of the finished
`surface; i.e., where their depletion spreads are not controlled
`device.
`by the transistor's gate, and therefore may contact each
`Furthermore, although impurity implantation through a 40
`other. Punch-through implants gain importance as transistors
`gate dielectric layer can degrade the quality of the gate
`shrink and source/drain regions become closer together,
`dielectric layer, the transistor channel implantation of the
`thereby increasing the chance of leakage.
`present methodology is performed through the thick gate
`Referring to FIG. lF, impurities such as boron are then
`dielectric layer (i.e., the layer that will subsequently be part
`implanted into substrate 100, as by ion implantation, to form
`of the 1/0 gate dielectric), whose integrity is not as critical 45
`a shallow n-channel threshold adjust implant 120 near main
`as the thin gate dielectric (i.e., the microprocessor gate
`surface 100a. Threshold adjust implants are crucial to the
`dielectric), and whose reliability is inherently greater than
`performance of the finished device, as they play a large role
`that of the thin gate dielectric by virtue of its thickness.
`in determining the gate voltage at which conductance
`Therefore, the present methodology's implantation through
`between the source/drain regions begins.
`the 1/0 gate dielectric will not adversely affect the perfor- 50
`As shown in FIGS. lG and lH, mask 114 is removed and
`mance of the completed 1/0 circuits.
`another photoresist mask 122 is formed over areas previ(cid:173)
`An embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in
`ously implanted with boron. Impurities such as phosphorous
`FIGS. lA-lK, wherein sequential phases in forming a
`are then implanted, as by ion implantation, to form
`semiconductor device in accordance with the present inven(cid:173)
`p-channel punch-through implant 124 and p-channel thresh(cid:173)
`tion are depicted. Referring to FIG. lA, field oxide regions 55
`old adjust implant 126. Mask 122 is then removed.
`102 are formed to electrically isolate active areas 104 where
`Referring to FIG. 11, photoresist mask 128 is next formed
`source/drain and transistor channel areas are to be formed on
`on first gate dielectric layer 108. Mask 128 has openings
`a main surface of a semiconductor substrate 100. Field oxide
`128a over portions 104a of active areas 104 which are to
`regions 102 are formed, for example, by etching shallow
`trenches in substrate 100, thermally growing an oxide liner 60 have a thinner gate dielectric than first gate dielectric layer
`108. First gate dielectric layer 108 is then etched to expose
`on the trench walls, then refilling the trench with an insu(cid:173)
`portions 104a of active areas 104 (see FIG. 11). Mask 128
`lating material. The resulting structure is referred to as a
`is then removed, and a cleaning step is carried out, including
`shallow trench isolation (STI) structure. Alternatively, field
`an HF dip.
`oxide regions 102 can be formed by heating substrate 100
`with field oxide regions 102 exposed to an oxidizing gas, 65
`As shown in FIG. lK, a second gate dielectric layer 130
`such as oxygen, in a technique known as local oxidation of
`is formed of the same material as first dielectric layer 108 on
`exposed portions 104a of active area 104 and first gate
`silicon (LOCOS).
`
`Micron Ex. 1020, p. 9
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`
`6,030,862
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`5
`dielectric layer 108, to a thickness less than the thickness of
`first gate dielectric layer 108. For example, the first and
`second gate dielectric layers 108, 130 can both be silicon
`dioxide thermally grown in an oxygen atmosphere, or the
`two growth processes can be separately tailored to improve
`the quality of both gate dielectric layers; e.g., first gate
`dielectric layer 108 can be grown in an oxygen atmosphere,
`while second gate dielectric layer 130 can be grown in a
`nitrous oxide (N2 O) atmosphere or in a two-step process of
`an initial oxygen atmosphere followed by an N2 O atmo(cid:173)
`sphere. For example, second dielectric layer 130 can be
`initially grown at about 800° C. to about 1000° C. for about
`20 sec to about 10 minutes in an approximately 20% oxygen
`atmosphere (e.g., 900° C. for about 1.5 minutes), then for
`about 2 minutes to about 45 minutes in an approximately 15
`50% N2 O atmosphere (e.g., 900° C. for about 10 minutes) to
`complete its formation.
