Patent ID: 6107178
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for etching a fuse opening during the manufacture of a semiconductor device, said method comprising the steps of:providing on a semiconductor substrate a conductive layer of polysilicon having lateral surfaces, said conductive layer having spacers on said lateral surfaces extending upwardly to a cap, said spacers and said cap each having an external exposed surface and being composed of silicon nitride, said layer of polysilicon together with said cap and said spacers comprising a fuse, wherein the spacers are adjacent to an exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate;depositing overlying layers over said fuse, upon the external exposed surface of the cap layer, upon the external exposed surface of the spacer layer, and upon the exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate such that the overlying layers enclose the cap layer and the spacer layer, including the step of:depositing a patch over said fuse; andetching a fuse opening in said overlying layers over said fuse such that the spacers remain in contact with the conductive layer and the conductive layer is not exposed by the fuse opening, including the steps of:etching an opening over said fuse for a first duration of time with an etch process selective to a material of which said patch is comprised; andetching said opening over said fuse for a second duration of time with an etch process not selective to said material of which said patch is comprised.