Abstract: A data generation apparatus of one embodiment includes a processing unit, an evaluation unit, and a conversion unit. The processing unit designs, through optical proximity correction based on a target pattern formed on a substrate using the photomask, a mask pattern corresponding to the target pattern and including a plurality of rectangular regions. The evaluation unit evaluates the mask pattern using a cost function having, as a parameter, a jog length indicating a length of each of the rectangular regions included in the mask pattern in a first direction. The conversion unit converts mask pattern data indicating the mask pattern with an evaluation that meets a predetermined condition to drawing data corresponding to a variable shaped beam drawing process.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing an original plate includes forming a first film on a first substrate, wherein an etching rate of the first film by a chemical solution including hydrofluoric acid is larger than an etching rate of the first substrate by the chemical solution. The method further includes forming a second film on the first film, wherein an etching rate of the second film by the chemical solution is smaller than the etching rate of the first film by the chemical solution. The method further includes etching the first substrate by the chemical solution using the first film and the second film as masks to form, on the first substrate, a first region having a first height, a second region having a second height different from the first height, and a first slope located between the first region and the second region.

Abstract: A pattern forming method of an embodiment includes: obtaining a height difference of a transfer surface of a substrate to which a pattern is to be transferred; measuring a focus shift tracking amount with respect to the height difference of an exposure apparatus that performs pattern transfer; calculating a difference between the height difference and the tracking amount; forming a photomask provided with an optical path difference corresponding to the difference; and transferring a pattern to the substrate using the photomask.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern data generation method includes: decomposing data of a pattern to be formed into first guide pattern data and first DSA pattern data; generating a plurality of combinations of second guide pattern data and second DSA pattern data based on combinations of the first guide pattern data and the first DSA pattern data; carrying out simulation for each of the plurality of combinations of the second guide pattern data and the second DSA pattern data, and evaluating the simulation results using a predetermined evaluation function; and extracting one set or a plurality of sets of combinations that are suitable for forming the pattern to be formed, from among the plurality of combinations of the second guide pattern data and the second DSA pattern data, based on the evaluation results.

Abstract: According to a sub-resolution assist feature arranging method in embodiments, it is selected which of a rule base and a model base is set for which pattern region on pattern data corresponding to a main pattern as a type of the method of arranging the sub-resolution assist feature for improving resolution of the main pattern formed on a substrate. Then, the sub-resolution assist feature by the rule base is arranged in a pattern region set as the rule base and the sub-resolution assist feature by the model base is arranged in a pattern region set as the model base.

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: A method of simulating an optical intensity distribution on a substrate when a mask pattern formed on the mask is transferred to the substrate through a projection optical system by irradiating an illumination light obliquely on a mask surface of the mask, which comprises setting a phase difference between a zero-order diffraction light and a first-order diffraction light determined according to at least one of a distance between the zero-order diffraction light and the first-order diffraction light on a pupil of the projection optical system, thickness of a light-shielding portion formed on the mask, angle defined by an optical axis direction of the illumination light and an incident direction on the mask, and a difference between a size of the mask pattern and a half cycle of the mask pattern, and carrying out a simulation of the optical intensity distribution on the substrate according to the set phase difference.

Abstract: A lithography process window analyzing method for setting a process window based on ranges of exposure amounts and focus positions, and giving evaluation of reliability of the set process window, includes setting, based on a plurality of process conditions including exposure amounts and focus positions in the performed exposure processing, analysis reliability M for process conditions including an arbitrary exposure amount and an arbitrary focus position; calculating reliability R of the process window based on the analysis reliability M concerning the process conditions included in the process window; and comparing a magnitude relation between the reliability R and a predetermined threshold and determining presence or absence of reliability of the process window according to a result of the comparison.

Abstract: A projection exposure method that projects the shape of a hole onto a wafer by projecting a diffracted light, which is produced by applying light to a mask having a pattern for forming a hole pattern, onto the wafer through a projection optical system for exposure, wherein, in a plane substantially perpendicular to an optical axis, the light applied to the mask has a first intensity distribution in which the intensity is higher in the vicinity of eight apexes of an octagon centered at the optical axis than in other areas, the mask has a plurality of first opening patterns are arranged in a rectangular lattice configuration having sides parallel to diagonals of the octagon passing through the optical axis, and a plurality of second opening patterns are arranged in a face-centered rectangular lattice configuration having sides parallel to diagonals of the octagon passing through the optical axis.

