Abstract: The semiconductor device has a wiring M 2, an interlayer insulating film IL3 formed on the wiring M 2, and two wirings M 3 formed on the interlayer insulating film IL3, and the wiring M 3 is connected to the wiring M 2 by a conductor layer PG2 formed in the interlayer insulating film IL3. A recess CC3 is formed on the upper surface IL3a of the interlayer insulating film IL3, and the recess CC3 is defined by a side surface S 31 connected to the upper surface IL3a and a side surface S 32 connected to the side surface S 31, and the side surface S 32 is inclined so that the width WC3 of the recess CC3 decreases in the direction from the upper surface IL3a of the interlayer insulating film IL3 toward the upper surface IL2a of the interlayer insulating film IL2.

Abstract: The semiconductor device has a wiring M 2, an interlayer insulating film IL3 formed on the wiring M 2, and two wirings M 3 formed on the interlayer insulating film IL3, and the wiring M 3 is connected to the wiring M 2 by a conductor layer PG2 formed in the interlayer insulating film IL3. A recess CC3 is formed on the upper surface IL3a of the interlayer insulating film IL3, and the recess CC3 is defined by a side surface S 31 connected to the upper surface IL3a and a side surface S 32 connected to the side surface S 31, and the side surface S 32 is inclined so that the width WC3 of the recess CC3 decreases in the direction from the upper surface IL3a of the interlayer insulating film IL3 toward the upper surface IL2a of the interlayer insulating film IL2.

Abstract: A technique for quantitatively expressing a manufacturing difficulty level of a photomask and for efficiently manufacturing the photomask is provided. A mask manufacturing difficulty level different for each mask layout, product, and mask layer is relatively recognized with a mask manufacturing load index calculated by a mask manufacturing load prediction system, and when layout correction is possible, the final layout is corrected to a layout with a low difficulty level, and a mask ordering party provides a mask manufacturer with information regarding the mask manufacturing difficulty level in an early stage. The mask manufacturing load index is expressed with a defect guarantee load index and a lithography load index.

Abstract: A method of determining defects in photomasks according to the present invention is designed to increase the yield of the manufacture of photomasks and to decrease the cost of inspecting the photomasks. In the method, circuit data 1 representing a circuit to be formed on a semiconductor substrate by photolithography is prepared, and layout data 2 is prepared from the circuit data 1. The layout data is converted to compensated layout data by performing RET. Further, mask-manufacturing data is developed from the compensated layout data. To form patterns on a semiconductor substrate by photolithography, attribute information is imparted to the mask-manufacturing data. The attribute information represents whether the patterns are adaptive to electrically active regions or electrically non-active region. In the mask-inspecting process 6, a criterion for determining whether the patterns formed on the photomasks have defects is changed in accordance with the attribute information.

Abstract: A shading area having a transmissivity in the range of 0 to 2% is formed at the center of a clear defect in a wiring pattern of a half tone mask. Semitransparent areas having a transmissivity in the range of 10 to 25% are formed, adjacently to shading area, in areas extending from the inside of the edge of an imaginary pattern having no defect to the outside of the edge. In this way, in the correction of the defect in the half tone mask, the working accuracy tolerable margin of the correction portion of the defect can be made large.

Abstract: A shading area having a transmissivity in the range of 0 to 2% is formed at the center of a clear defect in a wiring pattern of a half tone mask. Semitransparent areas having a transmissivity in the range of 10 to 25% are formed, adjacently to shading area, in areas extending from the inside of the edge of an imaginary pattern having no defect to the outside of the edge. In this way, in the correction of the defect in the half tone mask, the working accuracy tolerable margin of the correction portion of the defect can be made large.

Abstract: A shading area having a transmissivity in the range of 0 to 2% is formed at the center of a clear defect in a wiring pattern of a half tone mask. Semitransparent areas having a transmissivity in the range of 10 to 25% are formed, adjacently to shading area, in areas extending from the inside of the edge of an imaginary pattern having no defect to the outside of the edge. In this way, in the correction of the defect in the half tone mask, the working accuracy tolerable margin of the correction portion of the defect can be made large.

Abstract: A shading area having a transmissivity in the range of 0 to 2% is formed at the center of a clear defect in a wiring pattern of a half tone mask. Semitransparent areas having a transmissivity in the range of 10 to 25% are formed, adjacently to shading area, in areas extending from the inside of the edge of an imaginary pattern having no defect to the outside of the edge. In this way, in the correction of the defect in the half tone mask, the working accuracy tolerable margin of the correction portion of the defect can be made large.

