Patent ID: 6242352
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: B24B,H01L

Abstract:
A method for removing a first dielectric layer of a semiconductor wafer, the first dielectric layer being formed on the surface of a second dielectric layer of the semiconductor wafer, the method comprising:performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process on the first dielectric layer to remove a thickness of the first dielectric layer without completely polishing the entire thickness of the first dielectric layer over the second dielectric layer;measuring the remaining thickness of the polished first dielectric layer to obtain a measured thickness value T;providing an etching table having a plurality of thickness ranges of the remaining first dielectric layer and corresponding etching back procedure or parameters of each of the thickness ranges; andperforming a plasma etching back process to horizontally remove the remaining first dielectric layer according to the etching back procedure or parameters corresponding to a thickness range that covers the measured thickness value T, thereby exposing the second dielectric layer without scratching the second dielectric layer and the semiconductor wafer;wherein after measuring the remaining thickness of the polished first dielectric layer, one set of the etching parameters corresponding to a thickness range that includes flow control system from the etching table to perform the etching back process.