Patent ID: 7244313
Filing Date: 2007-07-17
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A plasma etch process for a workpiece having a low-dielectric constant thin film that is exposed during the etch process, said process comprising: forming a photoresist mask on a top surface of the workpiece, said mask including apertures defining hole locations to be etched; placing the workpiece in a plasma reactor chamber; performing an etch step by introducing into the chamber a polymerizing etch process gas of type comprising a fluorocarbon or fluoro-hydrocarbon species and coupling RF plasma source power and RF plasma bias power into the chamber to produce a plasma of: (a) etch species which etch holes in said workpiece in registration with the apertures in said photoresist mask, and (b) polymerizing species which accumulate as a polymer layer on the surface of said photoresist mask during said etch step; prior to removing the photoresist mask: stripping said photoresist off of said workpiece.