Patent ID: 6872633

Claim:
A method of filling an opening or trench in a substrate with a dielectric layer comprising: providing a substrate in which an opening or trench has been formed, said opening or trench having a bottom, a top, and a width; performing a first deposition of a dielectric material to form a the dielectric layer on the substrate in a HDP CVD process chamber with a gas mixture comprising oxygen but not argon or other inert gases, said dielectric layer has a first thickness above said opening or trench and said dielectric layer entirely fills said opening or trench; performing a sputter etch in a HDP CVD process chamber to lower a level of said dielectric layer such that there is no dielectric material remaining above any keyholes in said dielectric layer; performing a second deposition of said dielectric material in a HDP CVD process chamber without argon to provide a dielectric layer with a second thickness above said opening or trench that ensures said trench or opening is completely filled; and planarizing the dielectric layer until it is coplanar with the top of said opening or trench.