Patent ID: 6506683
Filing Date: 2003-01-14
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of performing in-situ, single step removal of an anti-reflective coating layer and an etch stop layer in the fabrication of a semiconductor structure, said method comprising the steps of:a) providing a semiconductor substrate; b) forming a semiconductor device having an interconnect area disposed on a top surface of said semiconductor substrate; c) depositing an etch stop layer disposed on top of said semiconductor substrate and said semiconductor device, said etch stop layer is a material selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, and silicon oxime; d) depositing an insulating layer disposed on top of said etch stop layer; said insulating layer being comprised of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) glass; e) depositing an anti-reflective coating layer disposed on top of said insulating layer, said anti-reflective coating layer is a material selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, and silicon oxime; f) depositing a photoresist layer disposed on top of said antireflective coating layer; g) patterning said photoresist layer using photolithographic techniques to form a hole through said photoresist layer which overlies said semiconductor device; h) extending said hole through said anti-reflective coating layer using fluoromethane in a two stage reactive ion etching process; i) extending said hole through said insulating layer using octofluorobutane in a two stage reactive ion etching process; j) removing said photoresist layer; and k) removing simultaneously remaining portions of said anti reflective coating layer and portions of said etch stop layer underlying said hole using fluoromethane, wherein said semiconductor substrate, said semiconductor device, and portions of said etch stop layer remain.