Patent ID: 6534868
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A semiconductor device comprising:a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of interconnect layers disposed at respectively different levels above the semiconductor substrate, each said interconnect layer including a plurality of wires; a plurality of plugs, each said plug vertically connecting an associated wire in one of the interconnect layers to the semiconductor substrate or vertically connecting a pair of wires to each other, the pair of wires belonging to two mutually different ones of the interconnect layers; a plurality of insulating films provided for the respective interconnect layers, each said insulating film being in contact with the respective wires belonging to the same one of the interconnect layers, and laterally connecting the wires to each other; and an opening provided to pass through at least the uppermost one of the insulating films, wherein regions immediately under each said insulating film, through which the opening is formed, form a gas layer, and regions overlying the regions immediately under each said insulating film and surrounding the wires and the plugs also form a gas layer.