Abstract: A method for protecting an alignment mark area during a CMP process including forming at least a first material layer over a process surface of a semiconductor wafer including active areas and alignment mark trenches formed in the at least one alignment mark area; forming at least a second material layer over the first material layer including the active areas and the at least one alignment mark area; lithographically patterning and etching the at least a second material layer to form at least a plurality lines of the at least a second material layer adjacent to the alignment mark trenches; and, carrying out a CMP process to remove at least a portion of the at least a second material layer.

Abstract: A method for protecting an alignment mark area during a CMP process including forming at least a first material layer over a process surface of a semiconductor wafer including active areas and alignment mark trenches formed in the at least one alignment mark area; forming at least a second material layer over the first material layer including the active areas and the at least one alignment mark area; lithographically patterning and etching the at least a second material layer to form at least a plurality lines of the at least a second material layer adjacent to the alignment mark trenches; and, carrying out a CMP process to remove at least a portion of the at least a second material layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a planarized photoresist coating on a substrate having holes with different duty ratios is described. A first photoresist preferably comprised of a Novolac resin and a diazonaphthoquinone photoactive compound is coated on a substrate and baked at or slightly above its Tg so that it reflows and fills the holes. The photoresist is exposed without a mask at a dose that allows the developer to thin the photoresist to a recessed depth within the holes. After the photoresist is hardened with a 250° C. bake, a second photoresist is coated on the substrate to form a planarized film with a thickness variation of less than 50 Angstroms between low and high duty ratio hole regions. One application is where the second photoresist is used to form a trench pattern in a via first dual damascene method. Secondly, the method is useful in fabricating MIM capacitors.