Patent ID: 7115524
Filing Date: 2006-10-03
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of processing a semiconductor substrate, comprising: providing a semiconductor substrate having an outer surface, the outer surface having a peripheral region received about a peripheral edge of the semiconductor substrate; providing a layer comprising amorphous carbon over the substrate outer surface, a masking layer outwardly of the amorphous carbon-comprising layer, and a resist layer outwardly of the masking layer; at least a portion of the peripheral region of the outer surface comprising the amorphous carbon-comprising layer and the resist layer but which is substantially void of the masking layer; patterning the amorphous carbon-comprising layer using the resist layer and the masking layer effective to form a mask over the semiconductor substrate, the amorphous carbon-comprising layer in the portion extending to the peripheral edge at least at starting of said patterning with the resist layer; and after the patterning, processing the semiconductor substrate inwardly of the mask through openings formed in the mask.