Patent Abstract:
An emission structure includes a resistor with at least one emitter tip thereover and at least one substantially vertically oriented conductive element positioned adjacent the resistor. The conductive element may contact the resistor. A method for fabricating the emission structure includes forming at least one conductive line, depositing at least one layer of semiconductive or conductive material over and laterally adjacent the at least one conductive line, and forming a hard mask in recessed areas of the surface of the uppermost material layer. The underlying material layer or layers are patterned through the hard mask, exposing substantially longitudinal center portions of the conductive lines. The remaining semiconductive or conductive material is patterned to form the emitter tip and resistor. At least the substantially central longitudinal portion of the conductive trace is removed to form the conductive element.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/847,926, filed May 3, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,609, issued Jun. 4, 2002, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/626,481, filed Jul. 26, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,982, issued Aug. 21, 2001, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/472,571, filed Dec. 27, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,133,057, issued Oct. 17, 2000, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/260,214, filed Mar. 1, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,625, issued May 9, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to methods of fabricating field emission arrays. Particularly, the present invention relates to field emission array fabrication methods wherein the emitter tips and their corresponding resistors are fabricated through a single mask. More particularly, the present invention relates to field emission array fabrication methods that employ only one mask to define the emitter tips and their corresponding resistors and that do not require a mask to define the column lines thereof. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     Typically, field emission displays (“FEDs”) include an array of pixels, each of which includes one or more substantially conical emitter tips. The array of pixels of a field emission display is typically referred to as a field emission array. Each of the emitter tips is electrically connected to a negative voltage source by means of a cathode conductor line, which is also typically referred to as a column line. 
     Another set of electrically conductive lines, which are typically referred to as row lines or as gate lines, extends over the pixels of the field emission array. Row lines typically extend across a field emission display substantially perpendicularly to the direction in which the column lines extend. Accordingly, the paths of a row line and of a column line typically cross proximate (above and below, respectively) the location of an emitter tip. The row lines of a field emission array are electrically connected to a relatively positive voltage source. Thus, as a voltage is applied across the column line and the row line, electrons are emitted by the emitter tips and accelerated through an opening in the row line. 
     As electrons are emitted by emitter tips and accelerate past the row line that extends over the pixel, the electrons are directed toward a corresponding pixel of a positively charged electro-luminescent panel of the field emission display, which is spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the field emission array. As electrons impact a pixel of the electro-luminescent panel, the pixel is illuminated. The degree to which the pixel is illuminated depends upon the number of electrons that impact the pixel. 
     Numerous techniques have been employed to fabricate field emission arrays and the resistors thereof. An exemplary field emission array fabrication technique includes fabricating the column lines and emitter tips prior to fabricating a dielectric layer and the overlying grid structure, such as by the methods of U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,238, issued to Fred L. Roe et al. on Apr. 12, 1994, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,973, issued to Trung T. Doan et al. on Dec. 13, 1994. Alternatively, a field emission array may be fabricated by forming the dielectric layer and the overlying grid structure, then disposing material over the grid structure and into openings therethrough to form the emitter tips, such as by the technique disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,801, issued to Edward C. Lee on Sep. 23, 1997. Such conventional field emission array fabrication methods typically require the use of masks to independently define the various features, such as the column lines, resistors, and emitter tips, thereof. 
     Another exemplary method of fabricating field emission arrays is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,868 (hereinafter “the &#39;868 Patent”), issued to Kevin Tjaden et al. on Dec. 20, 1994. The fabrication method of the &#39;868 Patent includes defining trenches in a substrate. The trenches correspond substantially to columns of pixels of the field emission array. A layer of insulative material is disposed over the substrate, including in the trenches thereof. A layer of conductive material and a layer of cathode material (e.g., polysilicon) are sequentially disposed over the layer of insulative material. A mask may then be disposed over the layer of cathode material and the emitter tips and their corresponding column lines defined through the cathode material and “highly conductive” material layers, respectively. The method of the &#39;868 Patent is, however, somewhat undesirable in that the mask thereof is not also employed to fabricate resistors, which limit high current and prevent device failure. Moreover, in the embodiment of the method of the &#39;868 Patent that employs a single mask to fabricate both the emitter tips and their corresponding column lines, neither the “highly conductive” material nor the cathode material is planarized. Thus, the layer of cathode material may have an uneven surface and the heights of the emitter tips defined therein may vary substantially. In embodiments of the method of the &#39;868 Patent where the layer of “highly conductive” material is planarized, only the emitter tips are defined through the mask. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a field emission array fabrication process that employs a minimal number of mask steps to define emitter tips of substantially uniform height, their corresponding resistors, and their corresponding column lines. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a method of fabricating the pixels of a field emission array and, in particular, defining emitter tips and their corresponding resistors by employing a single mask. The field emission array fabrication method of the present invention may also include electrically isolating adjacent column lines from one another with requiring the use of an additional mask. Field emission arrays fabricated in accordance with the inventive method are also within the scope of the present invention. 
