Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a photolithography alignment mark structure. The method includes providing a substrate; forming a first grating, a second grating, a third grating and a fourth grating in the substrate; forming a photoresist layer on a surface of the substrate; obtaining a first alignment center along a first direction and a second alignment center alone a second direction based on the first grating and the fourth grating, respectively; providing a mask plate having a fifth grating pattern and a sixth grating pattern; aligning the mask plate with the substrate by using the first alignment center as an alignment center along the first direction and the second alignment center as an alignment center along the second direction; reproducing the fifth grating pattern and the sixth grating pattern in the photoresist layer; and forming a fifth grating and a sixth grating on the substrate by removing a portion of photoresist layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a photolithographic mask. The method includes providing a transparent substrate; and forming an opaque layer on the transparent substrate. The method also includes writing layout patterns with at least one sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along a longitudinal direction to increase an adhesion force between the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction and the transparent substrate in the opaque layer. Further, the method include cleaning residual matters generated by writing the layout patterns in the opaque layer. Further, the method also includes spin-drying the transparent substrate with the layout patterns and the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a photolithographic mask. The method includes providing a transparent substrate; and forming an opaque layer on the transparent substrate. The method also includes writing layout patterns with at least one sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along a longitudinal direction to increase an adhesion force between the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction and the transparent substrate in the opaque layer. Further, the method include cleaning residual matters generated by writing the layout patterns in the opaque layer. Further, the method also includes spin-drying the transparent substrate with the layout patterns and the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a photolithographic mask. The method includes providing a transparent substrate; and forming an opaque layer on the transparent substrate. The method also includes writing layout patterns with at least one sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along a longitudinal direction to increase an adhesion force between the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction and the transparent substrate in the opaque layer. Further, the method include cleaning residual matters generated by writing the layout patterns in the opaque layer. Further, the method also includes spin-drying the transparent substrate with the layout patterns and the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a photolithography alignment mark structure. The method includes providing a substrate; forming a first grating, a second grating, a third grating and a fourth rating in the substrate; forming a photoresist layer on a surface of the substrate; obtaining a first alignment center along a first direction and a second alignment center alone a second direction based on the first grating and the fourth grating, respectively; providing a mask plate having a fifth grating pattern and a sixth grating pattern; aligning the mask plate with the substrate by using the first alignment center as an alignment center along the first direction and the second alignment center as an alignment center along the second direction; reproducing the fifth grating pattern and the sixth grating pattern in the photoresist layer; and forming a fifth grating and a sixth grating on the substrate by removing a portion of photoresist layer.

Abstract: A method of monitoring an epitaxial growth geometry shift is disclosed. First, second and third trenches are formed on a semiconductor wafer. An epitaxial layer is grown. The epitaxial layer covers the first trenches and the second trenches but not the third trenches. First and second recesses on a top surface of the epitaxial layer are formed. First and second openings aligned with the first and the second recesses and a third openings aligned with the third trenches are formed in a photoresist layer. A corresponding first offset between a top center and a bottom center of each first recess is measured. An offset value of the top center from the bottom center of said each first recess is determined. A corresponding second offset between a top center of each second recess and a center of corresponding second opening is determined. A corresponding third offset between a center of each third trench and a center of corresponding third opening is measured.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for optical measurements. The method includes providing a substrate with a structure for optical measurement on the substrate; and illuminating a light spot on the structure for optical measurement to obtain a measured light scattering spectrum. The method also includes performing a first matching process to obtain a plurality of matching standard optical scattering spectra and a plurality of first matching degrees, each standard optical scattering spectrum corresponding to one first matching degree; obtaining a plurality of combined optical scattering spectra based on the plurality of matching standard optical scattering spectra; and performing a second matching process to obtain a plurality second matching degree, each corresponding to one combined optical scattering spectrum.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a photolithography alignment mark structure. The method includes providing a substrate; thrilling a first grating, a second grating, a third grating and a fourth grating in the substrate; forming a photoresist layer on a surface of the substrate; obtaining a first alignment center along a first direction and a second alignment center along a second direction based on the first grating and the fourth grating, respectively; providing a mask plate having a fifth grating pattern and a sixth grating pattern; aligning the mask plate with the substrate by using the first alignment center as an alignment center along the first direction and the second alignment center as an alignment center along the second direction; reproducing the fifth grating pattern and the sixth grating pattern in the photoresist layer; and forming a fifth grating and a sixth grating on the substrate by removing a portion of photoresist layer.

Abstract: A laser annealing device for compensating wafer heat maps and its method are disclosed. A laser annealing device comprises a pump laser source array including of a plurality of pump laser sources for irradiating a tunable mask, each pump laser source emitting pump laser, an annealing laser source for emitting annealing laser and irradiating the tunable mask, and a tunable mask for transmitting at least part of the annealing laser after being irradiated by the pump laser.

