Abstract: An array of small square contact holes, on the order of magnitude of the exposing light wavelength, are formed by selecting the partial coherence and numerical aperture of the exposing light source and the pitch of the array of windows on an attenuating phase shifting mask so that side lobes formed by the exposing light being diffracted as it passes through the array of window constructively interfere with one another in the vicinity of a desired contact hole on the material surface. This constructive interference of side lobe patterns, in combination with the pattern formed by the light passing undiffracted through the array of windows, forms an array of square exposed regions on the material surface. When the material is a photoresist, the exposed regions can be selectively dissolved in order to form square patterns that can be used to etch square holes in the underlying substrate or layer.

Abstract: In a circuit layout, a partial area is defined in a first structure pattern, which is stored electronically in a data format and represents a first lithographic plane, in which partial area a lower limit value for the length of a serif to be added to a structure element in an OPC correction can be undershot in order to locally increase the resolution. The partial area in the electronically stored circuit layout maybe, for example, an active region with which contact is to be made and which has been selected in a second structure pattern of a further lithographic plane as a structure element. Thus, within such a partial area of an integrated circuit, elevated requirements made of dimensionally accurate imaging are satisfied, while the required data volume overall increases only to an insignificant extent.

Abstract: A photomask with desired illumination conditions can be constructed by combining a base pattern of openings with an assist pattern which includes openings that are offset from respectively corresponding openings of the base pattern by a preset angular distance.

Abstract: Preferably using a positive resist, a resist ridge (20) is formed in a photosensitive resist (16) applied on a semiconductor wafer (1) above a hard mask layer (12). The resist ridge (20) serves as a mask for a subsequent implantation step (46). This makes use of an effect whereby the material of the hard mask layer (12), in a part (122) shaded by the resist ridge (20), can be etched out selectively with respect to the implanted part (121). The consequently patterned hard mask layer is used as an etching mask with respect to an underlying layer or layer stack (102–104) that is actually to be patterned. From the resist ridge (10) that has been formed as a line in the photosensitive resist (16), in a type of tone reversal, an opening (24) has been formed in the hard mask layer and a trench (26) has been formed in the layer/layer stack (102–104). According to the invention, the width (51, 52) of the resist ridge (20) is reduced by exposing the resist ridge (20) to an oxygen plasma (42).

Abstract: A plate 50 for projection lithography comprising a first opaque region 54 located at the center of the plate 50 and a second opaque region 56 formed at the outer edge 52 of the plate. The first and second opaque regions define a light transmissive annular region 58. The annular region 58 comprises a first light transmissive area 60, 62 that imparts a first phase shift to light passing therethrough and a second light transmissive area 64, 66, which imparts a second phase shift to light passing therethrough.

Abstract: An array of small square contact holes, on the order of magnitude of the exposing light wavelength, are formed by selecting the partial coherence and numerical aperture of the exposing light source and the pitch of the array of windows on an attenuating phase shifting mask so that side lobes formed by the exposing light being diffracted as it passes through the array of window constructively interfere with one another in the vicinity of a desired contact hole on the material surface. This constructive interference of side lobe patterns, in combination with the pattern formed by the light passing undiffracted through the array of windows, forms an array of square exposed regions on the material surface. When the material is a photoresist, the exposed regions can be selectively dissolved in order to form square patterns that can be used to etch square holes in the underlying substrate or layer.

Abstract: An array of small square contact holes, on the order of magnitude of the exposing light wavelength, are formed by selecting the partial coherence and numerical aperture of the exposing light source and the pitch of the array of windows on an attenuating phase shifting mask so that side lobes formed by the exposing light being diffracted as it passes through the array of window constructively interfere with one another in the vicinity of a desired contact hole on the material surface. This constructive interference of side lobe patterns, in combination with the pattern formed by the light passing undiffracted through the array of windows, forms an array of square exposed regions on the material surface. When the material is a photoresist, the exposed regions can be selectively dissolved in order to form square patterns that can be used to etch square holes in the underlying substrate or layer.

Abstract: A mark configuration is provided for the orientation and/or determination of the relative position of a substrate and/or of layers on the substrate during a lithographic exposure, in particular for the case of a wafer during the fabrication of DRAMs. At least one part of a mark is disposed above a patterned background for the purpose of increasing a difference in contrast between the mark and the substrate. A wafer can also be manufactured with such a mark configuration. A method for fabricating the mark configuration is also described. An efficient and simple orientation of layers and/or of the substrate is thus made possible.

