Patent ID: 6555204
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: H01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A method comprising the steps of:forming a multilayer structure comprising a polycrystalline layer and at least one constraining layer on a substrate; patterning the multilayer structure to form a first structure and a second structure that is narrower in width than the first structure, the first structure having a patterned edge that is spaced apart from a patterned edge of the second structure; and subjecting the multilayer structure to thermal processing sufficient to cause grain growth in the polycrystalline layer of the first structure; wherein the patterning step produces means for preventing contact between the patterned edge of the second structure and grains that have grown laterally from the polycrystalline layer along the patterned edge of the first structure toward the second structure, the means being at least one chosen from the group consisting of: patterning the multilayer structure to form a dummy structure between and spaced apart from the first structure and the second structure, the dummy structure being spaced apart from the first structure and the second structure a distance less than or equal to an average grain size of the polycrystalline layer except for grains that have grown laterally from the polycrystalline layer of the first structure and contact the dummy structure as a result of the thermal processing; patterning holes near the patterned edge of the first structure; forming the patterned edge of the first structure to have teeth that project toward the second structure and are closer to the second structure than remaining portions of the patterned edge that are between the teeth; and forming the patterned edge of the first structure to be stepped so that the first structure has corner regions at opposite ends of the patterned edge that are closer to the second structure than a remaining portion of the patterned edge between the corners.