Abstract: A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a first layer over a substrate. The first layer has a trench. The method includes forming first spacers over inner walls of the trench. The method includes removing a portion of the first spacers. The method includes forming a filling layer into the trench to cover the first spacers. The filling layer and the first spacers together form a strip structure. The method includes removing the first layer. The method includes forming second spacers over two opposite first sidewalls of the strip structure.

Abstract: A method of performing a lithography process includes providing a test pattern. The test pattern includes a first set of lines arranged at a first pitch, a second set of lines arranged at the first pitch, and further includes at least one reference line between the first set of lines and the second set of lines. The test pattern is exposed with a radiation source providing an asymmetric, monopole illumination profile to form a test pattern structure on a substrate. The test pattern structure is then measured and a measured distance correlated to an offset of a lithography parameter. A lithography process is adjusted based on the offset of the lithography parameter.

Abstract: A method for forming a photomask is provided. The method includes forming a light blocking layer over a transparent substrate. The light blocking layer has a first portion, a second portion, and a connection portion. The method includes forming a mask layer over the first portion and the second portion of the light blocking layer. The method includes removing the connection portion. The method includes removing the mask layer. The second portion of the light blocking layer is removed during removing the mask layer, while the first portion remains. The method includes after removing the mask layer and the second portion, removing the third portion of the transparent substrate to form a first recess in the transparent substrate. The method includes forming a light blocking structure in the first recess.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask for lithography, circuit pattern data are acquired. A pattern density, which is a total pattern area per predetermined area, is calculated from the circuit pattern data. Dummy pattern data for areas having pattern density less than a threshold density are generated. Mask drawing data is generated from the circuit pattern data and the dummy pattern data. By using an electron beam from an electron beam lithography apparatus, patterns are drawn according to the mask drawing data on a resist layer formed on a mask blank substrate. The drawn resist layer is developed using a developing solution. Dummy patterns included in the dummy pattern data are not printed as a photo mask pattern when the resist layer is exposed with the electron beam and is developed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of patterning a target material layer over a semiconductor substrate. The method includes steps of forming a spacer feature over the target material layer using a first sub-layout and performing a photolithographic patterning process using a second sub-layout to form a first feature. A portion of the first feature extends over the spacer feature. The method further includes steps of removing the portion of the first feature extending over the spacer feature and removing the spacer feature. Other methods and associated patterned semiconductor wafers are also provided herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming interconnect structures. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a substrate and a conductive feature formed in a top portion of the substrate; depositing a resist layer over the substrate, wherein the resist layer has an exposure threshold; providing a radiation with an incident exposure dose to the resist layer, wherein the incident exposure dose is configured to be less than the exposure threshold of the resist layer while a sum of the incident exposure dose and a reflected exposure dose from a top surface of the conductive feature is larger than the exposure threshold of the resist layer, thereby forming a latent pattern above the conductive feature; and developing the resist layer to form a patterned resist layer.

Abstract: A method for taking heat away from the photomask includes driving a working fluid to flow between a photomask and a fluid retaining structure and through a first slit of the fluid retaining structure, such that a boundary of the working fluid is confined between the photomask and the fluid retaining structure; and generating a light to irradiate the photomask through a light transmission region of the fluid retaining structure.

Abstract: Manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a pad oxide layer on a semiconductor substrate. A hard mask layer is formed over the pad oxide layer. An anti-reflective layer (ARL) is formed over the hard mask layer. A first photoresist layer is formed over the ARL. The first photoresist layer is patterned and the hard mask layer and ARL are removed. Remaining portions of the first photoresist layer and the ARL are removed, and a patterned hard mask layer is formed. The pad oxide layer and the semiconductor substrate are etched to obtain a plurality of fins. A bottom layer is formed over and between the fins. A middle layer is formed over the bottom layer and a second photoresist layer is formed on the middle layer. The second photoresist layer is patterned to form an opening and a spacer is formed in an opening formed in the second photoresist layer.

Abstract: A method of operating a semiconductor apparatus includes forming a first electron beam passing through a first shaping aperture; modifying an energy distribution of the first electron beam by a second shaping aperture, such that the first electron beam has a main region and an edge region having a greater energy than the main region; and exposing a workpiece to the main region and the edge region of the first electron beam to create a pattern.

