Patent ID: 7977185

Claim:
A method of removing a spacer from a post silicide structure, the structure including a gate formed on a surface of the substrate, the spacer formed above the substrate and adjacent the gate, an oxide liner disposed between the spacer and the substrate and the gate, and a silicide layer formed on the substrate, the method comprising: depositing an oxide layer over the post silicide structure; depositing a nitride layer over said oxide layer; removing a portion of said nitride layer, said portion comprising a portion of the nitride layer disposed over a sidewall of the gate, to expose a portion of said oxide layer; conducting a short oxide etch to remove less than an entirety of the portion of said oxide layer, such that a raised corner portion of said oxide layer remains after said short oxide etch, said raised corner portion extending above a bottom portion of the oxide liner; and subsequently removing the spacer formed on the post silicide structure.