Patents by Inventor Sterling M. Goyer

Sterling M. Goyer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6921493
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of oxide hardmask aluminum etching in metal dry etch processors. It consists of two steps: the step of dry etching an aluminum interconnect stack by using an etch gas composed mainly of boron trichloride/chlorine/fluoroform/nitrogen, and the step of removing etch remnants by using a vapor plasma. The function of the etch gas is to etch the aluminum interconnection pattern in the semi-conductor, and the function of the water vapor plasma is to prevent the corrosion of a chip during the process of removing etch remnants, which will further reduce water rinsing and solution cleaning as in conventional practice, of water rinsing and solution cleaning after removal of photoresist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ann Chien, Brett C. Richardson, Sterling M. Goyer
  • Publication number: 20020192957
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of oxide hardmasking in metal dry etch processors. It consists of two steps: the step of dry etching an aluminum copper alloy layer by using an etch gas composed mainly of boron trichloride/chlorine/fluoroform/nitrogen, and the step of removing etch remnants by using a vapor plasma. The function of the etch gas is to etch the aluminum copper alloy interconnection pattern in the semi-conductor, and the function of the vapor plasma is to prevent the corrosion of a chip during the process of removing etch remnants, which will further reduce water rinsing and solution cleaning as in conventional practice, of water rinsing and solution cleaning after removal of photoresist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ann Chien, Brett C. Richardson, Sterling M. Goyer