Abstract: A method for forming a pattern on a substrate is described. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a photosensitive layer over the substrate, exposing the photosensitive layer to a first exposure energy through a first mask, exposing the photosensitive layer to a second exposure energy through a second mask, baking the photosensitive layer, and developing the exposed photosensitive layer. The photosensitive layer includes a polymer that turns soluble to a developer solution, at least one photo-acid generator (PAG), and at least one photo-base generator (PBG). A portion of the layer exposed to the second exposure energy overlaps with a portion exposed to the first exposure energy.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of line element on a provided substrate. The plurality of line elements includes a first line element having a first region having a first width and a biased region having a second width. The second width different than the first width. Spacer elements are then formed abutting sidewalls of each of the plurality of line elements including the biased region where the spacer elements may be shifted. After forming the spacer elements, the plurality of line elements from the substrate are removed from the substrate. An underlying layer is etched using the spacer elements after removing the plurality of line elements.

Abstract: An embodiment of a feed-forward method of determining a photomask pattern is provided. The method includes providing design data associated with an integrated circuit device. A thickness of a coating layer to be used in fabricating the integrated circuit device is predicted based on the design data. This prediction is used to generate a gradating pattern. A photomask is formed having the gradating pattern.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a mask is described. The method includes receiving receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout that has a first pattern layer including a first feature and has a second pattern layer including a second feature, wherein the first pattern layer and the second pattern layer are spatially related when formed in a substrate such that the first and second features are spaced a first distance between a first edge of the first feature and a second edge of the second feature, modifying the IC design layout by adjusting a dimension of the first feature based on the first distance, and generating a tape-out data from the modified IC design layout for mask making. The method further includes applying a logic operation (LOP) to the IC design layout.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a first device disposed in a first device region, the first device including a first gate structure, first gate spacers formed on the sidewalls of the first gate structure, and first source and drain features and a second device disposed in a second device region, the second device including a second gate structure, second gate spacers formed on the sidewalls of the second gate structure, and second source and drain features. The semiconductor device further includes a contact etch stop layer (CESL) disposed on the first and second gate spacers and interconnect structures disposed on the first and second source and drain features. The interconnect structures are in electrical contact with the first and second source and drain features and in contact with the CESL.

Abstract: A method of making a structure includes forming a first supporting member over a substrate, the first supporting member comprising a first material and having a first width defined along a reference plane. The method further includes forming a second supporting member over the substrate, the second supporting member having a second width defined along the reference plane, and the first supporting member and the second supporting member being separated by a gap region. The first width is at least 10 times the second width, and a gap width of the gap region being from 5 to 30 times the second width.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a device is disclosed. An exemplary method includes providing a substrate and forming a plurality of fins over the substrate. The method further includes forming a first opening in the substrate in a first longitudinal direction. The method further includes forming a second opening in the substrate in a second longitudinal direction. The first and second longitudinal directions are different. The method further includes depositing a filling material in the first and second openings.

Abstract: An overlay mark suitable for use in manufacturing nonplanar circuit devices and a method for forming the overlay mark are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving a substrate having an active device region and an overlay region. One or more dielectric layers and a hard mask are formed on the substrate. The hard mask is patterned to form a hard mask layer feature configured to define an overlay mark fin. Spacers are formed on the patterned hard mask layer. The spacers further define the overlay mark fin and an active device fin. The overlay mark fin is cut to form a fin line-end used to define a reference location for overlay metrology. The dielectric layers and the substrate are etched to further define the overlay mark fin.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a mask is described. The method includes receiving receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout that has a first pattern layer including a first feature and has a second pattern layer including a second feature, wherein the first pattern layer and the second pattern layer are spatially related when formed in a substrate such that the first and second features are spaced a first distance between a first edge of the first feature and a second edge of the second feature, modifying the IC design layout by adjusting a dimension of the first feature based on the first distance, and generating a tape-out data from the modified IC design layout for mask making. The method further includes applying a logic operation (LOP) to the IC design layout.

Abstract: A method of forming a integrated circuit pattern. The method includes forming gate stacks on a substrate, two adjacent gate stacks of the gate stacks being spaced away by a dimension G; forming a nitrogen-containing layer on the gate stacks and the substrate; forming a dielectric material layer on the nitrogen-containing layer, the dielectric material layer having a thickness T substantially less than G/2; coating a photoresist layer on the dielectric material layer; and patterning the photoresist layer by a lithography process.

