Patent Abstract:
Disclosed is a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern and methods of fabricating the same. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of fabricating a resistor pattern having high sheet resistance by using a polycide layer for a gate electrode in a semiconductor device with the resistor pattern. Embodiments of the invention also provide a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern that is formed narrower than the minimum line width that can be defined in a photolithographic process so that sheet resistance thereof increases, and a method of fabricating the same.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/675,336, filed on Sep. 29, 2003, now pending, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 2002-61403, filed on Oct. 9, 2002, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This disclosure generally relates to semiconductor memory devices and, more specifically, to a semiconductor memory device with a resistor pattern and methods of fabricating the same.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Semiconductor integrated circuits can be formed from active devices, such as diodes or transistors, and from passive devices such as capacitors, resistors, and inductors, in any combination. Typical integrated circuits use a resistor pattern having high resistance. Conventionally, the resistor pattern of a semiconductor device is formed of doped polysilicon having a relatively high sheet resistivity (Rs). The polysilicon is used in various parts of fabricating the semiconductor integrated circuit. A gate electrode (i.e., part of an important active device) of the transistor typically includes a polysilicon layer. Capacitor electrodes (i.e., a storage electrode and a plate electrode) are also formed of polysilicon. However, since the transistor requires a low gate resistance for low power-dissipation and a high speed-operation, the gate electrode of the transistor is typically formed of a polycide layer comprising a stacked polysilicon layer and a silicide layer.  
         [0004]     Among semiconductor memory devices, a FLASH memory device typically includes a floating gate formed of a single layer of polysilicon and a control gate electrode formed of a polycide layer.  
         [0005]     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a device isolation layer  12  is disposed in a substrate  10  to define an active region  14 . Source and drain regions  30   s  and  30   d  are disposed in the active region  14 . A gate stack  16  including a floating gate  20   a , a gate interlayer dielectric layer  28 , and control gate electrodes  22 , which are sequentially stacked, is disposed on a substrate between the source and drain regions  30   s  and  30   d . In addition, a resistor pattern  18  is disposed on the device isolation layer  12  and resistor electrodes  28  are connected to both edges of the resistor pattern  18 . The resistor electrodes  28  are long enough to extend through an interlayer dielectric layer  26 , which covers the entire surface of the substrate.  
         [0006]     As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cell transistor of the FLASH memory device includes the floating gate  20   a , which is formed of polysilicon. This enables a resist pattern to be formed using the polysilicon layer  20   b  that is also used for forming the floating gate  20   a.    
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a conventional DRAM memory device.  
         [0008]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in the DRAM memory device, a device isolation layer  42 , defining an active region  44 , is disposed on a substrate  40 , and source and drain regions  48   s  and  48   d  are disposed in the active region  44 . A gate electrode  59  is disposed on a substrate between the source and drain regions  48   s  and  48   d . A capacitor is connected to the source region  48   s . The capacitor includes a lower electrode  60  connected to the source region  48   s  and an upper electrode  56   a  formed at each divided sector in a cell array region. To lower the gate resistance, the gate electrode  59  is formed of polycide that includes a polysilicon layer  50  and a silicide layer  54 . Therefore, a resistor pattern may not be formed from the polysilicon layer  50  that forms the gate electrode  59 . Thus, a resistor pattern  56   b  of the conventional DRAM memory device may be formed of a polysilicon layer that is used to form the lower electrode  60  or the upper electrode  56   a.    
         [0009]     As explained above, the FLASH memory device and the DRAM memory device may include a step of forming a resistor pattern formed of a single polysilicon layer during each step of forming the floating gate and the capacitor, respectively. In a semiconductor device with a polycide gate electrode, a desired resistor pattern typically is formed by making a resistor pattern of a single polysilicon layer or by reducing the thickness or the width of the polysilicon layer. A method of fabricating a resistor pattern having high sheet resistance in a semiconductor device with a polycide gate is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,313,516 entitled “Method for Making High-Sheet-Resistance Polysilicon Resistors for Integrated Circuits”.  
         [0010]      FIGS. 3-6  are cross-sectional views showing a method of fabricating a semiconductor device with a typical resistor pattern.  
