摘要:
A lithographic process for semiconductor device fabrication is disclosed. In the process a patterned mask having a multilayer film formed on a substrate is illuminated by extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation and the radiation reflected from the pattern mask is directed onto a layer of energy sensitive material formed on a substrate. The image of the pattern on the mask is thus introduced into the energy sensitive material. The image is then developed and transferred into the underlying substrate. The multilayer film is inspected for defects by applying a layer of energy-sensitive film (called the inspection film) in proximity to the multilayer film and exposing the energy-sensitive material to EUV radiation. The thickness of the multilayer film is such that a portion of the EUV radiation is transmitted through the inspection film, reflected from the multilayer film and back into the inspection film. The exposed inspection film is then developed, and the developed inspection film is inspected to determine if it indicates the presence of defects in the underlying multilayer film.
摘要:
Remote positioning to submicron accuracy is based on comparison of two interference gratings, the first of constant phase, and the second segmented. Positioning corresponds with equal segment-by-segment overlap of an image of one grating superimposed on the other.
摘要:
In IC fabrication, feature size accuracy is monitored by making a test pattern composed of grating lines in proximity to two reference patterns. With the proper feature size, the test pattern will visually appear to have a shade of grey intermediate that of the two reference patterns. Too small a feature size will make the test pattern lighter, while too large a feature size will make it appear darker.
摘要:
A lithographic apparatus and process that utilizes dark-field imaging of mask features to introduce an image of those features into an energy sensitive resist material is disclosed. Dark field imaging is accomplished by utilizing off-axis illumination in combination with one or more masks. The zero-order off-axis illumination is lost from the system and is not captured from the downstream imaging optics. The mask or mask contains both lithographic features and non-imaged features. The non-imaged features are too small to be resolved by the imaging optics used to introduce the image into the energy sensitive material. The lithographic features and non-imaged features associated with a particular pattern feature are either present on the same mask, or decoupled where the non-imaged features are on one mask and the lithographic features are on a second mask.
摘要:
In an automated inspection procedure, corresponding elements from all the patterns lying along a row of a replicated-pattern mask or wafer are successively imaged onto a storage medium in an interleaved way. At the completion of an inspection cycle, sets of corresponding elements from all the patterns in the row are respectively arrayed in the storage medium in a side-by-side fashion.