Abstract: A method for forming a photomask is provided. The method includes forming a light blocking layer over a transparent substrate. The method includes forming a mask layer over the light blocking layer. The mask layer covers a first portion of the light blocking layer, and the first portion is over a second portion of the transparent substrate. The method includes removing the light blocking layer, which is not covered by the mask layer. The method includes removing the mask layer. The first portion of the light blocking layer is removed during removing the mask layer. The method includes removing the second portion of the transparent substrate to form a first recess in the transparent substrate. The method includes forming a first light blocking structure in the first recess.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a set of active regions in a substrate, a first set of conductive structures, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, a set of gates and a first set of vias. The set of active regions extend in a first direction and is located on a first level. The first set of conductive structures and the STI region extend in at least the first direction or a second direction, is located on the first level, and is between the set of active regions. The STI region is between the set of active regions and the first set of conductive structures. The set of gates extend in the second direction and overlap the first set of conductive structures. The first set of vias couple the first set of conductive structures to the set of gates.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a photo mask for lithography, circuit pattern data are acquired. A pattern density, which is a total pattern area per predetermined area, is calculated from the circuit pattern data. Dummy pattern data for areas having pattern density less than a threshold density are generated. Mask drawing data is generated from the circuit pattern data and the dummy pattern data. By using an electron beam from an electron beam lithography apparatus, patterns are drawn according to the mask drawing data on a resist layer formed on a mask blank substrate. The drawn resist layer is developed using a developing solution. Dummy patterns included in the dummy pattern data are not printed as a photo mask pattern when the resist layer is exposed with the electron beam and is developed.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a layout that includes a shape to be formed on a photomask and determining a plurality of target lithographic contours for the shape, wherein the plurality of target lithographic contours includes a first target lithographic contour for a first set of process conditions and a second target lithographic contour for a second set of process conditions, performing a lithographic simulation of the layout to produce a first simulated contour at the first set of process conditions and a second simulated contour at the second set of process conditions, determining a first edge placement error between the first simulated contour and the first target lithographic contour and a second edge placement error between the second simulated contour and the second target lithographic contour, and determining a modification to the layout based on the first edge placement error and the second edge placement error.

Abstract: A method includes forming a first layer on a substrate; forming a first plurality of trenches in the first layer by a patterning process; and forming a second plurality of trenches in the first layer by another patterning process, resulting in combined trench patterns in the first layer. A first trench of the second plurality connects two trenches of the first plurality. The method further includes forming dielectric spacer features on sidewalls of the combined trench patterns. A space between two opposing sidewalls of the first trench is completely filled by the dielectric spacer features and another space between two opposing sidewalls of one of the two trenches is partially filled by the dielectric spacer features.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming patterns in a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a substrate and a patterning-target layer over the substrate; patterning the patterning-target layer to form a main pattern; forming a middle layer over the patterning-target layer and a hard mask layer over the middle layer; patterning the hard mask layer to form a first cut pattern; patterning the hard mask layer to form a second cut pattern, a combined cut pattern being formed in the hard mask layer as a union of the first cut pattern and the second cut pattern; transferring the combined cut pattern to the middle layer; etching the patterning-target layer using the middle layer as an etching mask to form a final pattern in the patterning-target layer. In some embodiments, the final pattern includes the main pattern subtracting an intersection portion between main pattern and the combined cut pattern.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a substrate having a substrate feature; forming a first material layer over the substrate and in physical contact with the substrate feature; forming an etch mask over the first material layer; and applying a dynamic-angle (DA) plasma etching process to the first material layer through the etch mask to form a first material feature. Plasma flux of the DA plasma etching process has an angle of incidence with respect to a normal of the first material layer and the angle of incidence changes in a dynamic mode during the DA plasma etching process.

Abstract: An integrated circuit includes a set of active regions in a substrate, a first set of conductive structures, a shallow trench isolation (STI) region, a set of gates and a first set of vias. The set of active regions extend in a first direction and is located on a first level. The first set of conductive structures and the STI region extend in at least the first direction or a second direction, is located on the first level, and is between the set of active regions. The STI region is between the set of active regions and the first set of conductive structures. The set of gates extend in the second direction and overlap the first set of conductive structures. The first set of vias couple the first set of conductive structures to the set of gates.

Abstract: A method includes establishing a simulation process for simulating fabrication of a structure on a wafer. The simulation process includes multiple simulation steps for simulating multiple wafer fabrication steps respectively, and further includes a step of testing the structure that produces a result representing quality of the structure. Each of the simulation steps has a respective adjustable process parameter. The method further includes specifying a respective workable range for each process parameter and running the simulation process in iterations using a wafer process simulator until the result becomes optimal. During the running of the simulation process, every two consecutive iterations either adjust two different process parameters within their workable ranges or adjust a same process parameter at opposite directions within its workable range.

Abstract: Various examples of a technique for performing optical proximity correction and for forming a photomask are provided herein. In some examples, a layout is received that includes a shape to be formed on a photomask. A plurality of target lithographic contours are determined for the shape that includes a first target contour for a first set of process conditions and a second target contour that is different from the first target contour for a second set of process conditions. A lithographic simulation of the layout is performed to produce a first simulated contour at the first set of process conditions and a second simulated contour at the second set of process conditions. A modification to the layout is determined based on edge placement errors between the first simulated contour and the first target contour and between the second simulated contour and the second target contour.

Abstract: A lithography patterning system includes a reticle having patterned features, a pellicle having a plurality of openings, a radiation source configured for emitting radiation to reflect and/or project the patterned features, and one or more mirrors configured for guiding reflected and/or projected patterned features onto a wafer. The pellicle is configured to protect the reticle against particles and floating contaminants. The plurality of openings include between 5% and 99.9% of lateral surface area of the pellicle. The pellicle can be attached to the reticle on a side of the patterned features, placed beside an optical path between the radiation source and the wafer, or placed in an optical path between mirrors and the radiation source. The plurality of openings in the pellicle are formed by a plurality of bar shaped materials, or formed in a honey comb structure or a mesh structure.