Patent ID: 8932937
Filing Date: 2015-01-13
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for fabricating an oxide define region (ODR) without using a photolithographic-process photomask comprising: depositing pad oxide and a stop layer over peaks of a substrate of a semiconductor wafer; depositing oxide over the pad oxide, the stop layer, and valleys of the substrate of the semiconductor wafer; depositing a hard mask over oxide; depositing photoresist over the hard mask; etching back the photoresist until peaks of the hard mask are exposed; etching the peaks of the hard mask and the oxide underneath the hard mask through to the stop layer; removing the photoresist; performing chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) on the hard mask and the oxide underneath through to the stop layer; and, etching away the stop layer, resulting in the ODR on the substrate of the semiconductor wafer.