`First gate dielectric layer 108 is thicker than second gate
`dielectric layer 130, and so is formed using a longer and/or
`higher temperature cycle than second gate dielectric layer 20
`130; for example, if gate dielectric layers 108, 130 are
`thermally grown, about 800° C. to about 1000° C. for about
`2 minutes to about 45 minutes to form first gate dielectric
`layer 108 (e.g. about 900° C. for about 7 minutes), versus
`about 800° C. to about 1000° C. for about 1 minute to about 25
`20 minutes to form second gate dielectric layer 130 (e.g.
`about 900° C. for about 3 minutes). Thus, by performing
`transistor channel implants after formation of first gate
`dielectric layer 108, the present methodology provides for
`transistor channel implants to be subjected only to the less 30
`severe heat cycling necessary to form thinner second gate
`dielectric layer 130.
`The final thicknesses of first and second gate dielectric
`layers 108, 130 are determined by the electrical character(cid:173)
`istics of the semiconductor device and the voltage its 1/0 35
`circuits are required to handle. For example, in a high-speed
`microprocessor with a design rule of 0.25 µm, if the first and
`second gate dielectric layers 108, 130 are silicon dioxide,
`second gate dielectric layer 130 is typically about 30 A to
`about 40 A thick, while first gate dielectric layer 108 could 40
`be about twice as thick (e.g., about 60 A to about 80 A
`thick). Furthermore, the final thickness of first gate dielectric
`layer 108 is the sum of its initial thickness (as shown in FIG.
`lB), less the amount of its thickness that is removed during
`the HF dip after it has been etched and mask 128 has been 45
`stripped off (e.g., about 20 A of thickness can be lost), plus
`the thickness added during the formation of second gate
`dielectric layer 130 ( e.g., if second gate dielectric layer 130
`is thermally grown to a thickness of about 40 A, about 30 A
`of thickness will be added to first gate dielectric layer 108). 50
`In other embodiments of the invention, the first gate
`dielectric layer 108 is thermally grown silicon dioxide and
`the second gate dielectric layer 130 is deposited silicon
`dioxide, or both gate dielectric layers 108, 130 are deposited.
`In these embodiments, second gate dielectric layer 130 will 55
`be deposited to the same thickness on top of first gate
`dielectric layer 108 as on exposed portions 104a of active
`area 104. Thus, the final thickness of first gate dielectric
`layer 108 in these embodiments is the sum of its initial
`thickness (as shown in FIG. lB), less the amount of its 60
`thickness that is removed during the HF dip after it has been
`etched and mask 128 has been stripped off, plus the full
`thickness of deposited second gate dielectric layer 130.
`These factors must be considered when designing the dual
`gate dielectric process flow.
`In the embodiment of the present invention described in
`detail above, well implant 112, field implant 116, punch-
`
`6
`through implants 118, 124 and threshold adjust implants
`120, 126 are performed after formation of first gate dielectric
`layer 108. However, the unwanted diffusion resulting from
`an extra heat cycle is most critical for the threshold adjust
`5 and punch-through implants and least critical for the field
`and well implants. Thus, in another embodiment of the
`present invention, well and field implants 112, 116 are
`formed prior to the growth of first gate dielectric layer 108,
`and only threshold and punch-through implants 118, 120,
`10 124, 126 are formed through first gate dielectric layer 108,
`without an unacceptable adverse affect on the performance
`of the finished device.
`The inventive methodology enables the production of a
`dual gate dielectric CMOS device with minimal disturbance
`of the dopant profile of the channel implants by performing
`critical transistor channel implantations after the formation
`of the thicker of the two gate dielectric layers. In this way,
`the transistor channel dopants are not subjected to two heat
`cycles, but only to a single heat cycle, thus minimizing
`unwanted diffusion of the dopants. Moreover, because the
`transistor channel implants, which can degrade gate dielec(cid:173)
`tric quality, are performed through the thicker of the two
`gate dielectrics, whose integrity is inherently greater that of
`the thin gate dielectric, the channel implantations do not
`unduly degrade the gate dielectric quality. The present
`invention is applicable to the manufacture of various types
`of semiconductor devices having LOCOS or STI, particu(cid:173)
`larly high density semiconductor devices having a design
`rule of about 0.25µ and under.
