Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern forming method is disclosed. The method can include forming an insulating layer on a major surface of a substrate. The method can include forming first and second openings on the insulating layer. The first opening has a first length in a first direction along the major surface, and the second opening has a second length longer than the first length in the first direction. The method can include forming a first pattern in the first opening. The method can include forming a second pattern in the second opening. The method can include forming a self-assembled material film contacting the insulating layer, the first pattern and the second pattern. The method can include forming a third pattern with guidance of the second pattern. In addition, the method can include forming a fourth pattern contacting the first pattern based on the third pattern.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern forming method is disclosed. The method can include forming an insulating layer on a major surface of a substrate. The method can include forming first and second openings on the insulating layer. The first opening has a first length in a first direction along the major surface, and the second opening has a second length longer than the first length in the first direction. The method can include forming a first pattern in the first opening. The method can include forming a second pattern in the second opening. The method can include forming a self-assembled material film contacting the insulating layer, the first pattern and the second pattern. The method can include forming a third pattern with guidance of the second pattern. In addition, the method can include forming a fourth pattern contacting the first pattern based on the third pattern.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a mask pattern creation method includes extracting an area, in which a DSA material is directed self-assembled to form a DSA pattern, from a design pattern area based on a design pattern and information on the DSA material. The method also includes creating a guide pattern that causes the DSA pattern to be formed in the area based on the design pattern, the information on the DSA material, the area, and a design constraint when forming the guide pattern. The method further includes creating a mask pattern of the guide pattern using the guide pattern.

Abstract: According to the embodiments, a distribution of a recess portion shape is calculated based on a result obtained by measuring the recess portion shape of a first projection and recess pattern formed on a surface of a template. Next, a distribution of an application amount of a curing agent to a processing target layer is calculated based on the distribution of the recess portion shape, and the curing agent is applied to the processing target layer based on this distribution of the application amount of the curing agent. Next, a second projection and recess pattern is formed by transferring the first projection and recess pattern onto the curing agent by causing the curing agent to cure in a state where the first projection and recess pattern is in contact with the curing agent.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern formation device that presses a template that includes a concave and convex part onto a transferring object and that forms a pattern in which a shape of the concave and convex part is transferred is provided. The device includes: a calculation part; an adjustment part; and a transfer. The calculation part calculates, using design information of the pattern, the distribution of force applied to the pattern at a time of releasing the template pressed onto the transferring object from the transferring object. The adjustment part adjusts forming conditions of the pattern in order to uniformly approach the distribution of force calculated by the calculation part. The transfer part transfers the shape of the concave and convex part to the transferring object according to the forming conditions adjusted by the adjustment part.

Abstract: According to a simulation model creating method of an embodiment, a resist pattern is formed by transferring a mask pattern on a first substrate with an exposing amount and a focus value being changed, and a line width of the resist pattern is measured. Next, measurement results which are not within an allowable change range due to an irregularity of the exposing amount, an irregularity of the focus value or pattern feature amount are removed. In addition, measurement results which are not with in an allowable change range due to an irregularity of the line width of the mask pattern are removed. Next, a simulation model is created by using measurement results which are not removed.

Abstract: According to a simulation model creating method of an embodiment, a resist pattern is formed by transferring a mask pattern on a first substrate with an exposing amount and a focus value being changed, and a line width of the resist pattern is measured. Next, measurement results which are not within an allowable change range due to an irregularity of the exposing amount, an irregularity of the focus value or pattern feature amount are removed. In addition, measurement results which are not with in an allowable change range due to an irregularity of the line width of the mask pattern are removed. Next, a simulation model is created by using measurement results which are not removed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern formation method includes: providing a first member; providing a second member; forming a third pattern; and removing a convex portion of a second pattern. The first member is provided on a major surface of a substrate and cured in a state of a template having a first pattern being brought into contact to form the second pattern including a convex portion in a first region on the major surface. The second member is provided in a concave portion adjacent to the convex portion of the second pattern. The third pattern is formed in the second member provided on a second region on the major surface. The removing the convex portion includes removing the convex portion of the second pattern to leave the third pattern and a fourth pattern formed by the second member provided in the concave portion on the major surface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a template includes: a base substrate; and a pattern portion provided on the base substrate and including a concave-convex pattern formed from a master pattern. The concave-convex pattern is provided in a distorted state with respect to the master pattern in accordance with a distortion of an underlying pattern formed on a substrate to which a shape of the concave-convex pattern is to be transferred.

