Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of Korean Patent Application 2004-57333 filed on Jul. 22, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to interconnections of semiconductor devices, which in particular relates to a structure of interconnection for a semiconductor device, including pads for inputting and outputting external signals and fuses for selectively connecting and changing circuits to redundant circuits, and the method of forming the same.  
         [0003]     Semiconductor devices generally contain unit elements formed in a substrate and interconnections electrically connecting the unit elements in accordance with designed layout patterns. Also included in the semiconductor devices are pads for inputting and outputting power source voltages and electric signals to conduct their own operations, and fuses for turning modules or unit elements to redundant circuits when they are determined as having failed.  
         [0004]     Recently, it has become common to employ a dual damascene process with copper in manufacturing a semiconductor device for the sake of accomplishing high frequency operation, high quality signal output, and low product cost. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,440,833, entitled “METHOD OF PROTECTING A COPPER PAD STRUCTURE DURING A FUSE OPENING PROCEDURE”, discloses a fuse structure of a semiconductor device and a method of forming the fuse structure.  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  of the present application contains a schematic sectional diagram of a conventional semiconductor device.  
         [0006]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , metal plug layers  2  and  3  are formed in a substrate  1 . An interlevel insulation film  4  is deposited on the surface of the substrate  1 , exposing the tops of the metal plug layers  2  and  3 . Within regions confined by the interlevel insulation film  4 , a metal interconnection layer  6   a  and a fuse layer  6   b  are formed by means of a copper damascene process.  
         [0007]     On the resultant structure, interlevel insulation films  7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  10  are deposited in sequence and patterned to form an opening. Then, a copper layer  16   b  and a barrier metal layer  17  are formed to fill the opening. After depositing passivation layers  18  and  19  over the structure, a bonding pad  30  is formed to be electrically connected to the copper layer  16   b  and a fuse opening  22  is formed over the fuse layer  6   b.    
         [0008]     As shown, the conventional structure uses some metal interconnections as fuse layers. Also, interconnections for transferring power or signals in a semiconductor device are preferred to be constructed with copper that has low resistivity because they are required to have low electrical resistance. The sheet resistance of the interconnection may be increased by extending the width thereof or by raising the thickness thereof.  
         [0009]     It would be more advantageous to increase the thickness of the interconnection, rather than to extend the width of the interconnection, under consideration of integration efficiency. However, in case that the metal interconnections are partially used for the fuse layers, the increasing of the thickness may cause difficulty in opening the fuse interconnection. That is, in conducting a fuse opening process by a laser cutting technique to set a redundancy system for repairing defective circuits, an excessively thick fuse may be incompletely opened, and portions required to be completely cut may remain partially linked. Such a device may require, at least, a laser beam that is highly energized.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention is directed to an interconnection structure of a semiconductor memory and method of forming the same, which is not affected by an increase of the thickness.  
         [0011]     According to one aspect, the invention provides an interconnection structure of a semiconductor device, having a metallic compound fuse formed of an upper capacitor electrode layer. The interconnection structure comprises: a substrate including a first lower interconnection and a pair of second lower interconnections formed in the substrate apart from each other. A metallic compound fuse pattern is formed over the second lower interconnections connecting the second lower interconnections with each other. First and second interlevel insulation films cover the substrate having the first and second lower interconnections and the fuse pattern. A fuse opening is formed in the first and second interlevel insulation films. A pad electrode is connected to the first lower interconnection in the first interlevel insulation film. A bonding pad is connected to the pad electrode through the second interlevel insulation film on the second interlevel insulation film. The metallic compound fuse pattern is the same material as the upper capacitor electrode layer.  
         [0012]     In one embodiment, the structure further comprises a capacitor including: a lower capacitor electrode formed on the same level as the first and second lower interconnections; a capacitor dielectric film formed on the lower electrode; and an upper capacitor electrode formed on the capacitor dielectric film. The upper capacitor electrode is formed of the same material as the metal fuse pattern.  
         [0013]     In one embodiment, the structure further comprises a capacitor interconnection linked to the upper capacitor electrode on the same level as the pad electrode.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment, the structure further comprises a capping film covering the fuse pattern under the first interlevel insulation film, the capping film forming a bottom of the fuse opening.  
         [0015]     In one embodiment, the metal is one of titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum nitride (TaN), and titanium tungsten (TiW).  
         [0016]     In on embodiment, the structure further comprises the pad electrode is directly connected to the first lower interconnection.  
