Abstract: According to one embodiment, an exposure method is disclosed. The method can include applying light to a photomask by an illumination. The method can include converging diffracted beams emitted from the photomask by a lens. In addition, the method can include imaging a plurality of point images on an exposure surface. On the photomask, a light transmitting region is formed at a lattice point represented by nonorthogonal unit cell vectors, and in the illumination, a light emitting region is set so that three or more of the diffracted beams pass through positions equidistant from center of a pupil of the lens.

Abstract: A pattern verification method comprising preparing a desired pattern and a mask pattern forming the desired pattern on a substrate, defining at least one evaluation point on an edge of the desired pattern, defining at least one process parameter to compute the transferred/formed pattern, defining a reference value and a variable range for each of the process parameters, computing a positional displacement for each first points corresponding to the evaluation point, first points computed using correction mask pattern and a plurality of combinations of parameter values obtained by varying the process parameters within the variable range or within the respective variable ranges, the positional displacement being displacement between first point and the evaluation point, computing a statistics of the positional displacements for each of the evaluation points, and outputting information modifying the mask pattern according to the statistics.

Abstract: A semiconductor device is provided having a physical pattern based on a designed pattern, the designed pattern including a target pattern and a correction pattern designed for a pattern to be formed on a wafer; the target pattern includes a first portion of an edge with a first distance, a second portion of the edge with a second distance, which is different from the first distance, and a third portion of the edge having a first region of the edge with the first distance and a second region of the edge with the second distance; and the correction pattern is added to at least one of the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion such that the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are caused to differ from one another in dimensions of the designed pattern.

Abstract: In a model-based OPC which makes a suitable mask correction for each mask pattern using an optical image intensity simulator, a mask pattern is divided into subregions and the model of optical image intensity simulation is changed according to the contents of the pattern in each subregion. When the minimum dimensions of the mask pattern are smaller than a specific threshold value set near the exposure wavelength, the region is calculated using a high-accuracy model and the other regions are calculated using a high-speed model.

Abstract: A process control method comprises adjusting a process condition in consideration of a performance variation among a plurality of manufacturing apparatuses, the performance variation affecting a finished shape of a pattern used to manufacture a semiconductor device, running a simulation of the finished shape under the adjusted process condition, extracting a dangerous point of the pattern affecting satisfaction from the result of the simulation, comparing a first process capability serving as a judgment standard to find whether a production schedule of the device is achieved with a second capability serving to form a dangerous pattern containing the dangerous point, and improving the second process when the second process capability is lower than the first process capability.

Abstract: A pattern verification method according to an embodiment includes, dividing a pattern data region or a pattern formation region formed based on the pattern data to a plurality of unit regions, calculating a pattern area ratio with respect to each unit region, calculating differences in the amount of the pattern area ratio between each unit region and adjacent unit regions thereto, setting the number or density of measurement point with respect to each unit region to the pattern of the pattern data region or the pattern formation region according to the difference in the amount of pattern area ratio, measuring the pattern size at each measurement point, and verifying whether the size measurement value is within a predetermined range or not.

Abstract: A block film is formed on a region which includes a region of an insulating layer where a first hole is to be formed, and in which no second hole is to be formed, and a resist film having openings for forming the first and second holes is formed on the block film and insulating layer. Etching is performed by using the resist film as a mask, thereby forming the first hole in the block film and insulating layer, and the second hole in the insulating layer. The depth of the first hole from the upper surface of the insulating layer is smaller than that of the second hole, so the first hole does not reach the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A pattern dimension calculation method according to one embodiment calculates a taper shape of a mask member used as a mask when a circuit pattern is processed in an upper layer of the circuit pattern formed on a substrate. The method calculates an opening angle facing the mask member from a shape prediction position on the circuit pattern on the basis of the taper shape. The method calculates a dimension of the circuit pattern according to the opening angle formed at the shape prediction position.

Abstract: A pattern verification method includes preparing a desired pattern and a mask pattern forming the desired pattern on a substrate, defining at least one evaluation point on an edge of the desired pattern, defining at least one process parameter to compute the transferred/formed pattern, defining a reference value and a variable range for each of the process parameters, and computing a positional displacement for each first points corresponding to the evaluation point, first points computed using correction mask pattern and a plurality of combinations of parameter values obtained by varying the process parameters within the variable range or within the respective variable ranges. The positional displacement is a displacement between first point and the evaluation point. The method further includes computing a statistics of the positional displacements for each of the evaluation points, and outputting information modifying the mask pattern according to the statistics.

