Patent ID: 7105420

Claim:
A method of forming air gaps within an integrated circuit structure, therewith forming a high quality inductor over a semiconductor substrate, comprising the steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate with a partially fabricated integrated circuit structure having been created thereon and depositing a layer of dielectric over the semiconductor substrate; forming a metal layer on said dielectric layer; depositing a first thin layer of oxide over said dielectric layer, thereby including said metal layer; forming a structure for first cavities over said first thin layer of oxide and aligned with said metal layer, said forming a structure for first cavities comprising applying and patterning a first layer of disposable solid followed by applying and patterning a first layer of oxide, said patterning a first layer of oxide further comprising forming a first and a second opening through said first layer of oxide, said first and second openings providing access to said first layer of disposable solid; forming a structure for second cavities above and aligned with said structure for said first cavities, said forming a structure for second cavities comprising applying and patterning a second layer of disposable solid followed by applying and patterning a second layer of oxide, said patterning a second layer of oxide further comprising forming a third and fourth opening through said second layer of oxide, said third and fourth openings providing access to said second layer of disposable solid, thereby creating overlying patterned first and second layers of disposable solid separated by said first layer of oxide and interconnected by said first and second opening formed through said first layer of oxide, said overlying patterned first and second layers of disposable solid being accessible via said third and fourth opening formed through said second layer of oxide; creating the first and the second cavities; performing an oxide deposition over said second cavities, creating a second thin layer of oxide; and forming a metal inductor on said second thin layer of oxide.