Method for evaluating the effects of multiple exposure processes in lithography
    1.
    发明授权
    Method for evaluating the effects of multiple exposure processes in lithography 有权
    用于评估光刻中多次曝光过程的影响的方法

    公开(公告)号:US06777147B1

    公开(公告)日:2004-08-17

    申请号:US10249944

    申请日:2003-05-21

    IPC分类号: G03F900

    摘要: A method of evaluating process effects of multiple exposure photolithographic processes by first determining a set of expected images for each exposure step or process of the multiple exposure process individually and then obtaining a composite set of images by sequentially perturbing images from a first or previous exposure step by weighted images from the subsequent exposure step. Preferably, the expected images are determined by simulation in the form of normalized aerial images over a range of defocus for each exposure step, and the weighting factor used is the dose-ratio of the subsequent exposure dose to the prior step exposure dose. The resulting composite set of images may be used to evaluate multiple exposure processes, for example, to provide an estimate of yield for a given budget of dose and focus errors, or alternatively, to provide specifications for tool error budgets required to obtain a target yield.

    摘要翻译: 一种评估多次曝光光刻处理的处理效果的方法,其通过首先单独确定每个曝光步骤或多次曝光处理的预期图像集合,然后通过依次扰动来自第一曝光步骤或先前曝光步骤的图像来获得复合图像组 通过后续曝光步骤的加权图像。 优选地,通过在每个曝光步骤的散焦范围上的归一化空间图像的形式的模拟来确定预期图像,并且所使用的加权因子是随后的曝光剂量与先前阶段曝光剂量的剂量比。 所得到的复合图像集合可以用于评估多个曝光过程,例如,为给定的剂量和焦点误差预算提供产量的估计,或者提供用于获得目标产量所需的工具误差预算的规格 。

    Self-aligned alternating phase shift mask patterning process
    2.
    发明授权
    Self-aligned alternating phase shift mask patterning process 有权
    自对准交替相移掩模图案化工艺

    公开(公告)号:US06824932B2

    公开(公告)日:2004-11-30

    申请号:US10164242

    申请日:2002-06-05

    IPC分类号: G03F900

    摘要: A method and apparatus for making phase shift masks are provided wherein an anti-reflective coating used on an opaque pattern layer of the mask fully covers the opaque pattern layer and has not been etched in the etching process to form the phase shift mask. A two-exposure method to form the phase shift mask is used wherein a photoresist having a defined dose-to-clear level is coated on the surface of the mask and the lower surface of the mask is exposed to a blanket exposure in an energy amount less than the dose-to-clear level. The open areas of the upper surface of the mask to be etched are exposed to an energy dose in an amount less than the dose-to-clear level, with the sum of the amounts of the lower surface energy and upper surface energy being at least the dose-to-clear level. The method and apparatus minimizes and/or avoids etching of the anti-reflective coating.

    摘要翻译: 提供了一种用于制造相移掩模的方法和装置,其中在掩模的不透明图案层上使用的抗反射涂层完全覆盖不透明图案层,并且在蚀刻工艺中没有被蚀刻以形成相移掩模。 使用形成相移掩模的双曝光方法,其中具有确定的剂量至清晰度的光致抗蚀剂被涂覆在掩模的表面上,并且掩模的下表面以能量的量曝光 小于剂量到清除水平。 要蚀刻的掩模的上表面的开放区域暴露于小于剂量至清除水平的量的能量剂量,其中下表面能和上表面能的量的总和至少为 剂量到清晰度。 该方法和装置使抗反射涂层的蚀刻最小化和/或避免。

    Layout impact reduction with angled phase shapes
    3.
    发明授权
    Layout impact reduction with angled phase shapes 失效
    具有角度相位形状的布局冲击减少

    公开(公告)号:US07135255B2

    公开(公告)日:2006-11-14

    申请号:US10249317

    申请日:2003-03-31

    IPC分类号: G01F9/00

    CPC分类号: G03F1/30

    摘要: A phase shift mask shape that reduces line-end shortening at the critical feature without changing layout size increases required of requisite phase shift rules. The phase feature is given an angled extension, which includes the lithographic shortening value. This allows the critical shape to be designed much closer to the reference layer then it could without the angled extension feature. Phase mask extension features beyond a given device segment are significantly reduced by lengthening the feature along an uncritical portion; moving the feature reference point to the device layer; and flattening the phase extension feature into an L-shape or T-shape along the uncritical parts of a device segment. Applying these design rules allows a draw of the gate conductor under current conditions and puts phase shapes inside without extending the gate conductor dimensions to the next feature.

