Patent ID: 6229156
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A thin film transistor comprising a transparent insulating substrate, a gate electrode formed on a portion of the transparent insulating substrate, a gate insulating film formed over the transparent insulating substrate including the portion carrying the gate electrode, a semiconductor active layer formed on the gate insulating film so as to overlie a central part of the gate electrode, a source region and a drain region formed adjacent to the semiconductor active layer, a protective layer formed on the semiconductor active layer so as to have a top surface with a source side and an oppositely directed drain side extending downwardly from the top surface and at least one further side extending downwardly from the top surface and having a different direction of orientation from either the downwardly extending source side or the downwardly extending drain side, a source electrode formed on the source region and a first part of the protective layer including a first face portion forming at least part of the downwardly extending source side of the protective layer, said downwardly extending source side extending lengthwise between two protective layer corners, a drain electrode formed on the drain region and a second part of the protective layer including a second face portion forming at least part of the downwardly extending drain side of the protective layer, said downwardly extending drain side extending lengthwise between two protective layer corners, and wherein said protective layer has at least one further face portion which is inclined with respect to a plane surface of the transparent insulating substrate and which forms at least a part of the further downwardly extending side of the protective layer that is different from either the downwardly extending source side or the downwardly extending drain side, further wherein said protective layer is plasma-etched with a use of mixed gas including sulfur fluoride and oxygen.