Abstract: A stack structure that includes: a device wafer, a handler wafer, and a bonding structure disposed between the device wafer and the handler wafer, wherein one or both of the device wafer and the handler wafer have a release layer that is configured to be substantially or completely vaporized by infrared ablation when exposed to an infrared laser energy. The device wafer includes at least two consecutive layers adjacent the bonding structure that together include a plurality of fill portions that substantially or completely disable entry of the infrared laser energy into a plurality of layers of the device wafer below the two consecutive layers adjacent the bonding structure.

Abstract: An active area pattern is formed atop a deep trench pattern with a single exposure using an alternative phase-shift mask. To prevent adjacent spaces of opposite phase from intersecting one another at the ends of substantially opaque features of the active area pattern, one or more connectors are used to connect the ends of the substantially opaque patterns. Trench regions of the deep trench pattern are arranged such that the conduction path of the connectors are interrupted and prevent the lines from shorting to one another. Alternatively, a bit line pattern or a word line pattern having a lines and spaces array and a support region are printed with a single exposure using an alternating phase-shift mask. At one end of the array region, lines having a respective phase shift extend into the support region, and lines of the opposite phase shift are terminated.

Abstract: A method of reducing parametric variation in an integrated circuit (IC) chip and an IC chip with reduced parametric variation. The method includes: on a first wafer having a first arrangement of chips, each IC chip divided into a second arrangement of regions, measuring a test device parameter of test devices distributed in different regions; and on a second wafer having the first arrangement of IC chips and the second arrangement of regions, adjusting a functional device parameter of identically designed field effect transistors within one or more regions of all IC chips of the second wafer based on a values of the test device parameter measured on test devices in regions of the IC chip of the first wafer by a non-uniform adjustment of physical or metallurgical polysilicon gate widths of the identically designed field effect transistors from region to region within each IC chip.

Abstract: A method for optimizing imaging and process parameter settings in a lithographic pattern imaging and processing system. The method includes correlating the dimensions of a first set of at least one control pattern printed in a lithographic resist layer, measured at three or more locations on or within the pattern which correspond to differing dose, defocus and blur sensitivity. The method then includes measuring the dimensions on subsequent sets of control patterns, printed in a lithographic resist layer, at three or more locations on or within each pattern, of which a minimum of three locations match those measured in the first set, and determining the effective dose, defocus and blur values associated with forming the subsequent sets of control patterns by comparing the dimensions at the matching locations with the correlated dependencies.

Abstract: The relative surface area sizes of portions having distinct phase-shift and transmission of light of a pattern on a phase-shift mask substantially obey the condition that the product of surface area and transmission of the electrical field strength is the same for all of the portions. Then, frequency doubling occurs due to vanishing zero order diffraction orders and in the case of high-transition attenuated phase-shift masks a large first order diffraction amplitude reveals an even an improved as compared with conventional phase-shift masks. Two-dimensional matrix-like structures particularly on attenuated or halftone phase-shift masks can be arranged to image high-density patterns on a semiconductor wafer. The duty cycles of pattern matrices can be chosen being different from one in two orthogonal directions nevertheless leading to frequency doubling.

Abstract: Non-uniformity and image shortening are substantially reduced in an image printed on a substrate using a photolithographic mask in which the mask pattern includes at least one lines and spaces array adjacent to at least one clear region. At least one line feature is incorporated within the clear region of the mask pattern and is disposed in proximity to the lines and spaces array. The line feature has a line width that is smaller than a minimum resolution of the optical projection system. The image is printed by illuminating the photolithographic mask and projecting light transmitted through the photolithographic mask onto the substrate using the optical projection system.

Abstract: A mask is configured for projecting a structure pattern onto a semiconductor substrate in an exposure unit. The exposure unit has a minimum resolution limit for projecting the structure pattern onto the semiconductor substrate. The mask has a substrate, at least one raised first structure element on the substrate which has a lateral extent which is at least the minimum lateral extent that can be attained by the exposure unit, a configuration second raised structure elements which are arranged in an area surrounding the at least one first structure element on the substrate in the form of a matrix with a row spacing and a column spacing, whose shape and size are essentially identical to one another, and which have a respective lateral extent that is less than the minimum resolution limit of the exposure unit.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the quality of an alternating phase shift mask having a number of 180-degree phase shift areas alternating with a number of 0-degree phase shift areas is disclosed. In operation, a light source which provides wavelength-adjustable incident lights illuminates the incident lights on the alternating phase shift mask. The light outputs from boundaries between the 0-degree phase shift areas and the 180-degree phase shift areas of the alternating phase shift mask are detected. Relation curves of the wavelength of the incident light and a light intensity of the boundaries are then calculated. Phase errors of the alternating phase shift mask can thus be measured from the relation curves.

Abstract: An active area pattern is formed atop a deep trench pattern with a single exposure using an alternative phase-shift mask. To prevent adjacent spaces of opposite phase from intersecting one another at the ends of substantially opaque features of the active area pattern, one or more connectors are used to connect the ends of the substantially opaque patterns. Trench regions of the deep trench pattern are arranged such that the conduction path of the connectors are interrupted and prevent the lines from shorting to one another. Alternatively, a bit line pattern or a word line pattern having a lines and spaces array and a support region are printed with a single exposure using an alternating phase-shift mask. At one end of the array region, lines having a respective phase shift extend into the support region, and lines of the opposite phase shift are terminated.

