Abstract:
A method of inhibiting photoresist pattern collapse which includes the steps of providing a substrate; providing a photoresist layer on the substrate; exposing and developing the photoresist layer; applying a top anti-reflective coating layer to the photoresist layer; rinsing the photoresist layer; and drying the photoresist layer.
Abstract:
A new method is provided for the creation of contact holes. The DOF and MEF of closely packed holes can be improved using Alternating Phase Shifting Mask (Alt PSM) for the exposure of the holes. However, Alt PSM are dependent on hole density or hole separation and are less effective where holes are relatively further separated from each other. In order to improve DOF and MEF performance for the creation of holes, the invention adds extra holes to a given pattern of contact holes on the surface of a first mask, thus densifying the pattern of holes on the first mask and therefore reducing the range of the hole-diameter to hole separation ratio. The pattern of added holes is alternating in phase with the pattern of desired holes. The added holes will be filled up using a second mask.
Abstract:
A method of inhibiting photoresist pattern collapse which includes the steps of providing a substrate; providing a photoresist layer on the substrate; exposing and developing the photoresist layer; applying a top anti-reflective coating layer to the photoresist layer; rinsing the photoresist layer; and drying the photoresist layer.
Abstract:
A method and system is disclosed for selectively forming photoresist patterns for making openings in a substrate. A layer of photoresist is deposited on the substrate which contains one or more types of photoresist dissolving agent generators. A first set of areas of the photoresist is exposed to a first light source through a first mask to activate a photoresist dissolving agent generator of a first type to release a first photoresist dissolving agent in the first set of areas. Then, a second set of areas of the photoresist is also exposed to a second light source through a second mask to activate a photoresist dissolving agent generator of a second type to release a second photoresist dissolving agent in the second set of areas. The second set of areas is a sub set of the first set of areas such that the first and second photoresist dissolving agents in the second set of areas neutralize each other to protect the second set of areas from being used as the patterns for forming the openings.