Patent ID: 7455893

Claim:
A method for depositing a silicon-containing dielectric layer over a substrate disposed in a substrate processing chamber, the substrate having a trench formed between adjacent raised surfaces, the method comprising: depositing a first portion of the dielectric layer over the substrate and within the trench using a high density plasma process that has simultaneous deposition and sputtering components, wherein the high density plasma deposition process includes forming a plasma from a deposition gas and an inert gas flowed into the substrate processing chamber, wherein the deposition gas comprises a silane; thereafter, changing the flow rates of one or more of the deposition gas and inert gas to decrease a deposition-to-etch ratio of the high density plasma process; and thereafter, changing the flow rates of one or more of the deposition gas and inert gas to increase a deposition-to-etch ratio of the high density plasma process and deposit a second portion of the dielectric layer over the substrate.