Patent ID: 6521533
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A process for making a copper connection with a copper connection element in an integrated circuit comprising a damascene structure, with the copper connection element being covered successively with an encapsulation layer and at least one layer of dielectric material with a very low dielectric constant (called a â€œlow-kâ€  material), the process comprising the following steps:etching said layer of dielectric material with the very low dielectric constant until the encapsulation layer is reached in order to obtain a connection hole opposite the copper connection element; forming a protective layer on walls of the connection hole, whereby the protective layer prevents contamination of the layer of dielectric material with the very low dielectric constant from diffusion of copper; etching the protective and encapsulation layers at the bottom of the connection hole in such a way as to reveal the copper connection element; and filling the connection hole with copper.