Patent ID: 6531382
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of forming a contact hole opening, defined in a stack of insulator layers, and for preparing a surface of a lower level metal structure, exposed at the bottom of said contact hole opening, for a subsequent occupying upper level metal structure, comprising the steps of:providing said lower level metal structure; depositing a composite insulator layer; forming a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC), layer on said composite insulator layer; depositing a disposable insulator layer on said BARC layer; forming said contact hole opening in said disposable insulator layer, in said BARC layer, and in said composite insulator layer, exposing a portion of the top surface of said lower level metal structure; performing a sputter clean procedure to clean said portion of the top surface of said lower level metal structure, exposed in said contact hole opening, and to remove said disposable insulator layer; and forming said upper level metal structure in said contact hole opening, wherein a metal layer used for definition of said upper level metal structure is deposited in situ, in same tool used to perform said sputter clean procedure.