Abstract: In the field of semiconductor production using shaped charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein a series of curvilinear character projection shots are determined for a charged particle beam writer system, such that the set of shots can form a continuous track, possibly of varying width, on a surface. A method for forming a continuous track on a surface using a series of curvilinear character projection shots is also disclosed. Methods for manufacturing a reticle and for manufacturing a substrate such as a silicon wafer by forming a continuous track on a surface using a series of curvilinear character projection shots is also disclosed.

Abstract: In the field of semiconductor device production, a method for manufacturing a surface using two-dimensional dosage maps is disclosed. A set of charged particle beam shots for creating an image on the surface is determined by combining dosage information such as dosage maps for a plurality of shots into the dosage map for the surface. A similar method is disclosed for fracturing or mask data preparation of a reticle image.

Abstract: Methods for designing and manufacturing an integrated circuit are disclosed, in which the physical design process for a standard cell or cells utilizes a preferred diagonal direction for minimum-width patterns on at least one layer, where the standard cell or cells are used in the layout of an integrated circuit. The methods also include forming the patterns on a photomask using model-based fracturing techniques with charged particle beam simulation, and forming the patterns on a substrate such a silicon wafer using the photomask and an optical lithographic process with directional illumination which is optimized for the preferred diagonal direction.

Abstract: A method for forming circular patterns on a surface using a character projection (CP) charged particle beam writer is disclosed, wherein circular patterns of different sizes may be formed using a single CP character, by varying dosage. A method for forming circular patterns on a surface using a variable shaped beam (VSB) charged particle beam writer is also disclosed, wherein the dosages of the shots may vary, and wherein the union of the shots is different than the set of target patterns. A method for forming circular patterns on a surface using a library of glyphs is also disclosed, wherein the glyphs are pre-calculated dosage maps that can be formed by one or more charged particle beam shots.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to particle beam writing to fabricate an integrated circuit on a wafer. In various embodiments, cell projection (CP) cell library information is stored in the form of a data structure. Subsequently, the CP cell library information is referenced by a writing system. The patterns are written on the wafer depending on the referenced CP cell library.

Abstract: In the field of semiconductor production using shaped charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein a series of curvilinear character projection shots are determined for a charged particle beam writer system, such that the set of shots can form a continuous track, possibly of varying width, on a surface. A method for forming a continuous track on a surface using a series of curvilinear character projection shots is also disclosed. Methods for manufacturing a reticle and for manufacturing a substrate such as a silicon wafer by forming a continuous track on a surface using a series of curvilinear character projection shots is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for optical proximity correction (OPC) of a desired pattern for a substrate is disclosed in which a plurality of variable shaped beam (VSB) shots are determined which can form on a surface an OPC-corrected version of the desired substrate pattern. Shots within the plurality of VSB shots are allowed to overlap each other. Dosages of the shots may also be allowed to vary with respect to each other. The union of the plurality of shots may deviate from the OPC-corrected version of the desired pattern for the substrate. In some embodiments, optimization may be used to minimize shot count. In other embodiments, the plurality of shots may be optionally selected from one or more pre-computed VSB shots or groups of VSB shots, that is, glyphs. A method for creating glyphs is also disclosed, in which patterns that would result on a surface from one or a group of VSB shots are pre-calculated.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using a photomask and optical lithography is disclosed, wherein circular patterns on the semiconductor wafer are formed by using circular patterns on the photomask, which is manufactured using a charged particle beam writer. In one embodiment, circular patterns of varying sizes have been formed on the photomask using a single character projection (CP) character, by varying the charged particle beam dosage. A method for fracturing circular patterns is also disclosed, either using circular CP characters or using VSB shots wherein the union of the plurality of VSB shots is different than the set of desired patterns.

Abstract: In the field of semiconductor device production, a method for manufacturing a surface using two-dimensional dosage maps is disclosed. A set of charged particle beam shots for creating an image on the surface is determined by combining dosage maps for a plurality of shots into the dosage map for the surface. A similar method is disclosed for fracturing or mask data preparation of a reticle image. A method for creating glyphs is also disclosed, in which a two-dimensional dosage map of one or more shots is calculated, and the list of shots and the calculated dosage map are stored for later reference.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which a plurality of variable shaped beam (VSB) shots is used to form a desired pattern on a surface. In this method some shots within the plurality of shots overlap each other. Additionally, the union of any subset of the plurality of shots differ from the desired pattern. In some embodiments, dosages of the shots vary with respect to each other. In other embodiments, an optimization technique may be used to minimize shot count. In yet other embodiments, the plurality of shots may be optionally selected from one or more pre-computed VSB shots or groups of VSB shots. The method of the present disclosure may be used, for example, in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit by optical lithography using a reticle, or in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit using direct write.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which a plurality of variable shaped beam (VSB) shots is used to form a desired pattern on a surface. In this method some shots within the plurality of shots overlap each other. Additionally, the union of any subset of the plurality of shots differ from the desired pattern. In some embodiments, dosages of the shots vary with respect to each other. In other embodiments, an optimization technique may be used to minimize shot count. In yet other embodiments, the plurality of shots may be optionally selected from one or more pre-computed VSB shots or groups of VSB shots. The method of the present disclosure may be used, for example, in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit by optical lithography using a reticle, or in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit using direct write.