     The method of the present invention includes defining a plurality of substantially mutually parallel conductive lines on a substrate. In order to define the conductive lines, a layer of conductive material may be deposited onto the substrate. The conductive lines may be defined from the conductive layer by known processes. Alternatively, conductive material may be selectively deposited onto the substrate, as known in the art, to define the conductive lines. 
     One or more layers of semiconductive material or conductive material, from which the emitter tips and their corresponding resistors of the field emission array will be defined, may be disposed over each of the conductive lines and over the regions of the substrate that are exposed between adjacent conductive lines. The layer or layers of semiconductive material or conductive material are also referred to herein as the emitter tip-resistor layer or as the emitter tip layer and resistor layer, respectively. The emitter tip and resistor layer or layers may be disposed over the conductive lines and the substrate by known processes and in a thickness that corresponds to a desired height of the emitter tips and their corresponding resistors. As each of the conductive lines protrudes somewhat from the surface of the substrate, a cross section of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers has a peak and valley appearance. The peaks of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers are disposed substantially above the conductive lines, while the valleys of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers are disposed substantially between adjacent column lines. Due to this peak and valley appearance, if the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers are planarized, the heights of the emitter tips and the resistors are defined somewhat by the relative heights of the conductive lines and the thickness of material remaining above the conductive lines following planarization. 
     A layer of mask material may be disposed over the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers. Such a mask material may be removed from substantially above the conductive lines (i.e., from above the “peaks”) by known processes to define a so-called “hard mask” from the remaining mask material (i.e., the regions located in the “valleys”). Upon exposure of regions of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers, regions of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers disposed above the substantially longitudinal center portion of each of the conductive lines may be substantially removed by known processes to expose the substantially longitudinal center portion of the conductive lines. Exemplary processes that may be employed to remove material from these regions of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers include, without limitation, the use of etchants that are selective for the material or materials of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers over the mask material. 
     The emitter tip and resistor layer or layers may be planarized by known processes, such as by chemical-mechanical planarization (“CMP”). Upon such planarization, the peaks and possibly portions of the valleys proximate the surface of the uppermost layer of semiconductive material or conductive material are removed and a substantially planar surface is formed. 
     The emitter tips and resistors of the field emission array may be defined through the remaining portions of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers by disposing a mask over the exposed surface of the field emission array and defining apertures therethrough in locations to facilitate the selective removal of portions of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers through the apertures in order to define the emitter tips and resistors. The mask may be disposed upon the field emission array by known processes, such as by the use of a photoresist material and by exposing and developing selected regions of the photoresist material to define the mask and the apertures therethrough. The emitter tips and resistors may be defined by known processes, such as by the use of etchants for the material or materials of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers. Preferably, as regions of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers are removed from the substantially longitudinal center portion of each of the conductive lines and as the emitter tips and resistors are defined, at least a lateral edge of the conductive lines remains covered with a material of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers. 
     Adjacent columns of pixels of the field emission array may be electrically isolated from each other by removing at least the substantially longitudinal center portion of each of the conductive lines. An etchant that is selective for the conductive material of the conductive lines over the material or materials of the emitter tip and resistor layer or layers may be employed to remove conductive material from the substantially longitudinal center of each of the conductive lines and, thereby, to define the column lines and to electrically isolate adjacent column lines from one another. 
