Planarization of a gate electrode for improved gate patterning over non-planar active area isolation

Abstract

The present invention is a process for providing a planarized transistor gate on a non-planar starting substrate, by depositing a layer of planarized conductive polysilicon material overlying neighboring field oxide isolation regions such that the height of the conductive polysilicon material extends above the topology of the field oxide isolation regions; depositing a layer of conductive silicide material superjacent and coextensive the conductive polysilicon material; and then patterning the planarized conductive polysilicon material and the conductive silicide material thereby forming the planarized transistor gate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.