Abstract: A method for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction of a desired pattern to be formed on a reticle is disclosed in which a plurality of variable shaped beam (VSB) shots are determined which can form the desired pattern. Shots within the plurality of VSB shots are allowed to overlap each other. Dosages of the shots may also be allowed to vary with respect to each other. The union of the plurality of shots may deviate from the desired pattern. The plurality of shots may be determined such that a pattern on the surface calculated from the plurality of shots is within a predetermined tolerance of the desired pattern. In some embodiments, an optimization technique may be used to minimize shot count. In other embodiments, the plurality of shots may be optionally selected from one or more pre-computed VSB shots or groups of VSB shots.

Abstract: In the field of semiconductor production using shaped charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein a shot determined for a shaped charged particle beam writer system comprises dragging the charged particle beam across a surface during the shot, so as to form a complex pattern in a single, extended shot. The dragging may be done with either variable shaped beam (VSB) or character projection (CP) shots. Methods for specifying in the shot data the path for the dragged shot are also disclosed. Other embodiments include using dragged shots with partial projection, varying the dragging velocity during a shot, and combining dragged shots with conventional shots. A method and system for creating glyphs which contain dragged shots is also disclosed.

Abstract: In the field of semiconductor production using charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, in which the union of shots from one of a plurality of exposure passes is different than the union of shots from a different exposure pass. Methods for manufacturing a reticle and for manufacturing an integrated circuit are also disclosed, in which the union of shots from one of a plurality of charged particle beam exposure passes is different than the union of shots from a different exposure pass.

Abstract: In the field of semiconductor production using charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein a plurality of exposure passes are used, and where the sum of the base dosage levels for all of the exposure passes does not equal a normal dosage. Methods for manufacturing a reticle and manufacturing an integrated circuit are also disclosed, wherein a plurality of charged particle beam exposure passes are used, and where the sum of the base dosage levels for all of the exposure passes is different than a normal dosage.

Abstract: In the field of semiconductor production using charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein base dosages for a plurality of exposure passes are different from each other. Methods for manufacturing a reticle and manufacturing an integrated circuit are also disclosed, wherein a plurality of charged particle beam exposure passes are used, with base dosage levels being different for different exposure passes.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which a plurality of variable shaped beam (VSB) shots is used to form a desired pattern on a surface. In this method some shots within the plurality of shots overlap each other. Additionally, the union of any subset of the plurality of shots differ from the desired pattern. In some embodiments, dosages of the shots vary with respect to each other. In other embodiments, an optimization technique may be used to minimize shot count. In yet other embodiments, the plurality of shots may be optionally selected from one or more pre-computed VSB shots or groups of VSB shots. The method of the present disclosure may be used, for example, in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit by optical lithography using a reticle, or in the process of manufacturing an integrated circuit using direct write.

Abstract: In the field of semiconductor production using shaped beam charged particle beam lithography, a pattern is formed on a surface by dragging a charged particle beam across the surface in a single extended shot to form a track. In some embodiments, the track may form a straight path, a curved path, or a perimeter of a curvilinear shape. In other embodiments, the width of the track may be altered by varying the velocity of the dragged beam. The techniques may be used for manufacturing an integrated circuit by dragging a charged particle beam across a resist-coated wafer to transfer a pattern to the wafer, or by dragging a charged particle beam across a reticle, where the reticle is used to manufacture a photomask which is then used to transfer a pattern to a wafer using an optical lithographic process.

Abstract: In the field of semiconductor production using shaped charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein a shot determined for a shaped charged particle beam writer system comprises dragging the charged particle beam across a surface during the shot, so as to form a complex pattern in a single, extended shot. The dragging may be done with either variable shaped beam (VSB) or character projection (CP) shots. Methods for specifying in the shot data the path for the dragged shot are also disclosed. Other embodiments include using dragged shots with partial projection, varying the dragging velocity during a shot, and combining dragged shots with conventional shots. A method and system for creating glyphs which contain dragged shots is also disclosed.

Abstract: Stencil masks, particle beam lithography characters and methods for designing the same for use in particle beam lithography are disclosed. The masks, characters and methods for designing them allows for more accurately writing images by reducing various chemical and physical effects, particularly Coulomb and proximity effects. Particle current reaching a surface is reduced by introducing shield areas, which preserve the shape and fidelity of the written image. The shape of the written image is further corrected by systematically adjusting the shape of the character or mask.