Patent ID: 6521100
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: C23C,H03H,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of fabricating a device comprising a thin film of material, the fabrication using magnetron sputtering to deposit the thin film, the method comprising the steps of:a) determining a first gas pressure at which the magnetron sputtering is stable and results in the material being deposited having a first stress; b) determining a second gas pressure at which the sputtering is stable and results in the material being deposited having a second stress, the second stress having a value that is less than a predetermined desired intermediate stress; and c) performing successive sputtering cycles, each cycle including sputtering at the first gas pressure so as to achieve a predetermined first thickness, and sputtering at the second gas pressure so as to obtain a predetermined second thickness; thereby depositing a thin film of the material having an average stress intermediate between the first stress and the second stress.