Abstract: An alternating phase shift mask (400) and method of manufacturing thereof including assist edges (450) and (452) surrounding a main phase edge (420). Assist edges (450) and (452) improve the resolution of the alternating phase shift mask (400), thus enabling the patterning of smaller size features on a semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor body having an alignment mark comprising a material adapted to absorb impinging light and to radiate light in response to the absorption of the impinging light, such radiated light being radiated with a wavelength different from the wavelength of the impinging light. Also a method and apparatus for detecting an alignment mark on a semiconductor body. The method and apparatus successively scan an alignment illumination comprising the impinging light over the surface of the semiconductor surface and over the alignment mark. The impinging energy is reflected by the surface of the semiconductor when such impinging light is over and is reflected by the surface of the semiconductor. The impinging energy is absorbed by the material and is then radiated by the material when such impinging energy is scanned over such material. The reflected light is selectively filtered while the radiated light is passed to a detector.

Abstract: An interconnection pattern is formed over the surface of a silicon wafer in which both the vias and the trenches of the pattern are filled with copper. The process of filling the vias and trenches involves use of a silicon nitride film as an etch stop and the filling of the vias with an anti-reflection coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light-modulating composition comprising a low molecular weight liquid crystalline material dispersed in a polymer including a non-mesogenic crosslinking monomer reacted with a mesogenic monomer comprising a mesogenic group, a spacer, and one or more reactive functionality.

Abstract: An alternating phase shift mask (400) and method of manufacturing thereof including assist edges (450) and (452) surrounding a main phase edge (420). Assist edges (450) and (452) improve the resolution of the alternating phase shift mask (400), thus enabling the patterning of smaller size features on a semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A method for providing contrast for alignment marks after a blanket metal deposition is disclosed. A trench is provided in a first region and a trench is provided in an alignment mark region of a semiconductor wafer. A first metal is deposited on the wafer, and the first metal is blocked from filling the trench in the alignment mark region to maintain the trench in the alignment mark region in an unfilled state. The wafer is planarized to remove the first metal from a top surface. A blanket depositing of a second metal layer is performed on the first region and the alignment mark region such that the trench in the alignment mark region is suitable for use as a scattering alignment mark.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining photoresist pattern linearity. The method and apparatus comprises a substrate and a measuring pattern (26) printed on the substrate comprising a series of parallel lines (37) having a line width (36) and having a pre-determined pitch. By magnifying the semiconductor wafer on which the pattern feature (34) is printed and analyzing the magnified wafer from a top down view, the linearity of the pattern feature (34) can be determined from the amount of shift in the edges of the pattern feature (34). By utilizing the method and apparatus for other pattern features, the linearity of the entire pattern can be determined.

Abstract: A photoresist system is provided that is easily structurable and is suitable for deep ultraviolet range patterning. An increased etching resistance to oxygen-containing plasma is produced in a lithographically generated photoresist structure by treatment with an etch protectant. The etch protectant includes a silylating agent for chemical reaction with reactive groups of the photoresist. In an embodiment, the photoresist includes a base resin initially containing no aromatic groups. Silylating agents include silicon tetrachloride, silicon tetrafluoride, trichlorosilane, dimethylchlorosilane and hexamethyldisilazane.

Abstract: An array of small square contact holes, on the order of magnitude of the exposing light wavelength, are formed by selecting the partial coherence and numerical aperture of the exposing light source and the pitch of the array of windows on an attenuating phase shifting mask so that side lobes formed by the exposing light being diffracted as it passes through the array of window constructively interfere with one another in the vicinity of a desired contact hole on the material surface. This constructive interference of side lobe patterns, in combination with the pattern formed by the light passing undiffracted through the array of windows, forms an array of square exposed regions on the material surface. When the material is a photoresist, the exposed regions can be selectively dissolved in order to form square patterns that can be used to etch square holes in the underlying substrate or layer.

Abstract: A method for etching a surface includes the steps of providing an under layer formed on the surface and a top layer formed on the under layer. The top layer is patterned to expose portions of the under layer, and a layer including silicon is formed on the exposed portions of the under layer. The top layer is removed to expose the under layer in portions other than the portions of the under layer having the silicon layer thereon, and the under layer is etched in portions other than the portions of the under layer having the silicon layer thereon to expose the surface.

Abstract: An array of small square contact holes, on the order of magnitude of the exposing light wavelength, are formed by selecting the partial coherence and numerical aperture of the exposing light source and the pitch of the array of windows on an attenuating phase shifting mask so that side lobes formed by the exposing light being diffracted as it passes through the array of window constructively interfere with one another in the vicinity of a desired contact hole on the material surface. This constructive interference of side lobe patterns, in combination with the pattern formed by the light passing undiffracted through the array of windows, forms an array of square exposed regions on the material surface. When the material is a photoresist, the exposed regions can be selectively dissolved in order to form square patterns that can be used to etch square holes in the underlying substrate or layer.