    摘要翻译: 减少关键特征而不改变布局尺寸的线端缩短的相移掩模形状增加了所需的相移规则。 相位特征给出一个有角度的延伸,其包括光刻缩短值。 这允许将临界形状设计得更接近参考层,然后它可以没有成角度的延伸特征。 通过沿着非临界部分延长特征,显着减少了给定装置段之外的相位掩模延伸特征; 将特征参考点移动到设备层; 并且将相延伸特征沿着装置段的非关键部分平坦化为L形或T形。 应用这些设计规则允许在当前条件下绘制栅极导体,并将相位形状置于内部,而不会将栅极导体尺寸延伸到下一个特征。

    Topography compensated film application methods
    4.
    发明授权
    Topography compensated film application methods 有权
    地形补偿膜应用方法

    公开(公告)号:US07354779B2

    公开(公告)日:2008-04-08

    申请号:US11276707

    申请日:2006-03-10

    IPC分类号: G01R31/26 H01L21/66

    CPC分类号: H01L21/0271 H01L21/0276

    摘要: Methods for applying topographically compensated film in a semiconductor wafer fabrication process are disclosed. The processes include premapping a surface of a wafer so as to determine the local topography (e.g., z-height) of the wafer and then applying a variable depth of a film to the wafer, such that the variable depth is modulated based on the local topography of the wafer. The resultant topography of the applied film and wafer is substantially planar (e.g., within approximately 100 nm) across the wafer.

    摘要翻译: 公开了在半导体晶片制造工艺中应用地形学补偿膜的方法。 这些过程包括预先处理晶片的表面,以便确定晶片的局部形貌(例如,z-高度),然后将薄膜的可变深度施加到晶片,使得可变深度基于本地 晶圆的形貌。 所施加的膜和晶片的所得形貌在晶片上基本上是平面的(例如在大约100nm内)。

    Plural interleaved exposure process for increased feature aspect ratio in dense arrays
    5.
    发明授权
    Plural interleaved exposure process for increased feature aspect ratio in dense arrays 失效
    多个交错曝光过程,用于增加密集阵列中的特征长宽比

    公开(公告)号:US06451508B1

    公开(公告)日:2002-09-17

    申请号:US09561472

    申请日:2000-04-28

    IPC分类号: G03F720

    CPC分类号: G03F7/70466 G03F1/70

    摘要: A method for exposing a workpiece in a dual exposure step-and-repeat process starts by forming a design for a reticle mask. Deconstruct the design for the reticle mask by removing a set(s) of the features that are juxtaposed. Form unexposed resist on the workpiece. Load the workpiece and the reticle mask into the stepper. Expose the workpiece through the reticle mask. Reposition the workpiece by a nanostep. Then expose the workpiece through the reticle mask after the repositioning. Test whether the plural exposure process is finished. If the result of the test is NO the process loops back to repeat some of the above steps. Otherwise the process has been completed. An overlay mark is produced by plural exposures of a single mark. A dead zone is provided surrounding an array region in which printing occurs subsequent to exposure in an original exposure. Stepper-framing-blades are moved over the dead zone to prevent additional exposures after an initial exposure. Alternatively, the workpiece can be fully exposed first by stepping a series of full steps, then going back to the starting position, making a nanostep to reset the starting position and re-exposing from the reset starting position in the same way with full steps from the nanostepped position.

