Patent ID: 7271101
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of forming integrated circuits comprising conductive wiring structures laterally separated by insulating material, the method comprising: providing a substrate and a layer of conducting wiring material above the substrate; forming a layer of insulating cap material above the layer of conductive wiring material; forming a patterned mask layer above the layer of insulating cap material; etching a portion of the layer of insulating cap material not covered by the patterned mask layer and subsequently etching a portion of the layer of conducting wiring material to provide a patterned wiring structure including a plurality of wiring line pairs separated by gaps between adjacent walls of the wiring line pairs, each wiring line of the wiring line pairs having a residual cap portion of the layer of insulating material above the wiring line; and depositing insulating material in the gaps between the wiring line pairs at least in part using a deposition process having a sputtering component, the residual cap portion protecting the corresponding wiring line during the deposition process.