Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 88103922, filed Mar. 15, 1999. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an interconnect. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Due to the increasingly high integration of ICs, chips simply cannot provide sufficient area for manufacturing interconnections. Therefore, in accord with the increased interconnect manufacturing requirements of miniaturized MOS transistors, it is increasingly necessary for IC manufacturing to adopt a design with more than two metal layers. In particular, a number of multi-function products, such as microprocessors, may even require 4 or 5 metal layers to complete the internal connections thereof. Generally, an inter-metal dielectric (IMD) layer is used to isolate electrically two adjacent metal layers from each other. 
     In order to perform an interconnection more easily and to transfer the pattern more precisely, it is important to have a wafer with an even topography. Since the probability of inaccuracy of the alignment system can be reduced by using a wafer with a relatively even topography, the fine pattern can be transferred more accurately. 
     FIGS. 1A through 1B are schematic, cross-sectional views of the conventional pattern transfer process. 
     As shown in FIG. 1A, a substrate having a conductive layer  120 , wires  120   a  and  120   b  and a insulating layer  122  formed thereon is provided. A dotted line I—I divides a wafer (not shown) into two parts. One side of the dotted line I—I, denoted as region  116 , is the interior region of the wafer, wherein the interior region has effective dies. The other side of the dotted line I—I, denoted as region  118 , is the edge region of the wafer. The dies in the region  118  are incompletely formed, so that the region  118  is a region having ineffective dies. Since the distribution density of the conductive layer  120  is higher than that of the wires  120   a  and  120   b , the ability of portions of the insulating layer  122  in the region  118  to resist the planarization step is higher than that in the region  116 . Hence, portions of the insulating layer  122  in the region  118  are thicker than the portions of the insulating layer  122  in the region  116  after chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP). Because the region  118  is higher than the region  116 , a sloped surface  124  of the insulating layer  122  above the wire  120   a  is shown in the region  116  adjacent to the region  118 . In highly integrated ICs, the interconnection is more than one layer, so that the step height between the regions  118  and  116  is increasingly larger. 
     As shown in FIG. 1B, a photoresist  128  is formed on the insulating layer  122 . Photolithography is performed to form openings  130   a  and  130   b  in the photoresist  128 , respectively aligned with the wires  120   a  and  120   b . The opening  130   b  may be formed to expose the underlying dielectric layer  122  since the photoresist  128  is within the range of depth of focus (DOF). The DOF range is from the optimum focus BF to the maximum AF at both sides of the optimum focus BF. As the portion of the photoresist  128  over the wire  120   a  is higher and beyond the DOF, so that an error occurs for the photolithography process. As a consequence, the opening  130   a  fails to expose by the dielectric layer  122 . This is called scumming. Additionally, the defocusing happens since a conductive layer subsequently formed on the region  118  is relatively high and beyond the DOF. Therefore, the conductive layer caves. 
     Generally, the step height of the photoresist caused by the profile of only one conductive layer is about 1000-3000 angstroms, which is an allowable error range. In other words, difference between the photoresist  128  in the region  118  and in the region  116  is about 1000-3000 angstroms. However, the step height increases as the number of the conductive layers increases. Therefore, the step height is more than 6000-7000 angstroms beyond the tolerable range. Hence, the scumming easily happened and it is difficult to accurately transfer a fine pattern from the photomask to the wafer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a method of manufacturing an interconnect. By using the invention, the problem of scumming can be overcome and the throughput can be greatly enhanced. 
     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a method of manufacturing an interconnect. A wafer having an edge region and an interior region is provided. An insulating layer is formed on the wafer. An opening penetrating through the insulating layer in the interior region is formed and a portion of the insulating layer is removed to expose the surface of the wafer in the edge region, simultaneously. A conductive layer is formed on the insulating layer and the exposed surface of the wafer exposed by the insulating layer and fills the opening. The conductive layer is patterned to form a wire in the opening. Since the insulating layer in the edge region of the wafer is lower than that in the interior region of the wafer and the sloped surface of the insulating layer is in the edge region, a fine pattern can be more accurately transferred from the photomask into the insulating layer. The problem of scumming can be also overcome. Moreover, the throughput can be greatly enhanced by using the invention. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, 
     FIGS. 1A through 1B are schematic, cross-sectional views of the conventional pattern transfer process; and 
     FIGS. 2A through 2L are schematic, cross-sectional views of the process for manufacturing an interconnect in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
     FIGS. 2A through 2L are schematic, cross-sectional views of the process for manufacturing an interconnect in a preferred embodiment according to the invention. 
     As shown in FIG. 2A, an insulating layer  202  and a photoresist  204  are formed on a substrate  200  in sequence. The insulating layer  202  can be an inter-layer dielectric layer (IDL) or inter-metal dielectric layer (IMD) and the photoresist layer  204  can be a positive photoresist, for example. A dotted line II—II divides a wafer (not shown) into two parts. One side of the dotted line II—II denoted as region  216  is the interior region of the wafer, wherein the interior region has effective dies. The other side of the dotted line II—II denoted as region  218  is the edge region of the wafer. The dies in the region  218  are incomplete, so that the region  218  is a region having ineffective dies. 
     As shown in FIG. 2B, a first exposure step is performed to expose a portion of the photoresist  204  in the region  216  by a light  217   a  in a stepper with a photomask  215 . The pattern is transferred from the photomask  215  into the photoresist  204  through the first exposure step. 
