Patent ID: 7214612

Claim:
A method for fabricating a dual damascene structure, comprising: sequentially forming a dielectric layer and a hard mask layer on a substrate; forming a trench pattern in the hard mask layer; forming, over the substrate, a first patterned photoresist layer that has a contact-hole pattern therein exposing a portion of the hard mask layer; performing a pull-back step to pull back the portion of the hard mask layer exposed by the contact-hole pattern; using the first patterned photoresist layer as a mask to remove a portion of the dielectric layer, so as to form an opening in the dielectric layer; removing the first patterned photoresist layer; using the hard mask layer as a mask to etch the dielectric layer down to the substrate, so as to form, in the dielectric layer, a contact hole and a trench passing over the contact hole; and forming a conductive layer in the trench and the contact hole.