Abstract: A structure includes a substrate, a first supporting member over the substrate, a second supporting member over the substrate, and a layer of material over the substrate and covering the first supporting member and the second supporting member. The first supporting member has a first width, and the second supporting member has a second width. The first supporting member and the second supporting member are separated by a gap region. The first width is at least 10 times the second width, and a gap width of the gap region ranges from 5 to 30 times the second width.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides one embodiment of an integrated circuit (IC) design method. The method includes receiving an IC design layout having a plurality of IC features. The method includes identifying, from the IC design layout, simple features as a first layout wherein the first layout does not violate design rules; and complex features as a second layout wherein the second layout violates the design rules. The method further includes generating a third layout and a fourth layout from the second layout wherein the third layout includes the complex features and connecting features to meet the design rules and the fourth layout includes trimming features.

Abstract: A mask set and method for forming FinFET semiconductor devices provides a complementary set of fin-cut masks that are used in DPT (double patterning technology) to remove fins from non-active areas of a semiconductor device, after the fins are formed. Adjacent fins, or adjacent groups of fins, are removed using pattern features from different ones of the multiple fin-cut masks.

Abstract: An overlay mark suitable for use in manufacturing nonplanar circuit devices and a method for forming the overlay mark are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving a substrate having an active device region and an overlay region. One or more dielectric layers and a hard mask are formed on the substrate. The hard mask is patterned to form a hard mask layer feature configured to define an overlay mark fin. Spacers are formed on the patterned hard mask layer. The spacers further define the overlay mark fin and an active device fin. The overlay mark fin is cut to form a fin line-end used to define a reference location for overlay metrology. The dielectric layers and the substrate are etched to further define the overlay mark fin.

Abstract: A circuit layout method comprises inputting layout data into a circuit layout system. The layout data represents a plurality of patterns in a plurality of cells. Each pattern of the plurality of patterns has a plurality of runs, ends, and corners. The method also comprises specifying a plurality of G1-rule criteria. The method further comprises reviewing a representation of G0-space and G0 rule violations for each cell of the plurality of cells. The method additionally comprises inputting an adjustment to the layout data. The method also comprises reviewing a representation of adjusted cell edge spacings, and selecting to output a final layout.

Abstract: A method of forming a integrated circuit pattern. The method includes coating a photoresist layer on a substrate; performing a lithography exposure process to the photoresist layer; performing a multiple-step post-exposure-baking (PEB) process to the photoresist layer; and developing the photoresist layer to form a patterned photoresist layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes an electrical-free dummy gate formed over a substrate. The dummy gate has an elongate shape and is oriented along a first direction. The semiconductor device includes a first functional gate formed over the substrate. The first functional gate has an elongate shape and is oriented along the first direction. The first functional gate is separated from the dummy gate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. A first conductive contact is formed on the first functional gate. The semiconductor device includes a second functional gate formed over the substrate. The second functional gate has an elongate shape and is oriented along the first direction. The second functional gate is aligned with and physically separated from the dummy gate in the first direction. A second conductive contact is formed on the second functional gate.

Abstract: A method and system check a double patterning layout in abutting cells and switch the pattern in one of the cells if the edge patterns in each cell are in the same mask. The method includes receiving layout data having patterns in abutting cells, changing a designated mask in one cell if the edge patterns are in the same mask, adjusting cell edge spacings at a shared edge according to a minimum spacing rule and a G1-rule, and outputting a presentation of the layout data.

Abstract: A method is provided for validating measurement data, such as data obtained from a scanning electron microscope using in a semiconductor fabrication facility. The method includes applying a signal on a material feature by using a source in a measurement tool having a tool setting parameter, collecting a response signal from the material feature by using a detector in the measurement tool to obtain the measurement data, calculating a simulated response signal by a smart, and validating the measurement data by comparing the collected response signal with the simulated response signal. The system also includes a design database having a design feature, a measurement tool collecting a response signal, and a smart review engine configured to connect the measurement tool and the design database.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a mask is described. The method includes receiving receiving an integrated circuit (IC) design layout that has a first pattern layer including a first feature and has a second pattern layer including a second feature, wherein the first pattern layer and the second pattern layer are spatially related when formed in a substrate such that the first and second features are spaced a first distance between a first edge of the first feature and a second edge of the second feature, modifying the IC design layout by adjusting a dimension of the first feature based on the first distance, and generating a tape-out data from the modified IC design layout for mask making. The method further includes applying a logic operation (LOP) to the IC design layout.