Abstract: According to a sub-resolution assist feature arranging method in embodiments, it is selected which of a rule base and a model base is set for which pattern region on pattern data corresponding to a main pattern as a type of the method of arranging the sub-resolution assist feature for improving resolution of the main pattern formed on a substrate. Then, the sub-resolution assist feature by the rule base is arranged in a pattern region set as the rule base and the sub-resolution assist feature by the model base is arranged in a pattern region set as the model base.

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: 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 method of evaluating a photo mask, includes measuring each dimension of a plurality of pattern portions of a mask pattern formed on a photo mask, obtaining an inter-pattern distance between the pattern portion and a pattern different from the pattern portion with respect to each of the pattern portions, obtaining a dimensional difference between the measured dimension of the pattern portion and a target dimension of the pattern portion with respect to each of the pattern portions, grouping the dimensional difference obtained for each pattern portion into a plurality of groups in accordance with the inter-pattern distance obtained for each pattern portion, obtaining an evaluation value based on the dimensional difference in each group with respect to each of the groups, and evaluating the photo mask based on the evaluation value.

Abstract: A method of creating a simulation model, includes acquiring a CD value of a photoresist pattern actually formed based upon a test pattern, acquiring information about a shape of the photoresist pattern, acquiring an intensity distribution of an optical image based upon the test pattern by performing simulation, acquiring an empirical threshold defined according to a CD value on the intensity distribution, which corresponds to the CD value of the photoresist pattern, acquiring a parameter of the optical image based upon the intensity distribution of the optical image, acquiring a first correlation between the information about the shape of the photoresist pattern and the parameter of the optical image, acquiring a second correlation between the information about the shape of the photoresist pattern and the empirical threshold, and acquiring a third correlation between the parameter of the optical image and the empirical threshold by using first and second correlations.

Abstract: A lithography simulation method includes: taking in design data of a pattern to be formed on a substrate and mask data to prepare a mask pattern used in forming a latent image of the pattern on the substrate by transmission of an energy ray; obtaining the latent image of the pattern by calculation of an intensity of the energy ray; locally changing, at least in a portion corresponding to a pattern to be interested, a relative position in a direction of the intensity of the energy ray between a latent image curve and a reference intensity line in accordance with a distance between the pattern to be interested and a pattern of a neighboring region, the latent image curve being an intensity distribution curve of the energy ray constituting the latent image, the reference intensity line being defined to specify a position of an edge of the pattern to be interested; and calculating a distance between intersections of a portion of the latent image curve corresponding to the pattern to be interested and the referenc

Abstract: Design data corresponding to a target layout pattern is created, a layout value of the created design data is changed, optical proximity correction is applied to a layout pattern obtained from the changed design data, a pattern on wafer formed on a wafer to correspond to the layout pattern is calculated by using a photomask on which the layout pattern subjected to the optical proximity correction is formed, and the pattern on wafer and the target layout pattern before the change of the layout value are compared.

Abstract: A photomask quality estimation system comprises a measuring unit, a latitude computation unit and an estimation unit. The measuring unit measures the mask characteristic of each of a plurality of chip patterns formed on a mask substrate. The latitude computation unit computes the exposure latitude of each chip pattern based on the mask characteristic. The estimation unit estimates the quality of each chip pattern based on the exposure latitude.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a mask data correction method used when forming a photomask used in a photolithography process, comprising correcting mask data on the basis of simulation performed by using information including nonuniformity of an illumination luminance distribution in an exposure apparatus which uses the photomask formed by using the mask data obtained by the correction result.

Abstract: A photomask quality estimation system comprises a measuring unit, a latitude computation unit and an estimation unit. The measuring unit measures the mask characteristic of each of a plurality of chip patterns formed on a mask substrate. The latitude computation unit computes the exposure latitude of each chip pattern based on the mask characteristic. The estimation unit estimates the quality of each chip pattern based on the exposure latitude.