Patent ID: 6482075
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
In a process for planarizing an isolation structure in a substrate, where the substrate has an upper surface, an improvement comprising:(a) depositing a pad protective material over the substrate upper surface, the pad protective material having a pad protective material upper surface at a level; (b) selectively removing portions of the pad protective material to expose portions of the substrate and to form sidewalls in the pad protective material; (c) forming a trench in the exposed portions of the substrate; (d) depositing a trench fill material in the trench and over the pad protective material upper surface; and (e) depositing a trench protective material over the trench fill material and in contact with the sidewalls of the pad protective material, whereby the pad protective material and portions of the trench protective material covering the trench together form a continuous and substantially coplanar protective material layer.