Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the determination of a pattern height of a pattern, which has been produced with extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography in a resist film. The determination is performed by using an electron beam (e-beam) system, in particular, by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In this respect, the disclosure provides a device for determining the pattern height, wherein the device comprising a processor. The processor is configured to obtain a SEM image of the pattern from an SEM. Further, the processor is configured to determine a contrast value related to the pattern based on the obtained SEM image. Subsequently, the processor is configured to determine the pattern height based on calibration data and the determined contrast value.

Abstract: A method is provided to easily determine the parameters of a second process for manufacturing from the parameters of a first process. Metrics representative of the differences between the two processes are computed from a number of values of the parameters, which can be measured for the two processes on a calibration layout, or which can be determined from pre-existing values for layouts or reference data for the two processes by an interpolation/extrapolation procedure. The number of metrics is selected so that their combination gives a precise representation of the differences between the two processes in all areas of a design. Advantageously, the metrics are calculated as a product of convolution of the target design and a compound of a kernel function and a deformation function. A reference physical model of the reference process is determined. A sizing correction to be applied to the edges of the design produced by the reference process is calculated.

Abstract: A method for transferring a pattern onto a substrate by direct writing by means of a particle or photon beam comprises: a step of producing a dose map, associating a dose to elementary shapes of the pattern; and a step of exposing the substrate according to the pattern with a spatially-dependent emitted dose depending on the dose map; wherein the step of producing a dose map includes: computing at least first and second metrics of the pattern for each of the elementary shapes, the first metric representative of features of the pattern within a first range from the elementary shape and the second metric representative of features of the pattern within a second range, larger than the first range, from the elementary shape; and determining the emitted dose associated to each of the elementary shapes of the pattern as a function of the metrics. A computer program product is provided for carrying out such a method or at least the step of producing a dose map.

Abstract: A method for calculating the parameters of a resist model of an IC manufacturing process is provided. Accordingly, a function representative of the target design convoluted throughout the whole target design with a kernel function compounded with a deformation function with a shift angle. The deformation function is replaced by its Fourier series development, the order of which is selected so that the product of convolution is invariant through rotations within a tolerance of the corrections to be applied to the target design. Alternatively, the product of convolution may be decomposed into basic kernel functions selected varying by angles determined so that a deformation function for a value of the shift angle can be projected onto a couple of basic kernel functions the angles of which are proximate to the shift angle.

Abstract: An IC manufacturing model is disclosed, wherein input variables and an output variable are measured using a calibration set of patterns. The model can or cannot include a PSF. The output variable may be a dimensional bias between printed patterns and target patterns or simulated patterns. It can also be a Threshold To Meet Experiments. The input variables may be defined by a metric which uses kernel functions, preferably with a deformation function which includes a shift angle and a convolution procedure. A functional or associative relationship between the input variables and the output variable is defined. Preferably this definition includes normalization steps and interpolation steps. Advantageously, the interpolation step is of the kriging type. The invention achieves a much more accurate modeling of IC manufacturing, simulation or inspection processes.

Abstract: A method to easily determine parameters of a second process for manufacturing from parameters of a first process is provided. Metrics representative of differences between the first process and the second process are computed from a number of values of the parameters, which can be measured for the first process and the second process on a calibration layout, or which can be determined from pre-existing values for layouts or reference data for the first process and the second process by an interpolation/extrapolation procedure. A set of metrics are selected so that their combination gives a precise representation of the differences between the first process and the second process in all areas of a target design. Advantageously, the metrics are calculated as a product of convolution of the target design and a compound of a kernel function and a deformation function.

Abstract: A method for transferring a pattern onto a substrate by direct writing by means of a particle or photon beam comprises: a step of producing a dose map, associating a dose to elementary shapes of the pattern; and a step of exposing the substrate according to the pattern with a spatially-dependent emitted dose depending on the dose map; wherein the step of producing a dose map includes: computing at least first and second metrics of the pattern for each of the elementary shapes, the first metric representative of features of the pattern within a first range from the elementary shape and the second metric representative of features of the pattern within a second range, larger than the first range, from the elementary shape; and determining the emitted dose associated to each of the elementary shapes of the pattern as a function of the metrics. A computer program product is provided for carrying out such a method or at least the step of producing a dose map.

Abstract: A method is provided to easily determine the parameters of a second process for manufacturing from the parameters of a first process. Metrics representative of the differences between the two processes are computed from a number of values of the parameters, which can be measured for the two processes on a calibration layout, or which can be determined from pre-existing values for layouts or reference data for the two processes by an interpolation/extrapolation procedure. The number of metrics is selected so that their combination gives a precise representation of the differences between the two processes in all areas of a design. Advantageously, the metrics are calculated as a product of convolution of the target design and a compound of a kernel function and a deformation function. A reference physical model of the reference process is determined. A sizing correction to be applied to the edges of the design produced by the reference process is calculated.

Abstract: An IC manufacturing model is disclosed, wherein input variables and an output variable are measured using a calibration set of patterns. The model can or cannot include a PSF. The output variable may be a dimensional bias between printed patterns and target patterns or simulated patterns. It can also be a Threshold To Meet Experiments. The input variables may be defined by a metric which uses kernel functions, preferably with a deformation function which includes a shift angle and a convolution procedure. A functional or associative relationship between the input variables and the output variable is defined. Preferably this definition includes normalization steps and interpolation steps. Advantageously, the interpolation step is of the kriging type. The invention achieves a much more accurate modeling of IC manufacturing, simulation or inspection processes.

Abstract: A method for calculating the parameters of a resist model of an IC manufacturing process is provided. Accordingly, a function representative of the target design convoluted throughout the whole target design with a kernel function compounded with a deformation function with a shift angle. The deformation function is replaced by its Fourier series development, the order of which is selected so that the product of convolution is invariant through rotations within a tolerance of the corrections to be applied to the target design. Alternatively, the product of convolution may be decomposed into basic kernel functions selected varying by angles determined so that a deformation function for a value of the shift angle can be projected onto a couple of basic kernel functions the angles of which are proximate to the shift angle.

Abstract: A method to easily determine the parameters of a second process for manufacturing from the parameters of a first process is provided. Metrics representative of the differences between the two processes are computed from a number of values of the parameters, which can be measured for the two processes on a calibration layout, or which can be determined from pre-existing values for layouts or reference data for the two processes by an interpolation/extrapolation procedure. The number of metrics is selected so that their combination gives a precise representation of the differences between the two processes in all areas of a design. Advantageously, the metrics are calculated as a product of convolution of the target design and a compound of a kernel function and a deformation function.