Patent ID: 7749860
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a microelectronic structure, the method comprising: forming an oxide layer upon a semiconductor substrate; forming a first dielectric layer upon the oxide layer; selectively removing the first dielectric layer to expose the oxide layer at a plurality of areas; forming a second dielectric layer over the oxide layer and the first dielectric layer, wherein the forming a second dielectric layer includes forming a second dielectric layer over and in contact with the exposed oxide layer at the plurality of areas; selectively removing the second dielectric layer to form a plurality of spacers from the second dielectric layer, wherein each spacer is situated upon the oxide layer, is in contact with the first dielectric layer, and is adjacent to an area of the plurality of areas; forming a plurality of isolation trenches extending below the oxide layer into the semiconductor substrate, wherein each isolation trench is adjacent to and below a pair of the spacers and is situated at a corresponding area of the plurality of areas, and wherein each isolation trench has a top edge; forming a liner upon a sidewall of each isolation trench; filling each isolation trench with a conformal layer, the conformal layer extending above the oxide layer in contact with a corresponding pair of the spacers, wherein the filling is performed by depositing the conformal layer, and the depositing is carried out to the extent of filling each isolation trench and extending over the spacers and over the first dielectric layer so as to define an upper surface contour of the conformal layer; substantially simultaneously subjecting the entire upper surface contour of the conformal layer to a planarizing process and planarizing the conformal layer at least to the first dielectric layer and each spacer to form therefrom an upper surface for each isolation trench that is co-planar to the other upper surfaces; and fusing the oxide layer, liner, spacers and conformal layer; wherein the conformal layer comprises a material that is electrically insulative and extends continuously between and within the plurality of isolation trenches.