         [0017]     According to another aspect, the invention is directed to an interconnection structure of a semiconductor device. The device includes a substrate and a first lower interconnection, a lower electrode, and a pair of second lower interconnections formed on the substrate separated from each other. A capacitor dielectric film and a upper capacitor electrode are stacked on the lower electrode. A fuse pattern is formed over the second lower interconnections connecting the second lower interconnections with each other. First and second interlevel insulation films cover the substrate having the first and second lower interconnections and the fuse pattern, a fuse opening being formed in the first and second interlevel insulation films. A pad electrode is connected to the first lower interconnection in the first interlevel insulation film. A bonding pad is connected to the pad electrode through the second interlevel insulation film on the second interlevel insulation film.  
         [0018]     In one embodiment, the upper capacitor electrode and the fuse pattern are formed of metallic compounds.  
         [0019]     In one embodiment, the metallic compound is one of titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum nitride (TaN), and titanium tungsten (TiW).  
         [0020]     In one embodiment, the pad electrode is directly connected to the first lower interconnection.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment, the structure further comprises a capping film covering the first lower interconnection, the upper capacitor electrode, and the fuse pattern, under the first interlevel insulation film, the capping film forming a bottom of the fuse opening.  
         [0022]     In one embodiment, the first lower insulation film includes lower and higher interlevel insulation films stacked in sequence; and the pad electrode is formed of a via pattern connected to the first lower interconnection through the lower interlevel insulation film, and an upper interconnection connected to the via pattern in the upper interlevel insulation film.  
         [0023]     In one embodiment, the structure further comprises a via pattern connected to the upper capacitor electrode through the lower interlevel insulation film and a capacitor interconnection connected to the via pattern in the upper interlevel insulation film.  
         [0024]     In one embodiment, the upper capacitor electrode and the fuse pattern are covered by the lower interlevel insulation film.  
         [0025]     In one embodiment, the fuse pattern is formed of the same material as an upper electrode of an MIM (metal-insulator-metal) capacitor. The MIM capacitor is constructed of a lower capacitor electrode formed on the same level with the first and second lower interconnections, a capacitor dielectric film formed on the lower electrode, and an upper capacitor electrode formed on the capacitor dielectric film. The upper capacitor electrode is formed of the same material as the metal fuse pattern.  
         [0026]     The fuse opening makes an insulation film over the fuse pattern in a predetermined thickness, and the insulation film may be a capping film covering the fuse pattern under the first interlevel insulation film.  
         [0027]     Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method of forming interconnections in a semiconductor device including a metallic compound fuse to connect interconnection layers on the interconnection layers. The method comprises: forming a first lower interconnection and a pair of second lower interconnections apart from each other on a substrate, forming a metallic compound fuse pattern over the second lower interconnections to connect the second lower interconnections with each other, forming a first interlevel insulation film on the resultant structure having the fuse pattern, forming a pad electrode connected to the first lower interconnection through the first interlevel insulation film, forming a second interlevel insulation film on the resultant structure having the pad electrode, patterning the second interlevel insulation film to form a pad opening exposing the pad electrode, forming a bonding pad connected to the pad electrode in the pad opening, removing the first and second interlevel insulation films over the fuse pattern in a predetermined depth to form a fuse opening.  
         [0028]     In one embodiment, a capping film is conformably formed on the structure having the fuse pattern. The pad electrode is connected to the first lower interconnection through the capping film and the fuse opening is formed to expose the capping layer.  
         [0029]     In one embodiment, the metallic compound is one of titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum nitride (TaN), and titanium tungsten (TiW).  
         [0030]     In one embodiment, forming the pad electrode comprises forming a capacitor interconnection connected to the upper capacitor electrode through the first interlevel insulation film.  
         [0031]     According to another aspect, the invention is directed to a method of forming interconnections in a semiconductor device. The method includes: forming a first lower interconnection, a lower electrode, and a pair of second lower interconnections apart from each other on a substrate; forming a dielectric film on the resultant structure including the first lower interconnection, the lower electrode, and the second lower interconnections, the dielectric film being associated with a fuse region in which the second lower interconnections are exposed; forming a metallic compound layer on the resultant structure including the dielectric film; patterning the metallic compound layer and the dielectric film to form a capacitor film and an upper electrode, and forming a fuse pattern to connect the second lower interconnections with each other in the fuse region; forming a first interlevel insulation film on the resultant structure including the pad electrode; forming a pad electrode connected to the first lower interconnection through the first interlevel insulation film; forming a second interlevel insulation film having a pad opening to expose the pad electrode on the resultant structure including the pad electrode; forming a bonding pad connected to the pad electrode in the pad opening; and patterning the first and second interlevel insulation films to form a fuse opening over the fuse pattern.  
