Patent ID: 7419913

Claim:
A method of forming an opening into dielectric material, comprising: forming patterned masking material over dielectric material of a substrate, the masking material comprising outer and inner layers of different composition materials; first etching an opening partially into the dielectric material using the patterned masking material as a mask, the opening comprising opposing sidewalls; after the first etching, removing all of the outer layer while leaving at least some of the inner layer at least proximate the opening; after the removing, depositing an electrically conductive material over remaining of the inner layer and to within the opening over at least respective portions of the opposing sidewalls and to less than fill the opening; and while said electrically conductive material is over said respective portions of the opposing sidewalls within the opening and is less than filling the opening, second etching the dielectric material to extend the opening deeper within the dielectric material, the second etching comprising plasma etching.