Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask, an etching mask layer having circuit patterns is formed over a target layer of the photo mask to be etched. The photo mask includes a backside conductive layer. The target layer is etched by plasma etching, while preventing active species of plasma from attacking the backside conductive layer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dust collector using fan heat, comprising a bottom shell (10) and an upper cover (50), wherein a rear end (12) of the bottom shell (10) is provided with an air outlet (122) and a fan assembly (30), the upper cover (50) covers and is connected to the bottom shell (10), air flow from the fan assembly (30) is discharged via the air outlet (122), and the fan assembly (30) is provided with a fan (33) and a stator (331); and the rear end (12) is provided with a lower frame edge (121), the fan assembly (30) and the air outlet (122) are enclosed to form a closed air flow channel (35), and a heat collector (40) is provided on the stator (331) in the air flow channel (35), and can rapidly collect heat and warm the air flow to form hot air flow.

Abstract: Fabricating a photomask includes forming a protection layer over a substrate. A plurality of multilayers of reflecting films are formed over the protection layer. A capping layer is formed over the plurality of multilayers. An absorption layer is formed over capping layer. A first photoresist layer is formed over portions of absorption layer. Portions of the first photoresist layer and absorption layer are patterned, forming first openings in absorption layer. The first openings expose portions of the capping layer. Remaining portions of first photoresist layer are removed and a second photoresist layer is formed over portions of absorption layer. The second photoresist layer covers at least the first openings. Portions of the absorption layer and capping layer and plurality of multilayer of reflecting films not covered by the second photoresist layer are patterned, forming second openings. The second openings expose portions of protection layer and second photoresist layer is removed.

Abstract: A lithography mask includes a substrate, a reflective structure disposed over a first side of the substrate, and a patterned absorber layer disposed over the reflective structure. The lithography mask includes a first region and a second region that surrounds the first region in a top view. The patterned absorber layer is located in the first region. A substantially non-reflective material is located in the second region. The lithography mask is formed by forming a reflective structure over a substrate, forming an absorber layer over the reflective structure, defining a first region of the lithography mask, and defining a second region of the lithography mask. The defining of the first region includes patterning the absorber layer. The second region is defined to surround the first region in a top view. The defining of the second region includes forming a substantially non-reflective material in the second region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography mask includes forming an image pattern in an absorption layer of EUV mask blank. The EUV mask blank includes: a multilayer stack including alternating molybdenum (Mo) and silicon (Si) layers disposed over a first surface of a mask substrate, a capping layer disposed over the multilayer stack, and an absorption layer disposed over the capping layer. A border region surrounds the image pattern having a trench wherein the absorption layer, the capping layer and at least a portion of the multilayer stack are etched. Concave sidewalls are formed in the border region or an inter-diffused portion is formed in the multilayer stack of the trench.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a workpiece that includes a substrate having a low temperature expansion material, a reflective multilayer over the substrate, a capping layer over the reflective multilayer, and an absorber layer over the capping layer. The method further comprises patterning the absorber layer to provide first trenches corresponding to circuit patterns on a wafer, and patterning the absorber layer, the capping layer, and the reflective multilayer to provide second trenches corresponding to a die boundary area on the wafer, thereby providing an extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) mask. The method further comprises treating the EUVL mask with a treatment chemical that prevents exposed surfaces of the absorber layer from oxidation.

Abstract: A structure including an EUV mask and a pellicle attached to the EUV mask. The pellicle includes a pellicle frame and a plurality of pellicle membrane layers attached to the pellicle frame. The plurality of pellicle membrane layers include at least one core pellicle membrane layer and an additional pellicle membrane layer is disposed on the at least one core pellicle membrane layer. In some embodiments, the additional pellicle membrane layer is a material having a thermal emissivity greater than 0.2, a transmittance greater than 80%, and a refractive index (n) for 13.5 nanometer source of greater than 0.9.

Abstract: A lithography mask includes a substrate, a reflective structure disposed over a first side of the substrate, and a patterned absorber layer disposed over the reflective structure. The lithography mask includes a first region and a second region that surrounds the first region in a top view. The patterned absorber layer is located in the first region. A substantially non-reflective material is located in the second region. The lithography mask is formed by forming a reflective structure over a substrate, forming an absorber layer over the reflective structure, defining a first region of the lithography mask, and defining a second region of the lithography mask. The defining of the first region includes patterning the absorber layer. The second region is defined to surround the first region in a top view. The defining of the second region includes forming a substantially non-reflective material in the second region.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a pellicle for EUV lithography processes includes placing a hard mask in contact with a surface of a substrate. In some embodiments, the hard mask is configured to pattern the surface of the substrate to include a first region and a second region surrounding the first region. By way of example, while the mask in positioned in contact with the substrate, an etch process of the substrate is performed to etch the first and second regions into the substrate. Thereafter, an excess substrate region is removed so as to separate the etched first region from the excess substrate region. In various embodiments, the etched and separated first region serves as a pellicle for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process.