    摘要翻译: 用于在双重曝光步骤和重复过程中曝光工件的方法通过形成掩模版掩模的设计而开始。 通过删除并置的一些特征来解构掩模版掩模的设计。 在工件上形成未曝光的抗蚀剂。 将工件和掩模版掩模装入步进器。 通过掩模掩模将工件暴露。 用纳秒级重新定位工件。 然后在重新定位后将工件暴露在掩模版掩模之外。 测试多次曝光过程是否完成。 如果测试结果为“否”,则过程循环返回以重复上述步骤。 否则该过程已经完成。 通过单个标记的多次曝光产生重叠标记。 围绕阵列区域提供死区,其中在原始曝光中曝光之后发生印刷。 步进框架刀片在死区移动,以防止在初始曝光后的额外曝光。 或者,可以通过步进一系列完整的步骤,然后返回到起始位置,首先完全暴露工件,从而使得纳秒能够以相同的方式从复位起始位置复位起始位置并再次曝光 纳米级位置。

    Optimization of reticle rotation for critical dimension and overlay improvement
    7.
    发明授权
    Optimization of reticle rotation for critical dimension and overlay improvement 失效
    关键尺寸和覆盖改进的掩模旋转优化

    公开(公告)号:US06327023B1

    公开(公告)日:2001-12-04

    申请号:US09471427

    申请日:1999-12-23

    IPC分类号: G03B2742

    摘要: A scanning method capable of reducing across chip linewidth variation and image placement error is disclosed, the method including a step whereby a reticle having a plurality of lines is scanned in a direction perpendicular to the lines. The scanning method includes a radiation source provided with an aperture with a slot. In this case, it is preferable that the radiation source keeps the rectangular slot in the direction that minimizes pattern distortions.

    摘要翻译: 公开了一种能够减少跨越芯片线宽变化和图像放置误差的扫描方法,该方法包括一个步骤,由此在垂直于线的方向上扫描具有多条线的掩模版。 扫描方法包括设置有具有狭槽的孔的辐射源。 在这种情况下,优选的是,辐射源将矩形槽保持在使图案失真最小化的方向上。

    Generating mask patterns for alternating phase-shift mask lithography
    8.
    发明授权
    Generating mask patterns for alternating phase-shift mask lithography 失效
    生成用于交替相移掩模光刻的掩模图案

    公开(公告)号:US07475380B2

    公开(公告)日:2009-01-06

    申请号:US11318893

    申请日:2005-12-27

    IPC分类号: G06F17/50 G03F9/00

    CPC分类号: G03F1/30 G03F1/70

    摘要: A system, method and recording medium are provided for generating patterns of a paired set of a block mask and a phase shift mask from a data set defining a circuit layout to be provided on a substrate. A circuit layout is inputted and critical segments of the circuit layout are identified. Then, based on the identified critical segments, block mask patterns are generated and legalized for inclusion in a block mask. Thereafter, based on the identified critical segments and the block mask patterns, phase mask patterns are generated, legalized and colored to define a phase shift mask for use in a dual exposure method with the block mask for patterning the identified critical segments of the circuit layout.

    摘要翻译: 提供一种系统,方法和记录介质,用于从定义要提供在基板上的电路布局的数据集中产生一组块掩模和相移掩模的成对集合的模式。 输入电路布局并识别电路布局的关键段。 然后,基于所识别的关键段,块掩模图案被生成并合法化以包含在块掩码中。 此后,基于所识别的临界段和块掩模图案,生成相位掩模图案,合法化和着色以限定用于双曝光方法的相移掩模,其中块掩模用于图案化所识别的电路布局的关键段 。

    Density-aware dynamic leveling in scanning exposure systems
    10.
    发明授权
    Density-aware dynamic leveling in scanning exposure systems 失效
    扫描曝光系统中的密度感知动态调平

    公开(公告)号:US07239371B2

    公开(公告)日:2007-07-03

    申请号:US11163409

    申请日:2005-10-18

    IPC分类号: G03B27/52 G03B27/42 G03B27/32

    CPC分类号: G03F9/7034 G03F9/7026

    摘要: A method and apparatus are provided for improving the leveling and, consequently, the focusing of a substrate such as a wafer during the photolithography imaging procedure of a semiconductor manufacturing process. The invention performs a pre-scan of the wafer's topography and assigns importance values to different regions of the wafer surface. Exposure focus instructions are calculated based on the topography and importance values of the different regions and the wafer is then scanned and imaged based on the calculated exposure focus instructions.

    摘要翻译: 提供了一种方法和装置,用于在半导体制造工艺的光刻成像过程期间改进调平,并因此改善诸如晶片的基板的聚焦。 本发明对晶片的形貌进行预扫描,并将重要性值分配给晶片表面的不同区域。 基于不同区域的形貌和重要度值计算曝光焦点指令,然后基于计算出的曝光聚焦指令对晶片进行扫描和成像。