Patent ID: 6727567
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
Integrated circuit (IC) device comprising:(a) a semiconductor substrate having a surface, (b) an insulating layer on the substrate surface, (c) a plurality of IC device location openings in the insulator layer extending through the insulating layer and exposing the substrate surface, the first plurality of IC device location openings being distributed unevenly over the substrate surface, (d) a plurality of dummy openings in the insulating layer extending through the insulating layer and exposing the substrate surface, the plurality of dummy openings being distributed over the entire substrate surface, (e) an epitaxial layer in each of the IC device location openings and in each of the dummy openings, and (f) semiconductor devices formed selectively in the IC device location openings, leaving the epitaxial layers in the dummy openings devoid of devices.