Abstract: A mask container for storing a mask for photolithography, includes a cover and a base having a plurality of tapered corners. The tapered corners taper outward and downward from a top major surface of the base. The cover having the tapered corners extends downward that covers the tapered corners of the base when the cover is attached to the base. The tapered corners of the cover are tapered at about the same angle as the tapered corners of the base so that a surface of the tapered corners of the cover is substantially parallel to a corresponding surface of the tapered corner of the base when the cover is attached to the base. A recess is located in the tapered corners of the cover. A biasing member and a ball-shaped member are located in the tapered corners of the base to mate with the recess when the cover is attached to the base.

Abstract: A method of removing a pellicle from a photomask includes removing a portion of a membrane from a pellicle frame, wherein the pellicle frame remains attached to the photomask following the removing of the portion of the membrane. The method further includes removing the pellicle frame from the photomask. The method further includes cleaning the photomask.

Abstract: A pellicle includes a frame. The frame includes a check valve, wherein the check valve is configured to permit gas flow from an interior of the pellicle to an exterior of the pellicle. The frame further includes a recess in a bottom surface of the frame. The pellicle further includes a membrane extending across the frame. The pellicle further includes a gasket configured to fit within the recess.

Abstract: A structure including an EUV mask and a pellicle attached to the EUV mask. The pellicle includes a pellicle frame and a plurality of pellicle membrane layers attached to the pellicle frame. The plurality of pellicle membrane layers include at least one core pellicle membrane layer and an additional pellicle membrane layer is disposed on the at least one core pellicle membrane layer. In some embodiments, the additional pellicle membrane layer is a material having a thermal emissivity greater than 0.2, a transmittance greater than 80%, and a refractive index (n) for 13.5 nanometer source of greater than 0.9.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dust collector using fan heat, comprising a bottom shell (10) and an upper cover (50), wherein a rear end (12) of the bottom shell (10) is provided with an air outlet (122) and a fan assembly (30), the upper cover (50) covers and is connected to the bottom shell (10), air flow from the fan assembly (30) is discharged via the air outlet (122), and the fan assembly (30) is provided with a fan (33) and a stator (331); and the rear end (12) is provided with a lower frame edge (121), the fan assembly (30) and the air outlet (122) are enclosed to form a closed air flow channel (35), and a heat collector (40) is provided on the stator (331) in the air flow channel (35), and can rapidly collect heat and warm the air flow to form hot air flow.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a pellicle assembly for a lithography process includes fabricating a pellicle frame including a sidewall having a porous material. In some embodiments, the pellicle frame is subjected to an anodization process to form the porous material. The porous material includes a plurality of pore channels extending, in a direction perpendicular to an exterior surface of the sidewall, from the exterior surface to an interior surface of the sidewall. In various embodiments, a pellicle membrane is formed, and the pellicle membrane is attached to the pellicle frame such that the pellicle membrane is suspended by the pellicle frame. Some embodiments disclosed herein further provide a system including a membrane and a pellicle frame that secures the membrane across the pellicle frame. In some examples, a portion of the pellicle frame includes a porous material, where the porous material includes the plurality of pore channels.

Abstract: A structure including an EUV mask and a pellicle attached to the EUV mask. The pellicle includes a pellicle frame and a plurality of pellicle membrane layers attached to the pellicle frame. The plurality of pellicle membrane layers include at least one core pellicle membrane layer and an additional pellicle membrane layer is disposed on the at least one core pellicle membrane layer. In some embodiments, the additional pellicle membrane layer is a material having a thermal emissivity greater than 0.2, a transmittance greater than 80%, and a refractive index (n) for 13.5 nanometer source of greater than 0.9.

Abstract: A structure including an EUV mask and a pellicle attached to the EUV mask. The pellicle includes a pellicle frame and a plurality of pellicle membrane layers attached to the pellicle frame. The plurality of pellicle membrane layers include at least one core pellicle membrane layer and an additional pellicle membrane layer is disposed on the at least one core pellicle membrane layer. In some embodiments, the additional pellicle membrane layer is a material having a thermal emissivity greater than 0.2, a transmittance greater than 80%, and a refractive index (n) for 13.5 nanometer source of greater than 0.9.

Abstract: A method for forming a lithography mask includes forming a capping layer on a reflective multilayer layer, the capping layer comprising a first material, forming a patterned patterning layer on the capping layer, and introducing a secondary material into the capping layer, the secondary material having an atomic number that is smaller than 15.

Abstract: A mask includes a doped substrate having a first region, a second region and a third region. The doped substrate in the first region has a first thickness to define a first mask state and in the second region has a second thickness to define a second mask state. The second thickness is different than the first thickness. The mask also includes an absorption material layer disposed over the third region to define a border region.

Abstract: A system and method of compensating for local focus errors in a semiconductor process. The method includes providing a reticle and applying, at a first portion of the reticle, a step height based on an estimated local focus error for a first portion of a wafer corresponding to the first portion of the reticle. A multilayer coating is formed over the reticle and an absorber layer is formed over the multilayer coating. A photoresist is formed over the absorber layer. The photoresist is patterned, an etch is performed of the absorber layer and residual photoresist is removed.