         [0011]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a device isolation layer  62  is formed in a substrate  60  to define an active region  64 , and source and drain regions  66   s  and  66   d  are formed in the active region  64 . A gate electrode  78  is formed on an active region  64  between the source and drain regions  66   s  and  66   d . An interconnection or a lower electrode  80  is formed on the device isolation layer  62 .  
         [0012]     A capacitor dielectric layer  76  is further formed on the entire surface of the resultant substrate. The gate electrode  78  and the capacitor lower electrode  80  are formed of polycide comprising polysilicon  70  and refractory metal silicide  72 , which are sequentially stacked.  
         [0013]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a resistor pattern  88  is formed on the capacitor dielectric layer  76 . The resistor pattern is formed by sequentially stacking a thin doped polysilicon layer  82  and a thick undoped polysilicon layer  84 , thereby increasing sheet resistance.  
         [0014]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an interlayer dielectric layer  86  is formed on the entire surface of the substrate with the resistor pattern  88 . Next, electrodes  90  are formed to extend through the interlayer dielectric layer  86  and connect to both edges of the resistor pattern  88 .  
         [0015]     As explained above, since the sheet resistance of polycide is low, the resistor pattern cannot be formed during formation of the gate electrode. Therefore, separate steps for forming the gate pattern and forming the resistor pattern are required, and the gate electrode and the resistor pattern are formed on different layers, thus increasing a step difference of the device.  
         [0016]     Embodiments of the invention address these and other limitations in the prior art.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of fabricating a resistor pattern having high sheet resistance by using a polycide layer for a gate electrode in a semiconductor device with the resistor pattern. Embodiments of the invention also provide a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern that is formed narrower than the minimum line width that can be defined in a photolithographic process so that sheet resistance thereof increases, and a method of fabricating the same. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a cell pattern and a resistor pattern of a conventional FLASH memory device.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating a cell pattern and a resistor pattern of a conventional DRAM memory device.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 3-6  are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating a method of fabricating a semiconductor device with a typical resistor pattern.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7A  is a layout diagram illustrating a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7B  is cross-sectional diagram of a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 7A .  
         [0023]      FIGS. 8-10  are cross-sectional diagrams illustrating the semiconductor device with a resistor pattern in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 7A .  
         [0024]      FIGS. 11 and 12  are cross-sectional diagrams showing a method of fabricating a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, taken along line A-A of  FIG. 7A .  
         [0025]      FIG. 13A  is a layout diagram illustrating a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 13B  is a cross-sectional diagram of a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern in accordance with the embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 13A , taken along line B-B of  FIG. 13A .  
         [0027]      FIGS. 14-16  are cross-sectional diagrams showing a method of fabricating a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern in accordance with the embodiment described with reference to  FIG. 13A , taken along line B-B of  FIG. 13A .  
         [0028]      FIGS. 17-19  are cross-sectional diagrams showing a method of fabricating a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, taken along line B-B of  FIG. 13A .  
         [0029]      FIG. 20  is a layout view illustrating a semiconductor device in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]     The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention, however, can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. It will also be understood that when a layer is referred to as being “on” another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIGS. 7A and 7B , a semiconductor device having a resistor pattern in accordance with this embodiment of the present invention includes a device isolation layer  102  and an active region  104  that are disposed in a substrate  100 . A source region  120   s  and a drain region  120   d  are formed in the active region  104 . A gate electrode  114  is disposed on the active region  104  between the source and drain regions  120   s  and  120   d . The gate electrode  114  may include an overlapping region on the device isolation region  102 . The gate electrode  114  comprises a polysilicon pattern  10   a  and a metal silicide pattern  112   a  that are sequentially stacked, and may further comprise a gate capping insulation layer  116  on the metal silicide pattern  112   a . A resistor pattern  108  is disposed on the device isolation layer  102 . As illustrated in the drawings, the resistor pattern  108  is formed to be line-shaped so as to achieve high resistance and comprises a single region of polysilicon. A metal silicide layer may also be formed on the polysilicon pattern at both edges of the line-shaped resistor pattern  108 . Contact plugs  122  are connected to the source and drain regions  120   s  and  120   d , respectively. Resistor electrodes  124   a  are connected at both edges of the resistor pattern  108 . Gate spacers  118   a  are disposed on sidewalls of the gate electrode  114 , and resistor spacers  118   b  are disposed on the sidewalls of the resistor pattern  108 . The gate spacers  118   a  may prevent a short between the contact plug  122  and the gate electrode  114  and they also form the junction structure of the source and drain regions  120   s  and  120   d . The contact plugs  122  and the resistor electrode  124   a  are connected to the source region  120   s , the drain region  120   d , and the resistor pattern  108 , respectively, through an interlayer dielectric layer  126 , which covers the entire surface of the substrate. The inner sidewall of the resistor spacer  118   b  is substantially vertical, while the outer sidewall is curved. A portion of the vertical sidewall protrudes over the resistor pattern  108  to contact the interlayer dielectric layer  126 .  
