Patent ID: 6838389
Filing Date: 2005-01-04
Classification: B82Y,C23F,G11B,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of etching a lead structure comprising at least a mask layer, a high conductivity metal layer and a stopping layer, the method comprising at least the steps of: (a) patterning the mask layer through to the high conductivity metal layer with a process selected from the group consisting of ion beam etching and reactive ion etching; (b) etching the high conductivity metal layer through to the stopping layer with a process selected from the group consisting of chemically assisted ion beam etching or reactive ion beam etching, wherein the etching process uses a gas mixture of an inert gas and a reactive gas selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, and a combination of oxygen and nitrogen, and further comprising using secondary ion mass spectroscopy for end point detection and stopping the etching when the end point detection indicates the stopping layer is reached; and (c) etching the stopping layer with ion beam etching using an inert gas.