Abstract: A photolithographic mask is provided. The photolithographic mask includes a substrate having a first surface configured as a light incidence plane of an exposure light and a second surface. The photolithographic mask also includes a plurality of scattering centers functioning as a refractive index disturbance inside the substrate. Further, the photolithographic mask includes a plurality of mask patterns on the second surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the source symmetry of a photolithography system is provided. The method includes providing a first reticle; and providing a second reticle. The method also includes forming first bottom overlay alignment marks on a first wafer using the first reticle; and forming first top overlay alignment marks on the first bottom overlay alignment marks using the second reticle. Further, the method includes forming second bottom overlay alignment marks on a second wafer using the first reticle; and forming second top overlay alignment marks on the second bottom overlay alignment marks using the second reticle. Further, the method also include measuring a first overlay shift; measuring a second overlay shift; and obtaining an overlay shift caused by the source asymmetry based on the first overlay shift and the second overlay shift.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for optical measurements. The method includes providing a substrate with a structure for optical measurement on the substrate; and illuminating a light spot on the structure for optical measurement to obtain a measured light scattering spectrum. The method also includes performing a first matching process to obtain a plurality of matching standard optical scattering spectra and a plurality of first matching degrees, each standard optical scattering spectrum corresponding to one first matching degree; obtaining a plurality of combined optical scattering spectra based on the plurality of matching standard optical scattering spectra; and performing a second matching process to obtain a plurality second matching degree, each corresponding to one combined optical scattering spectrum.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a photolithography alignment mark structure. The method includes providing a substrate; thrilling a first grating, a second grating, a third grating and a fourth grating in the substrate; forming a photoresist layer on a surface of the substrate; obtaining a first alignment center along a first direction and a second alignment center along a second direction based on the first grating and the fourth grating, respectively; providing a mask plate having a fifth grating pattern and a sixth grating pattern; aligning the mask plate with the substrate by using the first alignment center as an alignment center along the first direction and the second alignment center as an alignment center along the second direction; reproducing the fifth grating pattern and the sixth grating pattern in the photoresist layer: and forming a fifth grating and a sixth grating on the substrate by removing a portion of photoresist layer.

Abstract: A laser annealing device for compensating wafer heat maps and its method are disclosed. A laser annealing device comprises a pump laser source array including of a plurality of pump laser sources for irradiating a tunable mask, each pump laser source emitting pump laser, an annealing laser source for emitting annealing laser and irradiating the tunable mask, and a tunable mask for transmitting at least part of the annealing laser after being irradiated by the pump laser.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a photolithographic mask. The method includes providing a transparent substrate; and forming an opaque layer on the transparent substrate. The method also includes writing layout patterns with at least one sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along a longitudinal direction to increase an adhesion force between the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction and the transparent substrate in the opaque layer. Further, the method include cleaning residual matters generated by writing the layout patterns in the opaque layer. Further, the method also includes spin-drying the transparent substrate with the layout patterns and the sub-resolution assistant feature with non-uniform size along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A laser annealing device for compensating wafer heat maps and its method are disclosed. A laser annealing device comprises a pump laser source array including of a plurality of pump laser sources for irradiating a tunable mask, each pump laser source emitting pump laser, an annealing laser source for emitting annealing laser and irradiating the tunable mask, and a tunable mask for transmitting at least part of the annealing laser after being irradiated by the pump laser.

Abstract: A method may be implemented for obtaining calibration data for use in calibrating an optical proximity correction model. The method may include capturing an image for each portion of a plurality of portions of a wafer to obtain captured images. The method may further include assembling at least portions of the captured images to form an assembled image. The method may further include mapping layout data of the wafer with the assembled image. The method may further include selecting portions of the assembled image based on the layout data of the wafer. The method may further include obtaining data associated with the portions of the assembled image as the calibration data.

Abstract: A standard wafer is provided including a substrate; a first layer of semiconductor material formed on the substrate; a bar formed over the first layer of semiconductor material with an interlayer interposed therebetween; and a first sidewall spacer and a second sidewall spacer formed on the opposite sides of the bar respectively, in which the bar and the first layer of semiconductor material are formed of a same semiconductor material, and the interlayer interposed between the first layer of semiconductor material and the bar is formed of a first oxide, and the first sidewall spacer and the second sidewall spacer are formed of a second oxide. A corresponding fabrication method of the standard wafer is also provided.

Abstract: A method may be implemented for obtaining calibration data for use in calibrating an optical proximity correction model. The method may include capturing an image for each portion of a plurality of portions of a wafer to obtain captured images. The method may further include assembling at least portions of the captured images to form an assembled image. The method may further include mapping layout data of the wafer with the assembled image. The method may further include selecting portions of the assembled image based on the layout data of the wafer. The method may further include obtaining data associated with the portions of the assembled image as the calibration data.

Abstract: A photolithographic mask is provided. The photolithographic mask includes a substrate having a first surface configured as a light incidence plane of an exposure light and a second surface. The photolithographic mask also includes a plurality of scattering centers functioning as a refractive index disturbance inside the substrate. Further, the photolithographic mask includes a plurality of mask patterns on the second surface of the substrate.