Abstract: An imprint apparatus of one embodiment includes: a resist dropping unit adapted to drop resist onto a substrate; a patterning unit adapted to pattern the resist into transfer patterns corresponding to the template patterns; and a control unit configured to change a dropping condition for a resist dropping process shot by shot. The control unit is adapted to control, as the dropping condition, the distance to the position of a droplet of the resist to be dropped onto the substrate from a position on the substrate to be pressed with an assessment pattern, the assessment pattern being one of the template patterns that is to be assessed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern formation method is disclosed. The method can include filling an imprint material between a first protrusion-depression pattern of a first pattern transfer layer formed on a first replica substrate and a second pattern transfer layer being transparent to energy radiation and formed on a second replica substrate transparent to the energy radiation. The method can include curing the imprint material by irradiating the imprint material with the energy radiation from an opposite surface side of the second replica substrate. The method can include releasing the first protrusion-depression pattern from the imprint material. The method can include forming a second protrusion-depression pattern in the second pattern transfer layer by processing the second pattern transfer layer using the imprint material as a mask.

Abstract: According to the embodiments, a template is obtain which is used for imprint of forming a second projection and recess pattern formed of a curing agent on a processing target layer by transferring a first projection and recess pattern onto the curing agent by filling the first projection and recess pattern with the curing agent and curing the curing agent. The template includes the first projection and recess pattern on one surface side of a substrate. The first projection and recess pattern is such that height positions of bottom surfaces of recess portions are approximately the same, and includes two or more types of projection portions whose height from the bottom surfaces of the recess portions is different.

Abstract: A simulation model creating method computes, for measurement results of a line width of a resist pattern formed with varied an exposure amount and focus value, a permissible fluctuation range of the pattern line width from a distribution of the exposure amount and a distribution of the focus value; computes difference values between the measurement results and corresponding approximation values on a fitting function which has the exposure amount and focus value as parameters; compares the difference values with the permissible fluctuation range; deletes any measurement values for which the difference value is larger than the permissible fluctuation range, and recomputes the fitting function accordingly; and deletes measurement values outside a permissible fluctuation range of a pattern line width of the mask, and creates a simulation model.

Abstract: A management system includes a variable-period setting unit that sets a variable period in which quality-control values vary. Then, a retrieving unit retrieves events sandwiching the variable period. The events can be a maintenance of the semiconductor manufacturing device and/or a change of a correction value. An analysis-period setting unit sets an analysis period for analyzing a cause of variation of the quality-control values between the events retrieved by the retrieving unit.

Abstract: According to the embodiments, a distribution of a recess portion shape is calculated based on a result obtained by measuring the recess portion shape of a first projection and recess pattern formed on a surface of a template. Next, a distribution of an application amount of a curing agent to a processing target layer is calculated based on the distribution of the recess portion shape, and the curing agent is applied to the processing target layer based on this distribution of the application amount of the curing agent. Next, a second projection and recess pattern is formed by transferring the first projection and recess pattern onto the curing agent by causing the curing agent to cure in a state where the first projection and recess pattern is in contact with the curing agent.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an evaluating apparatus includes a resist-pattern-data acquiring unit and an evaluating unit. The resist-pattern-data acquiring unit acquires resist pattern data having a plurality of feature values including at least two among a hole diameter measured concerning a pattern for hole formation in the resist pattern, an aspect ratio of the hole diameter, and a difference of hole diameters at a plurality of signal thresholds. The evaluating unit calculates an evaluation value using an evaluation function for evaluating whether a hole pattern formed on a processing target by using the pattern for hole formation is unopened and the resist pattern data and evaluates presence or absence of a risk that the hole pattern is unopened.

Abstract: A system of testing semiconductor devices includes a classification module configured to classify a plurality of lots into a plurality of groups; an apparatus assignment module configured to assign a plurality of testing apparatuses to each of the groups; and a test recipe creation module configured to create a test recipe to test defects in a second group other than a first group specified in the groups, the test recipe including a definition of testing positions in the second group defined by a rule different from the first group.

Abstract: A management system includes a variable-period setting unit that sets a variable period in which quality-control values vary. Then, a retrieving unit retrieves events sandwiching the variable period. The events can be a maintenance of the semiconductor manufacturing device and/or a change of a correction value. An analysis-period setting unit sets an analysis period for analyzing a cause of variation of the quality-control values between the events retrieved by the retrieving unit.

Abstract: A method for controlling a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus for processing wafers divided for each lot, has acquiring quality control value data group containing quality control value data of wafers in a plurality of lots previously processed, and an equipment engineering system parameter group containing equipment engineering system parameters corresponding to the wafers; creating a prediction formula of quality control value data, acquiring a first equipment engineering system parameters; inputting the first equipment engineering system parameters to the prediction formula, and performing calculation to predict first quality control value data of the wafers in the first lot; determining processing of the wafers corresponding to the first quality control value data; acquiring measured first quality control value data of the wafers in the first lot; replacing the quality control value data corresponding to the wafers in the first processed lot; updating the prediction formula.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a sampling inspection. The method includes determining a first and a second sampling plan, and obtaining a first and a second measured value of a production lot based on the first and the second sampling plans, respectively. The method also includes calculating a first and a second acceptance variable based on the first and second measured values, respectively, and calculating a first and second acceptance probabilities based on the first and second acceptance variables, respectively. The method further includes calculating a first and a second operating characteristic of the first and second sampling plans based on the first and second acceptance probabilities, respectively, and evaluating the first and the second operating characteristics.