         [0032]     In one embodiment, the metallic compound is one of titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum nitride (TaN), and titanium tungsten (TiW).  
         [0033]     In one embodiment, the method further comprises, before forming the first interlevel insulation film, conformably forming a capping film on the entire surface of the substrate. The pad electrode is connected to the first lower interconnection through the capping film and the fuse opening is formed to expose the capping layer.  
         [0034]     In one embodiment, forming the first interlevel insulation film and the pad electrode comprises: stacking lower and upper interlevel insulation films on the substrate in sequence to form a first interlevel insulation film; patterning the upper and lower interlevel insulation films in sequence to form a via hole exposing the first lower interconnection and an interconnection groove extending on the lower interlevel insulation film; and filling the via hole and interconnection groove with a conductive film to form a pad electrode that is composed of a via pattern connected to the first lower interconnection and an upper interconnection layer connected to the via pattern.  
         [0035]     In one embodiment, forming the via hole and interconnection groove comprises further forming a via hole and an interconnection groove and forming a capacitor interconnection composed of a via pattern connected to the upper electrode and an upper interconnection connected to the via pattern.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0036]     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the more particular description of preferred aspects of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, the thickness of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity.  FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional diagram of a conventional semiconductor device.  
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional diagram illustrating an interconnection structure of a semiconductor device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0038]      FIGS. 3 through 8  are schematic sectional diagrams illustrating a process of forming an interconnection structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0039]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that when a layer is referred to as being on another layer or substrate, it can be directly on the other layer or substrate, or intervening layers may also be present.  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a sectional diagram illustrating an interconnection structure of a semiconductor device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0041]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a lower interconnection layer is formed in a substrate  100  in which a pad region A, a capacitor region B, and a fuse region C are defined. The lower interconnection layer includes a first lower interconnection  102   a  formed in the pad region A, a lower capacitor electrode  102   b  formed in the capacitor region B, and a second lower interconnection  102   c  formed in the fuse region C. The first and second lower interconnections,  102   a  and  102   c , and the lower capacitor electrode  102   b  may be designed to be interconnected with each other.  
         [0042]     The lower interconnection layer may be made of copper (Cu) having excellent conductivity. On the lower capacitor electrode  102   b , a capacitor dielectric film  104   d  and an upper capacitor electrode  106   p  are stacked in sequence. On the second lower interconnections  102   c  formed apart from each other in the fuse region C, a fuse pattern  106   f  is formed of the upper capacitor electrode layer.  
         [0043]     The upper capacitor electrode  106   p  and the fuse pattern  106   f  may be formed of a metallic compound used as a barrier metal in constructing a metal interconnection of a semiconductor device, e.g., titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum nitride (TaN), or titanium tungsten (TiW). A material  104  forming the capacitor dielectric film  104   d  may partially remain at the edges of the fuse pattern  106   f.    
         [0044]     A conformal capping film  108  covers the overall structure of the substrate  100  in which the upper capacitor electrode  106   p  and the fuse pattern  106   f  are formed. On the capping film  108 , interlevel insulation films  110 ,  114 , and  122  are deposited. Etch stopping layers  112  and  120  may be interposed among the interlevel insulation films  110 ,  114 , and  122 . An upper interconnection layer is formed through the first interlevel insulation film composed of the lower and upper interlevel insulation films  110  and  114 . The upper interconnection layer may be formed by means of a copper damascene process. Although not shown, the upper interconnection layer may be connected to the upper capacitor electrode  106   p  and electrically connected to the second lower interconnection  102   c  in a predetermined region. In the pad region A, a pad electrode  118  formed of the upper interconnection layer is connected to the first lower interconnection  102   a  through the first interlevel insulation film. A second interlevel insulation film  122  is formed on the first interlevel insulation film and a bonding pad  126  connected to the pad electrode  118  through the second interlevel insulation film  122  is formed in the pad region A. The bonding pad  126  may be made of aluminum. Over the fuse pattern  106   f , a fuse opening  128  is formed by removing the interlevel insulation films thereon. The fuse opening  128  may be formed with an insulation film remaining in a predetermined thickness on the fuse pattern  106   f . For instance, the capping film  108  on the fuse pattern  106   f  can be exposed by the fuse opening  128 .  
         [0045]      FIGS. 3 through 8  are sectional diagrams illustrating the process of forming an interconnection structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0046]     First, referring to  FIG. 3 , the pad region A, the capacitor region B, and the fuse region C are defined in the substrate  100 . The substrate  100  may be one in which passive and active components are formed and an insulation film is deposited on the components.  