         [0032]      FIGS. 8-10  illustrate a method of fabricating a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern, as described above. Referring to  FIG. 8 , a device isolation layer  102  is formed in a substrate  100  to define an active region  104 . A source region  120   s , a drain region  120   d , and a gate electrode  114  are formed in the active region  104 . The source and drain regions  120   s  and  120   d  are formed by implanting impurities into the active region  104 . The gate electrode  114  is formed with a polycide structure by sequentially stacking a polysilicon pattern  110   a  and a metal silicide pattern  112   a . Additionally, a gate capping insulation layer  116  may be formed on the metal silicide pattern  112   a . Gate spacers  118   a  are formed on the sidewalls of the gate electrode  114 . The spacers  118   a  are formed so that a junction structure of the source and drain regions  120   s  and  120   d  are formed to have LDD or DDD structure, and they further prevent a short between an interconnection and the gate electrode  114 , which is connected to the source and drain regions  120   s  and  120   d . Up to this step in fabrication, a conventional semiconductor device may be employed. However, in this embodiment, a resistor pattern  108  is next formed on the device isolation layer  102 . Since the resistor pattern  108 , as well as the gate electrode  114 , may have a polycide structure, a second polysilicon pattern  110   b  and a second metal silicide pattern  112   b  are stacked to form the resistor pattern  108 . In addition, a capping insulation layer  116   a  may be formed on the second metal silicide pattern  112   b.    
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the second metal silicide pattern  112   b  of the resistor pattern  108  is etched to expose the top surface of the second polysilicon pattern  110   b  and a portion of the inner sidewalls of the resistor spacer  118   b  aligned to the sidewalls of the second polysilicon pattern  110   b . The second metal silicide pattern  112   b  may be removed after a photoresist pattern is formed to expose the entire or a portion of the resistor pattern  108 . Next the capping insulation layer  116   a  is etched. If only a portion of the resistor pattern  108  is exposed, the photoresist pattern then covers both edges of the line-shaped resistor pattern and the exposes the rest.  
         [0034]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , an interlayer dielectric layer  126  is formed on the entire resulting surface of the substrate. Using conventional methods, an interconnection process is performed to form resistor electrodes  124   a  of  FIG. 7A , which are formed to extend through the interlayer dielectric layer  126  and connect to both edges of the resistor pattern  108 , and to form contact plugs  124   g , which are connected to the source region  120   s , the drain region  120   d , and the gate electrode  114 .  
         [0035]      FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate another embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 11 , using the same method of the embodiment explained with reference to  FIG. 8 , a gate electrode  114  is formed on the active region  104  and a resistor pattern  108  is formed on the device isolation layer  102 . A first interlayer dielectric layer  126  is formed on an entire surface of the substrate. The first interlayer dielectric layer  126  is then patterned to form an opening  128 , which exposes the entire or a portion of the top surface of the resistor pattern  108 . The capping insulation layer  116   a  is etched to expose the top surface of the second metal silicide pattern  112   b  in the opening  128 .  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the second metal silicide pattern  112   b  exposed in the opening  128  is removed to expose the top surface of the second polysilicon pattern  110   b  and inner sidewalls of the resistor spacers  118   b , which are aligned to the sidewalls of the second polysilicon pattern  110   b . Depending on the region exposed by the opening  128 , the second metal silicide pattern  112   b  of the resistor pattern  108  can be completely removed or it could have a remaining part at both edges of the resistor pattern  108 , such that the resistor pattern  108  includes a single polysilicon pattern and a multi-layered pattern of polysilicon and metal silicide.  