     The present invention also includes field emission arrays that have been fabricated in accordance with the method of the present invention. Thus, a field emission array according to the present invention may include a substrate with at least one resistor thereon, at least one lateral conductive layer, or column line, laterally adjacent the resistor, and at least one emitter tip disposed on the resistor. The substrate of the field emission array is exposed between adjacent column lines. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art through a consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic representation of a field emission array that may be fabricated in accordance with the method of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 1, illustrating the blanket disposition of a layer of conductive material over a surface of a substrate; 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 2, illustrating patterning of the layer of conductive material to define substantially mutually parallel conductive lines over the substrate; 
     FIG. 3A is a schematic top view of the field emission array of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 3, illustrating the disposition of an emitter tip-resistor layer over exposed portions of the substrate and over the substantially mutually parallel conductive lines; 
     FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional representation of a variation of the field emission array of FIG. 4, wherein the emitter tip-resistor layer comprises a layer of resistor material and a layer of emitter tip material disposed over the layer of resistor material; 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 4, illustrating the disposition of a mask layer over the emitter tip-resistor layer; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 5, illustrating the removal of regions of the mask layer disposed substantially above the conductive lines to define a hard mask from the mask layer; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 6, from which portions of the emitter tip-resistor layer disposed over the conductive lines have been removed through the hard mask; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 7, with the hard mask removed therefrom and illustrating planarization of the emitter tip-resistor layer; 
     FIG. 8A is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 4A, from which portions of the emitter tip-resistor layer disposed above the conductive lines have been removed, and the remaining surface of the emitter tip layer has been planarized; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 8, illustrating the disposition of a mask over the emitter tip-resistor layer; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 9, illustrating patterning of the emitter tip-resistor layer through apertures of the mask; and 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional representation of the field emission array of FIG. 10, illustrating the definition of column lines and the electrical isolation of adjacent columns of pixels by removing a substantially longitudinal center portion of each of the conductive lines. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a field emission array  10  is illustrated. Field emission array  10  includes a substrate  12  upon which various features of field emission array  10 , including the column lines  14 , resistors  16 , and emitter tips  18  thereof may be fabricated. A pixel  11  of field emission array  10  may include one or more emitter tips  18  and their associated, underlying resistor  16  or resistors. Each resistor  16  and its associated emitter tip  18  may be connected to, or otherwise in communication with, a relatively negative voltage source by means of one or more column lines  14 , or lateral conductive layer, which are preferably disposed laterally adjacent a corresponding resistor  16 . 
     With reference to FIG. 2, materials that may be employed as substrate  12  in the present invention include, without limitation, silicon, gallium arsenide, other semiconductive materials, silicon wafers, wafers of other semiconductive materials, silicon on glass (“SOG”), silicon on insulator (“SOI”), silicon on sapphire (“SOS”), and bare glass. 
     With continued reference to FIG. 2, a layer  20  of conductive material is disposed over substrate  12 . Conductive materials, such as doped silicon, polysilicon, doped polysilicon, chromium, aluminum, molybdenum, copper, or other metals, may be employed as layer  20 . The conductive material of layer  20  may be disposed over substrate  12  by known processes, such as by physical vapor deposition (“PVD”) (e.g., sputtering) or by chemical vapor deposition (“CVD”) (e.g., low pressure CVD (“LPCVD”), atmospheric pressure CVD (“APCVD”), or plasma-enhanced CVD (“PECVD”)) processes. Layer  20  may be blanket deposited over substrate  12  or selectively deposited thereover. 
     With reference to FIGS. 3 and 3A, if layer  20  is blanket deposited over substrate  12 , layer  20  may be patterned by known processes, such as by masking and etching techniques, to define substantially mutually parallel conductive lines  22  therefrom. If layer  20  is selectively deposited, the substantially mutually parallel conductive lines  22  may be fabricated during deposition of the conductive material of layer  20 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 4, a layer  24  of semiconductive material or conductive material, which is also referred to herein as a second layer or as an emitter tip-resistor layer, is disposed over conductive lines  22  and the regions of substrate  12  that are exposed between adjacent conductive lines  22 . Since conductive lines  22  protrude somewhat from substrate  12  and layer  24  is disposed thereover in a substantially consistent thickness, layer  24  has a peak and valley appearance, with peaks  26  being located above conductive lines  22  and valleys  28 , which are also referred to herein as depressions, being located between adjacent conductive lines  22 . 
     Exemplary semiconductive materials that may be employed as layer  24  include, without limitation, single-crystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, polysilicon, and doped polysilicon. These materials may be deposited as known in the art, such as by chemical vapor deposition techniques. Of course, conductive materials having the desired properties and that are useful in fabricating emitter tips  18  and resistors  16  may also be employed in layer  24  and may be disposed over conductive lines  22  and the exposed regions of substrate  12  by known processes. 