         [0047]     A lower interconnection layer is formed on the substrate  100 . The lower interconnection layer may be formed by means of a copper damascene process. The first lower interconnection  102   a  is formed in the pad region A, the lower capacitor electrode  102   b  is formed in the capacitor region B, and the second lower interconnection  102   c  is formed in the fuse region C. The first and second lower interconnections,  102   a  and  102   c , are designed to be electrically connectible with each other. Then, the dielectric film  104  is deposited on the overall structure of the substrate  100  having the lower interconnection layer that is composed of the first lower interconnection  102   a , the lower capacitor electrode  102   b , and the second lower electrode  102   c.    
         [0048]     Next, referring to  FIG. 4 , the dielectric film  104  is patterned to expose the second lower interconnections  102   c  in the fuse region C. Then, the upper capacitor electrode layer  106  is formed on the overall structure of the substrate  100  in which the fuse region C is completely formed. The upper capacitor electrode layer  106  may be formed of a metallic compound such as titanium nitride (TiN), tantalum nitride (TaN), or titanium tungsten (TiW).  
         [0049]     Next, referring to  FIG. 5 , the upper capacitor electrode layer  106  and the dielectric film  104  are patterned in sequence to form the capacitor dielectric film  104   d  and the upper capacitor electrode  106   p  which are stacked on the lower capacitor electrode  102   b  in order. Simultaneously, the fuse pattern  106   f  is formed connecting the second lower interconnections  102   c  therein. According to the patterning position, portions of the dielectric film  104  may remain under the edges of the fuse pattern  106   f.    
         [0050]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the capping film  108  is deposited on the overall structure of the substrate  100  having the upper capacitor electrode  106   p  and the fuse pattern  106   f . The capping film  108  may be formed of silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or silicon carbide. The first interlevel insulation film, which is composed of the lower and upper interlevel insulation films  110  and  114 , is formed on the overall structure of the substrate  100  having the capping film  108 . The etch stopping layer  112  may be formed between the upper interlevel insulation film  114  and the lower interlevel insulation film  110 .  
         [0051]     Next, referring to  FIG. 7 , employing the copper damascene processing technique, via holes and interconnection grooves  116  are formed partially exposing the first lower interconnection  102   a , the upper capacitor electrode  106   p , and the second lower interconnection  102   c  through the lower interlevel insulation film  110 . The via holes and interconnection grooves  116  are patterned and formed in the upper interlevel insulation film  114 . An upper electrode layer is formed of copper filling the via holes and the interconnection grooves  116 . The upper electrode layer includes the pad electrode  118  connected to the first lower interconnection  102   a , and an upper interconnection layer (not shown) positionally connected to the upper capacitor electrode  106   p  and the second lower interconnection  102   c . The upper interconnection layer may be designed in a predetermined layout pattern.  
         [0052]     Finally, referring to  FIG. 8 , the etch stopping layer  120  is formed on the overall structure of the substrate  100  having the upper interconnection layer and the second interlevel insulation film  122  is formed on the etch stopping layer  120 . The second interlevel insulation film  122  may be formed by stacking materials of series of silicon oxides and silicon nitrides in order to protect the device from the external environment.  
         [0053]     Further in  FIG. 8 , the second interlevel insulation film  122  is patterned to form the pad opening  124  exposing the pad electrode  118 . After an aluminum film is formed on the overall structure of the substrate  100  having the pad opening  124 , the aluminum film is patterned to form the bonding pad that fills the pad opening  124  and is connected to the pad electrode  118 .  
         [0054]     The fuse opening  128  shown in  FIG. 2  is formed by partially removing the first and second interlevel insulation films over the fuse region C. The fuse opening  128  may be formed leaving the first interlevel insulation film on the fuse pattern  106   f  by removing the second interlevel insulation film  122 , or to expose the capping film on the fuse pattern  106   f  by entirely patterning the first and second interlevel insulation films.  
         [0055]     Although the present invention has been described in connection with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various substitution, modifications and changes may be thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0056]     According to the invention, a thinner fuse pattern is formed while increasing thickness of interconnections, by patterning a fuse layer using the relatively thin upper capacitor electrode film, without using any relatively thicker interconnection layer involved in propagation speed of signals in the semiconductor device.  
         [0057]     The invention provides a semiconductor device with improved operation characteristics increasing the thickness and sheet resistance of interconnections without defects in opening fuses.

Technology Category: 5