         [0037]     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 12 , a second interlayer dielectric layer  130  is formed on the entire surface of the substrate. The second interlayer dielectric layer  130  fills the opening  128 . A process for planarizing the second interlayer dielectric layer  130  may be further performed. Then, a contact plug  122  and resistor electrodes  124   a  of  FIG. 7A  are formed. The contact plugs  122  are connected to the source and drain regions  120   s  and  120   d  through both the first and second interlayer dielectric layers  126  and  130 , and the resistor electrodes  124   a  are connected at both edges of the resistor pattern  108 . In a case where the second metal silicide pattern  112   b  may remain at both edges of the resist pattern  108 , the resistor electrodes  124   a  may be connected to the second metal silicide pattern  112   b . In this case, the resistance value may decrease, but the pattern, except for both edges of the resistor pattern  108 , is still a single polysilicon pattern that can achieve a sufficiently high sheet resistance. As a result, a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  can be fabricated.  
         [0038]      FIGS. 13A-16  illustrate other embodiments according to the invention. Referring to  FIGS. 13A and 13B , a semiconductor device with a resistor pattern in accordance with this embodiment of the invention includes a device isolation layer  202 , an active region  204 , a gate electrode  214  disposed on the active region  204 , and a resistor pattern  208  formed on the device isolation layer  202 . In the same way as the previously described embodiment, the source and drain regions  220   s  and  220   d  are formed in the active region  204  and the gate electrode  214  is disposed on an active region  204  between the source and drain regions  220   s  and  220   d . The gate electrode  214  has a polycide structure of a polysilicon pattern  210   a  and a metal silicide pattern  212   a . A gate capping insulation layer  216  may be more formed on the metal silicide pattern  212   a . An interlayer dielectric layer  226  covers the entire surface of the resulting substrate, contact plugs  222  are connected to the source and drain regions  220   s  and  220   d , respectively, and resistor electrodes  224   a  are connected to both edges of the resistor pattern  208 , respectively.  
         [0039]     In this embodiment, the resistor electrodes  208  are disposed to be line-shaped and include a hollow region  232  where the device isolation layer  202  is exposed. Resistor spacers  218   b  are formed on outer sidewalls of the resistor pattern  208  and upper spacers  230  are disposed on the resistor pattern  208 . Each of the upper spacers  230  has a vertical sidewall aligned to the outer sidewall of the resistor pattern  208  and a curved sidewall opposite to the vertical sidewall. The edge of the curved sidewall is aligned to the sidewall of the hollow region  232 . Each of the resistor spacers has a vertical sidewall contacting the outer sidewall of the resistor pattern  208  and the vertical sidewall of the upper spacer  230 . Gate spacers are disposed on sidewalls of the gate electrode  214  and include first gate spacers  218   a  and second gate spacers  218   c  that are formed of a layer identical to the resistor spacers.  
         [0040]     As illustrated in  FIG. 13A , the hollow region  232  is formed between the edges of the resistor pattern  208 . Both edges of the resistor pattern  208  are formed to have a structure of polysilicon and metal silicide that are sequentially stacked, and a region adjoining the hollow region  232  that has a single structure of polysilicon. Resistor electrodes  224   a  are connected to the metal silicide layer at both edges of the resistor pattern  208 .  
         [0041]      FIGS. 14-16  are cross-sectional views showing a method of fabricating the semiconductor device illustrated in  FIGS. 13A and 13B . Referring to  FIG. 14 , a device isolation layer  202  is formed in a substrate  200  to define an active region  204 . A source region  220   s , a drain region  220   d , and a gate electrode  214  are formed at the active region  204 . The source and drain regions  220   s  and  220   d  are formed by implanting impurities into the active region  204  and the gate electrode  214  has a polycide structure, which is a sequential stacking of a polysilicon pattern  210   a  and a metal silicide pattern  212   a . A gate capping insulation layer  216  may then be formed on the metal silicide pattern  212   a . Gate spacers  218   a  are next formed on the sidewalls of the gate pattern  214 . A resistor pattern  208  is formed on the device isolation layer  202 . That is to say, a second polysilicon pattern  210   b  and a second metal silicide pattern  212   b  are sequentially stacked to form the resistor pattern  208 . In addition, a capping insulation layer  216   a  may be formed on the second metal silicide pattern  212   b . Resistor spacers  218   b  are formed on the sidewalls of the resistor pattern  208 .  
