Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a method comprising: obtaining at least a clip of a design layout; and determining a representation of the clip on a patterning device, under a condition that a reduction ratio from the representation to the clip is anisotropic. In a further embodiment of the method, the method comprises: obtaining a relationship between a first geometric characteristic in a design layout or an image thereof, and a second geometric characteristic in a representation of the design layout on a patterning device, wherein the relationship is a function involving reduction ratios in two different directions.
Abstract:
Procédé de lithographie électronique comprenant les étapes suivantes : - implanter dans un substrat (S), ou dans une couche diélectrique (CD) déposée à la surface dudit substrat, des électrons suivant un premier motif; - déposer une résine (R) pour lithographie électronique à la surface dudit substrat ou de ladite couche diélectrique sacrificielle; et - exposer ladite résine au moyen d'un faisceau d'électrons (FL) suivant un second motif, puis la développer; lesdits premier et second motifs étant constitués par des motifs élémentaires, les motifs élémentaires dudit premier motif (MPI) entourant au moins partiellement les motifs élémentaires dudit second motif (ML).
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses for configuring group constraints of features of cells for a multi-patterning process are provided. The apparatus determines features within a circuit layout, distance constraints for at least one of the features, group constraints for the features based on the distance constraints, the group constraints defining limits on groups assignable to each of the features. In addition, the apparatus receives an integrated circuit layout including a plurality of abutting cells. The apparatus then determines whether group constraints of a second cell conflict with group constraints of a first cell, the second cell abutting with the first cell, and configures a subset of the group constraints of the second cell based on the group constraints of the first cell and based on the group constraints of the second cell that conflict with the group constraints of the first cell.
Abstract:
In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus for assigning feature colors for a multiple patterning process are provided. The apparatus receives integrated circuit layout information including a set of features and an assigned color of a plurality of colors for each feature of a first subset of features of the set of features. In addition, the apparatus performs color decomposition on a second subset of features to assign colors to features in the second subset of features. The second subset of features includes features in the set of features that are not included in the first subset of features with an assigned color.
Abstract:
A method of characterizing a lithographic mask type uses a mask having thereon test pattern units of linear features at different orientations. The mask is exposed, rotated by 90º, exposed again, rotated by a further 90º, exposed, etc. The printed features are measured to determine characteristics of the mask. The invention can be used to model shadowing effects of EUV masks with thick absorbers illuminated at an angle.
Abstract:
A system (300) for supporting an exchangeable object (302) can include a movable structure (304) and an object holder (306) configured to be movable relative to the movable structure. The object holder can be configured to hold the exchangeable object. The system can also include a first actuator assembly (308) and second actuator assembly (316). The first actuator assembly can be configured to apply a force to the object holder to translate the exchangeable object generally along a plane. The second actuator assembly can be configured to apply a bending moment to the object holder. The exchangeable object can be a patterning device of a lithographic apparatus.
Abstract:
In a multiple patterning techniques, where two or more exposures are used to form a single layer of a device, the splitting of features in a single layer between the multiple exposures is carried out additionally with reference to features of another associated layer and the splitting of that layer into two or more sets of features for separate exposure. The multiple exposure process can be a process involving repeated litho-etch steps desirably, the alignment scheme utilized during exposure of the split layers is optimized with reference to the splitting approach.
Abstract:
A system for controlling a patterning device in a lithographic apparatus using a patterning device having individually controllable elements that may only be set to two states. The method includes converting a representation of a pattern to be formed on the substrate into a plurality of area intensity signals, each corresponding to a radiation intensity level required to be set in a respective area of the patterning device in order to provide the desired pattern on the substrate and a separate step of converting each of the area intensity signals into control signals for a plurality of individually controllable elements that each correspond to the area of the patterning device.
Abstract:
Optical wave data for a semiconductor device design is divided into regions (102). First wavefront engineering is performed on the wave data of each region, accounting for just the wave data of each region. The optical wave date of each region is normalized based on the first wavefront engineering (106). Second wavefront engineering is performed on the wave data of each region, based at least on the wave data of each region as normalized (108). The second wavefront engineering takes into account the wave data of each region and a guard band around each region including the wave data of the neighboring regions of each region. The second wavefront engineering can be sequentially performed in parallel by organizing the regions into groups (110).
Abstract:
Techniques are provided for efficient wafer layout, which include the use of an offset grid to optimize use of available wafer space. As such, the number of identical die that can be fabricated on the wafer can be increased, relative to a standard perpendicular grid. By adding additional registration marks, an increase in flexibility of where each row/column of fields can be printed is enabled. This increased level of freedom in-turn allows for the optimization of the number of die that each row/column can contain, and translates directly into an increase in the number of yielding die per wafer. In addition, techniques are provided that allow for the dicing of individual die in a non-Cartesian coordinated manner. However, conventional singulation techniques can be used as well, given attention to the offset grid lines.