     Alternatively, it may be desirable to fabricate emitter tips  18  and resistors  16  from different semiconductive materials or conductive materials. For example, it may be desirable to fabricate resistors  16  from polysilicon, while a material such as single-crystalline silicon or amorphous silicon may be more desirable for fabricating emitter tips  18 . Accordingly, with reference to FIG. 4A, a variation of the field emission array may include a resistor layer  24   a′  and an emitter tip layer  24   b′ . Resistor layer  24   a′  is disposed over conductive lines  22  and the regions of substrate  12  exposed between adjacent conductive lines  22 . Emitter tip layer  24   b′  is disposed over resistor layer  24   a′ . As with layer  24  of FIG. 4, resistor layer  24   a′  and emitter tip layer  24   b′  may each have a peak and valley configuration. 
     Turning now to FIG. 5, a mask layer  42  of mask material may be disposed over emitter tip-resistor layer  24 . Preferably, the material or materials of emitter tip-resistor layer  24  are selectively etchable with respect to the mask material. Accordingly, materials such as metals, metal oxides, silicon oxides, doped silicon oxides (e.g., borophosphosilicate glass (“BPSG”), phosphosilicate glass (“PSG”), borosilicate glass (“BSG”), etc.), or silicon nitrides may be employed as the mask material. Mask layer  42  may be disposed upon emitter tip-resistor layer  24  by known processes, such as by physical vapor deposition (“PVD”), chemical vapor deposition, growing the mask material onto the surface of emitter tip-resistor layer  24 , or spinning the mask material thereon, depending upon the type of mask material employed. 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, a so-called “hard mask”  44  may be formed on emitter tip-resistor layer  24  by removing the regions of mask layer  42  that are disposed substantially between conductive lines  22 . These regions of mask layer  42  may be removed by known processes, such as by known planarization techniques, such as by the chemical-mechanical planarization (“CMP”) or chemical-mechanical polishing techniques taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,193,226 and 4,811,522, the disclosures of both of which are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference. As hard mask  44  is formed, the portions of emitter tip-resistor layer  24  that are disposed substantially above at least the substantially longitudinal center portion of conductive lines  22  are exposed through hard mask  44 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates the removal of portions of emitter tip-resistor layer  24  that are exposed through hard mask  44  and the exposure of at least substantially longitudinal center portions  34  of conductive lines  22  through emitter tip-resistor layer  24 . Preferably, the removal of these substantially longitudinal center portions  34  of emitter tip-resistor layer  24  is substantially anisotropic. The material or materials of the exposed portions of emitter tip-resistor layer  24  may be removed by known processes, such as by the use of etchants that are selective for one or more materials of emitter tip-resistor layer  24  over the mask material of hard mask  44 . Preferably, at least a peripheral lateral edge portion  36  of selected column lines  22  remains covered by emitter tip-resistor layer  24  so as to facilitate the subsequent removal of only a portion of the selected conductive lines  22 . 
     The use of a hard mask facilitates isolation of adjacent pixels independent of the heights of emitter tips  18  and resistors  16  (see FIG.  1 ). Accordingly, when such a hard mask  44  is employed, the relative heights of emitter tips  18  and resistors  16  are not determined by the height of conductive lines  22 , as would be the case if conductive lines  22  were exposed during the definition of emitter tips  18  and resistors  16  (i.e., resistors  16  need not have substantially the same height as conductive lines  22 ). 
     Hard mask  44  may be removed from emitter tip-resistor layer  24  by known techniques, such as planarization processes (e.g., CMP) or the use of etchants that etch the material of hard mask  44  with selectivity over the material or materials of emitter tip-resistor layer  24 . FIG. 8 illustrates field emission array  10  with the hard mask removed therefrom. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the peaks  26  (see FIGS. 4 and 4A) and possibly portions of valleys  28  (see FIGS. 4 and 4A) have been substantially removed from the exposed surface of layer  24  during the definition and/or removal of hard mask  44  (see FIGS. 6 and 7) therefrom. Layer  24  may be planarized by known processes, such as CMP. 
     With reference to FIG. 8A, if emitter tip layer  24   b′  (see FIG. 4A) is planarized, such as by known chemical-mechanical planarization techniques, the portions of emitter tip layer  24   b′  that remain between adjacent conductive lines  22  preferably have a thickness that is sufficient to fabricate emitter tips  18  (see FIG. 1) of a desired height therefrom. 