         [0042]     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the second metal silicide pattern  212   b  of the resistor pattern  208  is etched to expose the top surface of the second polysilicon pattern  210   b  and a portion of the inner sidewalls of the resistor spacers, which are aligned with the sidewalls of the second polysilicon pattern  210   b . If a portion of the resistor pattern remains, a photoresist pattern covering both edges of the resistor pattern is used to preferably expose the rest of the polysilicon pattern. Up to this step, the method is identical to that of the previously described embodiment explained with reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 .  
         [0043]     However with this embodiment, upper spacers  230  are formed on the edges of the exposed second polysilicon pattern  210   b  as shown in  FIG. 15 . Continuing to refer to  FIG. 15 , the upper spacers  230  comprise a vertical sidewall that is formed on the inner sidewalls of the exposed resistor spacers and is aligned to both the sidewalls of the second polysilicon pattern  210   b  and the curved sidewall opposite to the vertical sidewall. In this case, additional spacers  218   c  are formed on the gate spacers  218   a.    
         [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 16 , using the upper spacers  230  as an etch mask, the second polysilicon pattern  210   b  is etched to expose the device isolation layer  202 , thus creating hollow regions  232  where the device isolation layer  202  is exposed. The sidewalls of the hollow region  232  are aligned to the edges of the curved sidewalls of the upper spacers. Therefore, a width of the resistor pattern is determined by depending on the width of the upper spacers  230 . The sheet resistance of the resistor pattern  208  is thereby increased due to the part of the resistor pattern  208  that was etched out for the hollow regions  232 . In the above step of forming the hollow region  232 , both edges of the resistor pattern  208  are covered with a photoresist pattern  234  of  FIG. 13  and then etched. An interlayer dielectric layer  226  is formed on the entire surface of the substrate with the hollow region  232 . Resistor electrodes  224   a  of  FIG. 13  are formed to connect with both edges of the resistor pattern  208  through the interlayer dielectric layer  226 , and contact plugs  224  are formed to connect with the source region  220   s , the drain region  220   d , and the gate electrode  214 , thereby fabricating the semiconductor device with a resistor pattern illustrated in  FIGS. 13A and 13B .  
         [0045]      FIGS. 17-19  are cross-sectional views illustrating a variation of the above-described embodiment, taken along line B-B of  FIG. 13A . Referring to  FIG. 17 , as described above, a gate electrode  214  is formed on the active region  204  and a resistor pattern  208  is formed on a device isolation layer  202 . A first interlayer dielectric layer  226  with an opening  238  is formed on the entire surface of the substrate, and the entire or a portion of the top surface of the second polysilicon pattern  210   b  is exposed in the opening  238 . Next, upper spacers  230   a  are formed on the sidewalls of the opening. The upper spacers  230   a  includes a vertical sidewall aligned to the second polysilicon pattern  210   b  and a curved sidewall opposite to the vertical sidewall.  
         [0046]     Referring to  FIG. 18 , using the first interlayer insulation layer  226  and the upper spacers  230   a  as an etch mask, the second polysilicon pattern  210   b  is etched to expose a portion of the device isolation layer  202 . As a result, hollow region  232  is formed where the device isolation layer  202  is exposed. The remaining second polysilicon patterns  210   c  forms the sidewalls of the hollow regions  232 .  
         [0047]     Referring to  FIG. 19 , a second interlayer dielectric layer  234  is formed on the entire resultant surface of the substrate. The second interlayer dielectric layer  234  fills the opening  238 . Contact plugs  222  may be formed through the first and second and first interlayer dielectric layer  226  and  234  to connect with the source region  220   s  and the drain region  220   d , and resistor electrodes  224   a  of  FIG. 13A  may be formed to connect with both edges of the resistor pattern  208 . If the second metal silicide pattern  212   b  remains at both edges of the resistor pattern  208 , the resistor electrodes  224   a  are connected to the top of the second metal silicide pattern  212 , as illustrated in  FIG. 13   a . However, the resistor pattern  208  is still a single polysilicon pattern, except for both edges, and an efficiently high sheet resistance may be achieved. As a result, a semiconductor device with a resist pattern as illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B  can be fabricated. If an opening  238  is formed to expose an entire surface of the resistor pattern  208 , the second metal silicide pattern  212   b  of the resistor pattern  208  is completely removed and the entire top surface of the second polysilicon pattern  210   b  is exposed. In this case, as illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the resistor pattern  208  is a single polysilicon layer that thinly surrounds the hollow region  232 . The resistor electrodes  224   a  are formed to overlap both edges of the resistor pattern  208 .  
