Patent ID: 6607983
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of eliminating a defect source in a wafer edge region for semiconductor fabrication, the wafer being defined by the wafer edge region and a wafer main region, the method comprising:forming an insulating layer over an entire surface of the wafer, the insulating layer having conductive contaminants in the wafer edge region; forming a photoresist layer on the insulating layer having the conductive contaminants; forming a photoresist pattern by removing a selected portion of the photoresist layer to expose a region of the wafer edge region, and while keeping non-wafer edge regions of the wafer covered, removing the exposed conductive contaminants from the wafer edge region by simultaneously removing the exposed conductive contaminants and portions of the insulating layer in a process that leaves at least a portion of the insulating layer intact.