Patent ID: 6818495
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for forming within a silicon semiconductor substrate employed within an integrated circuit microelectronics fabrication a silicon oxide dielectric field oxide (FOX) isolation layer comprising:providing a silicon semiconductor substrate; forming upon the silicon semiconductor substrate a silicon oxide pad oxide layer; forming upon the silicon oxide pad oxide layer a patterned silicon nitride mask layer; oxidizing the silicon semiconductor substrate locally at a first temperature of at least above 1100 degrees centigrade, through the patterned silicon nitride mask layer to form silicon oxide dielectric field oxide (FOX) isolation layers which prevent out-difussion of nitrogen species from the silicon nitride mask layer; and then oxidizing the silicon semiconductor substrate further at a second temperature no greater than 1100 degrees centigrade as desired to form greater thickness of silicon oxide layers; wherein the method does not include performing an oxygen implant into the substrate.