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 semiconductor device having a physical pattern based on a designed pattern is provided. The designed pattern includes a target pattern and a correction pattern. The target pattern includes a first portion of an edge with a first distance between the first portion and a pattern opposed thereto, a second portion of the edge with a second distance between the second portion and a pattern opposed thereto, which is different from the first distance, and a third portion of the edge having a first region of the edge with the first distance between the first region and the pattern opposed thereto.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mask data processing method of correcting a hierarchical structure. In the case that in design data having a hierarchical structure including a plurality of cells each having a design pattern, when the total number of graphic forms or the total edge length of a design pattern on which the calculation of mask data processing is to be executed, the amount of calculation to be executed, or the expansion degree presumably becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value if the calculation of the mask data processing is executed on the design data having the initial hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure is corrected. This correction is performed to reduce the total number of graphic forms or the total edge length of the design pattern on which the calculation is to be executed, the amount of calculation to be executed, of the expansion degree.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for correcting a mask pattern includes: predicting a displacement of a device pattern by using a mask pattern to form the device pattern and a variation of a process condition; determinating an optical proximity correction value so that the displacement falls within a displacement tolerance of the device pattern; and correcting the mask pattern using the optical proximity correction value.

Abstract: A pattern forming method of forming a desired pattern on a semiconductor substrate is disclosed, which comprises extracting a first pattern of a layer, extracting a second pattern of one or more layers overlapped with the layer, the second pattern being arranged close to or overlapped with the first pattern, calculating a distance between the first and second patterns on a semiconductor substrate in consideration of a predetermined process variation, determining whether or not the distance between the first and second patterns satisfy an allowable margin given for the distance between the first and second patterns, and correcting, if the distance does not satisfy the allowable margin, at least one of the first and second patterns to satisfy the allowable margin.

Abstract: A mask pattern data creation method includes: determining whether or not a spacing of adjacent assist pattern feature data is not more than a prescribed spacing, based on: initial position data indicating an initially set position of the assist pattern feature data determined based on an illumination condition; and initial size data indicating an initially set size of the assist pattern feature data satisfying a size condition to not optically form an image on the transfer destination; and moving at least one of the adjacent assist pattern feature data or reducing a size of the at least one to increase the spacing of the assist pattern feature data to exceed a prescribed spacing in the case where it is determined that the spacing of the assist pattern feature data is not more than the prescribed spacing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mask data processing method of correcting a hierarchical structure. In the case that in design data having a hierarchical structure including a plurality of cells each having a design pattern, when the total number of graphic forms or the total edge length of a design pattern on which the calculation of mask data processing is to be executed, the amount of calculation to be executed, or the expansion degree presumably becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value if the calculation of the mask data processing is executed on the design data having the initial hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure is corrected. This correction is performed to reduce the total number of graphic forms or the total edge length of the design pattern on which the calculation is to be executed, the amount of calculation to be executed, of the expansion degree.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a deviation amount distribution of a two-dimensional shape parameter between a mask pattern formed on a mask and a desired mask pattern is acquired as a mask pattern map. Such that a deviation amount of the two-dimensional shape parameter between a pattern on substrate formed when the mask is subjected to exposure shot to form a pattern on a substrate and a desired pattern on substrate fits within a predetermined range, an exposure is determined for each position in the exposure shot in forming the pattern on substrate based on the mask pattern map.

Abstract: A design data processing method in a semiconductor device includes extracting, from design data, a graphic in which there exist a first wiring and a second wiring which is orthogonal to the first wiring, and changing a portion where the first wiring is orthogonal to the second wiring to make connection at an angle other than 90 degrees, thereby preparing new design data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in process simulation, it is verified whether sidewall patterns formed on sidewalls of a core material pattern or a transfer pattern formed by transferring the core material pattern form a closed loop. When it is determined as a result of the verification that the sidewall patterns form a closed loop, the mask pattern is changed. When it is determined as a result of the verification that the sidewall patterns do not form a closed loop, the mask pattern is adopted.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a pattern for a semiconductor device, comprising extracting part of a pattern layout, perturbing a pattern included in the part of the pattern layout to generate a perturbation pattern, correcting the perturbation pattern, predicting a first pattern, to be formed on a wafer, from the corrected perturbation pattern, acquiring a first difference between the perturbation pattern and the first pattern, and storing information concerning the perturbation pattern including information concerning the first difference.