PATENT CLAIM ANALYSIS

Application Number: 15993568
Application Type: Utility
Filing Date: 2018-05
Publication Date: 2018-10
Patent Classification: ["438", "692000"]

Abstract:
A method for patterning a layer increases the density of features formed over an initial patterning layer using a series of self-aligned spacers. A layer to be etched is provided, then an initial sacrificial patterning layer, for example formed using optical lithography, is formed over the layer to be etched. Depending on the embodiment, the patterning layer may be trimmed, then a series of spacer layers formed and etched. The number of spacer layers and their target dimensions depends on the desired increase in feature density. An in-process semiconductor device and electronic system is also described.

Claim (Index 30):
A method used during fabrication of a semiconductor device, the method comprising:\n forming a pair of sacrificial pedestals on a layer to be etched; forming a spacer layer over at least the pair of sacrificial pedestals; removing the pair of sacrificial pedestals and a portion of the spacer layer to form pairs of sacrificial spacers, each of the pairs of sacrificial spacers having one spacer closest to another spacer of the other pair and defining a space between the one and the other spacer; and filling the space between the one and the other sacrificial spacer to form a spacer used during etching of the layer to be etched.

Metadata:
- Claim Count in Document: 35.0
- Percentile: 93.0
- Lexical Diversity: 1.85965
- Patent Class: 438.0
- Transitional Phrase Type: open
- Component Type: 1
- Foreign Priority: False
- Related Applications: ['15681066', '11484271', '15076474', '14507507', '12757898']

Analysis Scores:
- 35 USC 101 Eligibility (BERT): 0.8702583220957745
- 35 USC 102 Novelty (BERT): 0.5101927016391993
- Combined Prediction Score: 0.834251760050117
- Mean Citation Score: 266.184928
- Max Citation Score: 325.19363
- Similarity Product: 318.8920451207185

Labels:
- Claim Label 101: 1
- Claim Label 102: 0
- Claim Label 103: 1
- Claim Label 112: 1
- Combined Label: 0
- Label 101 Adjusted: 1

Dataset: test