     Referring now to FIG. 9, the remainder of layer  24  may be patterned by disposing a mask  30  thereover and selectively removing portions of layer  24  through mask  30 . Known techniques may be employed to dispose mask  30  over layer  24 , and possibly over the exposed regions of conductive lines  22 , such as disposing a layer of photoresist material over layer  24 , and exposing and developing selected regions of the photoresist material to define apertures  32  therethrough in desired locations. 
     Turning now to FIG. 10, selected portions of the remainder of layer  24  may be removed through apertures  32  of mask  30  by known techniques, such as etching, to define emitter tips  18  and resistors  16 . Either wet etching processes or dry etching processes may be employed. As emitter tips  18  may be conically shaped, the use of isotropic etching techniques is preferred. For example, if either single-crystalline or amorphous silicon is employed to fabricate emitter tips  18  (i.e., if these materials are employed as layer  24 ), wet etchants, such as mixtures of nitric acid (HNO 3 ) and hydrofluoric acid (HF), may be employed in known wet etch processes to remove material from selected regions of layer  24 . As the exposure of conductive lines  22  through layer  24  and the definition of emitter tips  18  and resistors  16  from layer  24  may be effected through a single mask, each of these processes is said to occur substantially simultaneously for purposes of this disclosure. Preferably, as layer  24  is patterned, the material of layer  24  is not removed from (i.e., is maintained over) at least one peripheral edge portion  36  of each of conductive lines  22 . 
     If mask  30  or portions thereof remain following the definition of emitter tips  18  and resistors  16 , mask  30  may be removed from the surface of field emission array  10  by known processes. Any etchants may also be removed from field emission array  10  by known processes, such as by washing field emission array  10 . 
     FIG. 11 depicts field emission array  10  following the removal of the conductive material of at least the substantially longitudinal center portion  34  of each conductive line  22 . The conductive material of substantially longitudinal center portion  34  is substantially removed such that the underlying regions of substrate  12  are exposed and a lateral conductive layer  38  remains laterally adjacent each resistor  16 . 
     Each column line  14  preferably comprises a lateral edge portion  36  that remains from at least one of the conductive lines  22  that was previously adjacent the resistor  16 . The remaining lateral edge portion  36  of a patterned conductive line  22 , which is preferably disposed laterally adjacent its associated resistor  16 , is also referred to herein as a lateral conductive layer  38 . Preferably, each column line  14  includes two lateral conductive layers  38  with at least one resistor  16  disposed therebetween. 
     Thus, as conductive lines  22  are patterned, column lines  14  are formed and adjacent columns of pixels  11  or emitter tips  18  are substantially electrically isolated from each other. If an etchant or etchants are employed to pattern conductive lines  22 , any remaining etchants may be removed from field emission array  10  after the desired patterning has been performed. Etchants may be removed by known processes, such as by washing field emission array  10 . 
     The conductive material of substantially longitudinal center portion  34  of conductive lines  22  may be removed therefrom by known processes, such as by known etching techniques. While either dry etching or wet etching techniques may be employed to pattern conductive lines  22 , substantially anisotropic etching of conductive lines  22  is preferred so as to facilitate the formation of lateral conductive layers  38  of substantially uniform thickness. For example, if conductive lines  22  comprise polysilicon, a dry etchant, such as a chlorine etchant, a fluorine etchant, or a combination thereof (e.g., SF 6  and Cl 2 ), may be employed in a dry etch process, such as glow-discharge sputtering, ion milling, reactive ion etching (“RIE”), reactive ion beam etching (“RIBE”), or high-density plasma etching. 
     Conductive lines  22  may be patterned at any point when substantially longitudinal center portions  34  are exposed. For example, conductive lines  22  may be patterned prior to disposing layer  24  onto substrate  12 , after conductive lines  22  are exposed through layer  24 , or after emitter tips  18  and resistors  16  are defined. 
     The method of the present invention requires fewer fabrication steps than conventional field emission array fabrication processes. Accordingly, the method of the present invention may also facilitate a reduction in failure rates and production costs of field emission arrays. 
     Although the foregoing description contains many specifics and examples, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The scope of this invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions and modifications to the invention as disclosed herein and which fall within the meaning of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7