`The present invention can be practiced by employing
`conventional materials, methodology and equipment.
`Accordingly, the details of such materials, equipment and
`methodology are not set forth herein in detail. In the
`previous descriptions, numerous specific details are set
`forth, such as specific materials, structures, chemicals,
`processes, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding
`of the present invention. However, it should be recognized
`that the present invention can be practiced without resorting
`to the details specifically set forth. In other instances, well
`known processing structures have not been described in
`detail, in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present
`invention.
`Only the preferred embodiment of the invention and but
`a few examples of its versatility are shown and described in
`the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the inven(cid:173)
`tion is capable of use in various other combinations and
`environments and is capable of changes or modifications
`within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed
`herein.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device,
`which method comprises:
`forming a field oxide region to isolate an active area on a
`main surface of a semiconductor substrate;
`forming a first gate dielectric layer on the active area;
`implanting impurities into the substrate through the first
`gate dielectric layer;
`forming a mask on the first gate dielectric layer, the mask
`having openings over portions of the active area;
`etching the first gate dielectric layer to expose the portions
`of the active area; and
`forming a second gate dielectric layer on the exposed
`portions of the active area to a thickness less than a
`thickness of the first gate dielectric layer, wherein said
`first gate dielectric layer is formed to a first thickness in
`an approximately 20% oxygen atmosphere at about
`
`65
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`Micron Ex. 1020, p. 10
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`IPR2020-01008
`
`
`
`6,030,862
`
`7
`800° C. to about 1000° C. for about 20 seconds to about
`10 minutes and wherein said second gate dielectric
`layer is formed to a second thickness in an approxi(cid:173)
`mately 50% N2 O atmosphere at about 800° C. to about
`1000° C. for about 2 minutes to about 45 minutes.
`2. The method according to claim 1, comprising implant(cid:173)
`ing impurities through the first gate dielectric layer to form
`a threshold adjust implant.
`3. The method according to claim 1, comprising implant(cid:173)
`ing impurities through the first gate dielectric layer to form
`a punch-through implant.
`4. The method according to claim 1, comprising implant(cid:173)
`ing impurities through the field oxide into the substrate after
`forming the first gate dielectric layer to form a field implant.
`5. The method according to claim 1, comprising implant- 15
`ing impurities through the first gate dielectric layer to form
`a well implant.
`6. The method according to claim 1, comprising:
`implanting impurities into the substrate prior to forming
`the first gate dielectric layer to form a well implant and
`a field implant; and
`implanting impurities through the first gate dielectric
`layer to form a punch-through implant and a threshold
`adjust implant.
`7. The method according to claim 1, comprising:
`forming a photoresist mask on the first gate dielectric
`layer;
`removing the photoresist mask after etching the first gate
`dielectric layer; and
`cleaning the exposed portions of the active area and the
`first gate dielectric layer before forming the second gate
`dielectric layer.
`8. The method according to claim 7, comprising cleaning
`by dipping in hydrofluoric acid.
`9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the first gate
`dielectric layer has a thickness of about 60 A to about 80 A
`after the second gate dielectric is formed, and the second
`gate dielectric layer has a thickness of about 30 A to about
`40 A..
`10. The method according to claim 1, comprising:
`forming a sacrificial oxide layer on the field oxide region
`and the active area prior to forming the first gate
`dielectric layer; and
`
`35
`
`40
`
`* * * * *
`
`10
`
`30
`
`8
`removing the sacrificial oxide layer before forming the
`first gate dielectric layer.
`11. The method according to claim 1, comprising forming
`the first and second gate dielectric layers of silicon dioxide
`5 by thermal oxidation.
`12. The method according to claim 11, comprising form(cid:173)
`ing the first gate dielectric layer in an oxygen atmosphere.
`13. The method according to claim 12, comprising form(cid:173)
`ing the second gate dielectric layer in an N2O atmosphere.
`14. The method