Abstract: A method of projecting a pattern from a mask onto a substrate comprises providing an energy source, a substrate, and a mask containing a pattern of features to be projected onto the substrate, and projecting an energy beam from the energy source though the mask toward the substrate to create a projected mask pattern image. The projected mask pattern image is created by zeroth and higher orders of the energy beam. The method then includes diffracting zeroth order beams of the projected mask pattern image to an extent that prevents the zeroth order beams from reaching the substrate, while permitting higher order beams of the projected mask pattern image to reach the substrate. Preferably, the zeroth order beams of the projected mask pattern image are diffracted at an obtuse angle.

Abstract: The properties of features formed in a substrate are measured. Interferometric illumination is used to illuminate regions of a substrate so that the features of interest occupy a greater proportion of the illuminated area. The signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement signal is therefore increased, and the sensitivity of the measurement is thus improved.

Abstract: A method of projecting a pattern from a mask onto a substrate comprises providing an energy source, a substrate, and a mask containing a pattern of features to be projected onto the substrate, and projecting an energy beam from the energy source though the mask toward the substrate to create a projected mask pattern image. The projected mask pattern image is created by zeroth and higher orders of the energy beam. The method then includes diffracting zeroth order beams of the projected mask pattern image to an extent that prevents the zeroth order beams from reaching the substrate, while permitting higher order beams of the projected mask pattern image to reach the substrate. Preferably, the zeroth order beams of the projected mask pattern image are diffracted at an obtuse angle.

Abstract: An electronic device including: a semiconductor substrate having an array of gate conductors, each having a length and a width, comprised of dummy gate conductors and functional gate conductors extending in a widthwise direction, the gate conductors positioned substantially parallel to each other in the widthwise direction and periodically spaced apart a fixed distance in a direction substantially perpendicular to the widthwise direction.

Abstract: A projected image is formed during a material substrate. A photolithographic mask is illuminated with substantially coherent light at an oblique angle of incidence with respect to a surface of the photolithographic mask. The photolithographic mask includes a substantially transparent mask substrate and one or more lines and spaces patterns formed on the mask substrate and having a periodicity P. The mask substrate includes at least one phase shifting region. At least part of the light that is transmitted through the photolithographic mask is collected using one or more projection lenses which project the portion of the transmitted light onto the material substrate. The material substrate is disposed substantially parallel with, but at a distance from, a focal plane of the projection lens system.

Abstract: The relative surface area sizes of portions having distinct phase-shift and transmission of light of a pattern on a phase-shift mask substantially obey the condition that the product of surface area and transmission of the electrical field strength is the same for all of the portions. Then, frequency doubling occurs due to vanishing zero order diffraction orders and in the case of high-transition attenuated phase-shift masks a large first order diffraction amplitude reveals an even an improved as compared with conventional phase-shift masks. Two-dimensional matrix-like structures particularly on attenuated or halftone phase-shift masks can be arranged to image high-density patterns on a semiconductor wafer. The duty cycles of pattern matrices can be chosen being different from one in two orthogonal directions nevertheless leading to frequency doubling.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting the quality of an alternating phase shift mask having a number of 180-degree phase shift areas alternating with a number of 0-degree phase shift areas is disclosed. In operation, a light source which provides wavelength-adjustable incident lights illuminates the incident lights on the alternating phase shift mask. The light outputs from boundaries between the 0-degree phase shift areas and the 180-degree phase shift areas of the alternating phase shift mask are detected. Relation curves of the wavelength of the incident light and a light intensity of the boundaries are then calculated. Phase errors of the alternating phase shift mask can thus be measured from the relation curves.

Abstract: Non-uniformity and image shortening are substantially reduced in an image printed on a substrate using a photolithographic mask in which the mask pattern includes at least one lines and spaces array adjacent to at least one clear region. At least one line feature is incorporated within the clear region of the mask pattern and is disposed in proximity to the lines and spaces array. The line feature has a line width that is smaller than a minimum resolution of the optical projection system. The image is printed by illuminating the photolithographic mask and projecting light transmitted through the photolithographic mask onto the substrate using the optical projection system.

Abstract: A projected image is formed during a material substrate. A photolithographic mask is illuminated with substantially coherent light at an oblique angle of incidence with respect to a surface of the photolithographic mask. The photolithographic mask includes a substantially transparent mask substrate and one or more lines and spaces patterns formed on the mask substrate and having a periodicity P. The mask substrate includes at least one phase shifting region. At least part of the light that is transmitted through the photolithographic mask is collected using one or more projection lenses which project the portion of the transmitted light onto the material substrate. The material substrate is disposed substantially parallel with, but at a distance from, a focal plane of the projection lens system.

Abstract: A mask is configured for projecting a structure pattern onto a semiconductor substrate in an exposure unit. The exposure unit has a minimum resolution limit for projecting the structure pattern onto the semiconductor substrate. The mask has a substrate, at least one raised first structure element on the substrate which has a lateral extent which is at least the minimum lateral extent that can be attained by the exposure unit, a configuration second raised structure elements which are arranged in an area surrounding the at least one first structure element on the substrate in the form of a matrix with a row spacing and a column spacing, whose shape and size are essentially identical to one another, and which have a respective lateral extent that is less than the minimum resolution limit of the exposure unit.

Abstract: A mask (118) and method for patterning a semiconductor wafer. The mask (118) includes apertures (122) and assist lines (124) disposed between apertures (122). The assist lines (124) reduce the diffraction effects of the lithographic process, resulting in improved depth of focus and resolution of patterns on a semiconductor wafer.