Patent ID: 8293638
Filing Date: 2012-10-23
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: (a) forming a wire in a first dielectric layer on a substrate; (b) forming a dielectric barrier layer over said wire and said first dielectric layer; (c) forming a second dielectric layer over said barrier layer; after (c), (d) forming a first patterned photoresist layer over said second dielectric layer; after (d), (e) performing a first reactive ion etch to etch a first trench in said second dielectric layer; after (e), (f) removing said first patterned photoresist layer using a plasma; after (f), (g) forming a second patterned photoresist layer over said second dielectric layer; after (g), (h) performing a second reactive ion etch to etch a second trench in said second dielectric layer, said first and second trenches open to each other, regions of said barrier layer exposed by said first and second trenches; after (h), (i) performing a third reactive ion etch to remove said barrier layer exposed by said first and second trenches; and after (i), (j) removing said second patterned photoresist layer using a reducing plasma or a non-oxidizing plasma.