         [0048]     Therefore, according to a broad aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor memory device with a resistor pattern, including a part having a single layer of polysilicon, is provided. The device includes a device isolation layer disposed in a substrate to define an active region, source and drain regions formed in the active region, and a gate electrode formed on the active region between the source and drain regions. Further, a gate insulation layer is interposed between the gate electrode and the active region, a resistor pattern is formed on the device isolation layer, and resistor electrodes are connected to both edges of the resistor pattern. In this case, the gate electrode includes a polysilicon pattern and a silicide pattern that are sequentially stacked on the gate insulation layer. However, the resistor pattern includes only a single polysilicon pattern. If the device is a SONOS memory device, the gate insulation is multi-layered and includes at least one silicon nitride layer.  
         [0049]     According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes a resistor pattern, which is formed of a conductive layer having a high sheet resistance, is also provided. In this aspect, a device isolation layer is formed in a substrate to define an active region. A first conductive layer and a second conductive layer are then sequentially stacked on the active region and the device isolation layer to form a gate pattern and a resistor pattern, respectively. Gate spacers and resistor spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the gate pattern and the resistor pattern, respectively and the second conductive layer of the resistor pattern is removed to expose a portion of the inner sidewalls of the resistor spacers and the top of the first conductive layer. Resistor electrodes are next formed to connect with both edges of the resistor pattern. The first conductive layer may be formed of polysilicon and the second conductive layer may be formed of metal silicide having high conductivity.  
         [0050]     An embodiment of the present invention can include the following method. A device isolation layer is formed in a substrate to define an active region, and a polysilicon layer and a metal silicide layer are sequentially stacked on the surface of the substrate. The polysilicon layer and the metal silicide layer are patterned to form a gate pattern comprising a first polysilicon pattern and a first silicide pattern on the active region, and to form a line shaped resistor pattern comprising a second polysilicon pattern and a second silicide pattern on the device isolation layer. Gate spacers and resistor spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the gate pattern and the resistor pattern, respectively. Next, the second silicide pattern is etched to expose a portion of the inner sidewalls of the resistor pattern that is aligned to the sidewalls and top of the second polysilicon pattern. An interlayer dielectric layer is then formed on the entire surface of the substrate. Resistor electrodes are formed to extend through the interlayer dielectric layer and connect with both edges of the resistor pattern.  
         [0051]     In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of fabricating the semiconductor substrate comprises the following. A device isolation layer is formed in a substrate to define an active region. A polysilicon layer and a silicide layer are stacked on the entire surface of the substrate. The polysilicon layer and the silicide layer are patterned to form a gate pattern comprising a first polysilicon pattern and a first silicide pattern on the active region, and to form a line-shaped resistor pattern comprising a second polysilicon pattern and a second silicide pattern on the device isolation layer. Gate spacers and resistor spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the gate pattern and the resistor pattern, respectively. The second silicide pattern of the resistor pattern is etched to expose a portion of the inner sidewall of the resistor pattern that is aligned to sidewalls and the top of the second polysilicon pattern. Upper spacers are then formed on the inner sidewalls of the exposed resistor spacers on the second polysilicon pattern. The upper spacers are formed to have a vertical sidewall aligned to the inner sidewall of the resistor spacers and a curved sidewall opposite to the vertical sidewall. Using the upper spacers as an etch mask, the second polysilicon pattern is etched to form hollow regions where the device isolation layer is exposed. The hollow region includes sidewalls aligned to the curved sidewalls of the upper spacers. Resistor electrodes are next connected to both edges of the resistor pattern.  
         [0052]     According to the present invention, a polysilicon resistor having a high sheet resistance can be formed when a gate electrode with polycide structure is formed, a resistor pattern with a polycide structure is formed, and then a metal silicide layer of the resistor pattern is removed. In addition a portion of the resistor pattern can be removed to form a hollow region, thereby reducing the cross-section area and increasing the sheet resistance.  
         [0053]     Those skilled in the art recognize that the method of forming integrated circuits described herein can be implemented in many different variations. Therefore, although various embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appending claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8