     As shown in FIG. 2C, a second exposure step is performed to expose the photoresist  204  in the region  218  by a light  217   b  in a stepper. In this example, the region  218  can be exposed without using a mask or by using a blank mask. The second exposure step and the first exposure step can be performed in the different steppers, for example. 
     As shown in FIG. 2D, a development step is performed on the photoresist  204  and the pattern on the photomask  215  ( as shown in FIG. 2B) is transferred to the photoresist  204  in the region  216 . Therefore, portions of the photoresist  204  in the regions  216  and  218  are removed to expose portions of the insulating layer  202  in the regions  216  and  218  and the patterned photoresist  204  is denoted as photoresist  204   a.    
     As shown in FIG. 2E, portions of the insulating layer  202  in the region  216  is removed to form openings  206   a  and  206   b  by using the photoresist  204   a  as an etching mask until a portion of the substrate  200  is exposed by the openings  206   a  and  206   b . Simultaneously, the portion of the insulating layer  202  in the region  218  is removed to expose a portion of the substrate  200  in the region  218 . The insulating layer  202  having opening  206   a  and  206   b  and uncovering the portion of the insulating layer in the region  218  is denoted as insulating layer  202   a . The openings  206   a  and  206   b  can be via holes or node contact holes, for example. The photoresist  204   a  is removed to expose the insulating layer  202   a.    
     As shown in FIG. 2F, a conductive layer  220  is formed on the substrate  200  exposed by the insulating layer  202   a  and on the insulating layer  202   a  and fills the openings  206   a  and  206   b . The material of the conductive layer  220  can be a metal or polysilicon, for example. The thickness of the conductive layer  220  is about 5000 angstroms. 
     As shown in FIG. 2G, the conductive layer  220  is patterned to form conductive layer  220   c , wires  220   a  and  220   b , respectively on the substrate  200  exposed by the insulating layer  202   a  and in the openings  206   a  and  206   b . An insulating layer  224  with low permittivity is formed over the substrate  200 . The insulating layer  224  is formed by chemical vapor deposition, for example. Preferably, the method of forming the insulating layer  224  can be high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD). Since the insulating layer  224  has low permittivity, it can provide good isolation between wires  220   a  and  220   b . Because the wires  220   a  and  220   b  are slightly higher than the surface of the insulating layer  202   a , the surface of the insulating layer  224  is not smooth. 
     As shown in FIG. 2H, an insulating layer  226  is formed on the insulating layer  224 . The insulating layer  226  can be formed by chemical vapor deposition, for example. Preferably, the method of forming the insulating layer  226  can be plasma enhancement chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The insulating layers  224  and  226  together form an insulating layer  222 . Since the portion of the insulating layer  224  above the wires  220   a  and  220   b  are relatively thick, the topography of the insulating layer  224  is rough. Therefore, the topography of the insulating layer  226  formed on the insulating layer  224  is uneven. 
     As shown in FIG. 2I, a planarization step is performed to planarize the insulating layer  226 . The planarization step can be CMP. Since the region  218  is lower than the region  216 , the region  218  is slightly lower than the region  216  after the planarization step. Hence, a sloped surface  226   a  of the insulating layer  222  is shown in the regions  218  adjacent to the region  216 . In the other words, the portion of the insulating layer  226  above the wires  220   a  and  220   b  is very even. 
     As shown in FIG. 2J, a patterned photoresist  228  having openings  230   a  and  230   b  is formed on the insulating layer  222 . The openings  230   a  and  230   b  are respectively aligned with the wires  220   a  and  220   b . Because of the very even insulating layer  226  above the wires  220   a  and  220   b , a portion of the photoresist  228  above the wires  220   a  and  220   b  is within the DOF range and the scumming will not happen. Hence, the openings  230   a  and  230   b  are vertical to the insulating layer  222  and expose a portion of the insulating layer  222  above the wires  220   a  and  220   b.    
     As shown in FIG. 2K, a portion of the insulating layer  222  is removed to form openings  232   a  and  232   b  by using the patterned photoresist  228  as an etching mask. The openings  232   a  and  232   b  penetrate through the insulating layer  222  and respectively expose the wires  220   a  and  220   b . The openings  232   a  and  232   b  can be via holes or node contact holes, for example. The patterned photoresist  228  is removed. 
     As shown in FIG. 2L, a conductive layer  234  is formed on the insulating layer  222  and fills the openings  232   a  and  232   b.    
     In the invention, when other interconnection layers are formed on the conductive layer  234 , the process of forming the interconnection layers is the same as the process shown from FIGS. 2A through 2L. In the other words, a portion of the insulating layers above the conductive layer  234  in the region  218  is removed, which is the same as the formation of the insulating layer  202   a . In this example, the method of removing a portion of the insulating layer in the region  218  can be used for alternating insulating layers. 
     In the invention, since the edge region of the wafer is lower than the interior region of the wafer and the sloped surface of the insulating layer and the photoresist is in the edge region, the insulating layer in the edge region is in the DOF range. Therefore, a fine pattern can be transferred from the photomask into the insulating layer more accurately and the problem of scumming is overcome. Moreover, the loss ratio of effective dies in the interior region of the wafer by using the conventional method is about 15 percent. However, by using the invention, the throughput can be greatly enhanced by about 20 percent. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: h