Patent ID: 9570317
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: H01L

Claim:
1. A microelectronic method for etching a layer to be etched, comprising: modifying the layer to be etched to a depth extending from a surface of the layer to be etched and down to at least a portion of a thickness of the layer to be etched to form a film, the modifying comprising implanting light ions into the layer to be etched, the implanting being carried out by a plasma comprising light ions, and the light ions being selected from among helium and hydrogen; and removing the film by a selective etching of the film relative to at least one layer underlying the film, wherein the layer to be etched covers patterns including flanks, and the implanting of the light ions is performed anisotropically along a direction that is substantially parallel to a surface of the flanks.