Abstract: A thin film resistor fabrication method requires that an IC's active devices be fabricated on a substrate, and a dielectric layer be deposited over the devices to protect them from subsequent process steps. A layer of thin film material is deposited next, followed by a barrier layer and a first layer of metal. These three layers are patterned and etched to form isolated material stacks wherever a TFR is to be located, and a first level of metal interconnections. The first metal layer is removed from the TFR stacks, and the barrier layer is patterned and etched to provide respective openings which define the active areas of each TFR. In a preferred embodiment, a dielectric layer is deposited after the first metal layer is removed, to protect the interconnect metal from corrosion and as an adhesion layer for the patterning of the openings which define resistor length.

Abstract: An IC resistor and capacitor fabrication method comprises depositing a dielectric layer over existing active devices and metal interconnections on an IC substrate. In a preferred embodiment, a layer of thin film material suitable for the formation of thin film resistors is deposited next, followed by a metal layer that will form the bottom plates of metal-dielectric-metal capacitors. Next, the capacitors' dielectric layer is deposited to a desired thickness to target a particular capacitance value, followed by the deposition of another metal layer that will form the capacitors' top plates. The metal layers, the capacitor dielectric layer, and the thin film material layer are patterned and etched to form TFRs and metal-dielectric-metal capacitors as desired on the IC substrate. The method may be practiced using any of several alternative process sequences. For example, the bodies of the TFRs can be formed before the deposition of the capacitors' layers.