Abstract: A technique for quantitatively expressing a manufacturing difficulty level of a photomask and for efficiently manufacturing the photomask is provided. A mask manufacturing difficulty level different for each mask layout, product, and mask layer is relatively recognized with a mask manufacturing load index calculated by a mask manufacturing load prediction system, and when layout correction is possible, the final layout is corrected to a layout with a low difficulty level, and a mask ordering party provides a mask manufacturer with information regarding the mask manufacturing difficulty level in an early stage. The mask manufacturing load index is expressed with a defect guarantee load index and a lithography load index.

Abstract: A shading area having a transmissivity in the range of 0 to 2% is formed at the center of a clear defect in a wiring pattern of a half tone mask. Semitransparent areas having a transmissivity in the range of 10 to 25% are formed, adjacently to shading area, in areas extending from the inside of the edge of an imaginary pattern having no defect to the outside of the edge. In this way, in the correction of the defect in the half tone mask, the working accuracy tolerable margin of the correction portion of the defect can be made large.

Abstract: A method of determining defects in photomasks according to the present invention is designed to increase the yield of the manufacture of photomasks and to decrease the cost of inspecting the photomasks. In the method, circuit data 1 representing a circuit to be formed on a semiconductor substrate by photolithography is prepared, and layout data 2 is prepared from the circuit data 1. The layout data is converted to compensated layout data by performing RET. Further, mask-manufacturing data is developed from the compensated layout data. To form patterns on a semiconductor substrate by photolithography, attribute information is imparted to the mask-manufacturing data. The attribute information represents whether the patterns are adaptive to electrically active regions or electrically non-active region. In the mask-inspecting process 6, a criterion for determining whether the patterns formed on the photomasks have defects is changed in accordance with the attribute information.

Abstract: A shading area having a transmissivity in the range of 0 to 2% is formed at the center of a clear defect in a wiring pattern of a halt half tone mask. Semitransparent areas having a transmissivity in the range of 10 to 25% are formed, adjacently to shading area, in areas extending from the inside of the edge of an imaginary pattern having no defect to the outside of the edge. In this way, in the correction of the defect in the half tone mask, the working accuracy tolerable margin of the correction portion of the defect can be made large.

Abstract: A shading area having a transmissivity in the range of 0 to 2% is formed at the center of a clear defect in a wiring pattern of a half tone mask. Semitransparent areas having a transmissivity in the range of 10 to 25% are formed, adjacently to shading area, in areas extending from the inside of the edge of an imaginary pattern having no defect to the outside of the edge. In this way, in the correction of the defect in the half tone mask, the working accuracy tolerable margin of the correction portion of the defect can be made large.

Abstract: Organic matter and metal impurities present on the surface of a photomask are removed. Foreign matter still adhering to the surface of the photomask is removed with H2 gas dissolved water. The photomask is dried. Thus provided is a method of washing a photomask in a manner which permits attaining an effect of removing foreign matter equivalent or superior to that of a conventional method with a small amount of chemical solution and reducing the amounts of chemicals and high purity water.

Abstract: A photomask provided with a light-shielding coating on a surface of a glass substrate is cleaned with O3 gas solved water to eliminate organic substances adhered on a surface of the photomask (S120). Using an alkaline chemical such as alkaline ionized water or hydrogenated water, the photomask is then cleaned to eliminate contamination (S122). After completion of these cleaning steps, the photomask is dried (S124).

Abstract: A photomask provided with a light-shielding coating on a surface of a glass substrate is cleaned with O3 gas solved water to eliminate organic substances adhered on a surface of the photomask (S120). Using an alkaline chemical such as alkaline ionized water or hydrogenated water, the photomask is then cleaned to eliminate contamination (S122). After completion of these cleaning steps, the photomask is dried (S124).

Abstract: The coordinate value of the deficient area detected by a wafer inspecting apparatus and the wafer inspecting data are transmitted to a coordinate transforming computer by use of an inspection-data managing computer. The coordinate value detected by the wafer inspection based on the wafer inspecting data and the photomask inspecting data is transformed into the coordinate value on the photomask, to thereby analyze the deficient area of the photomask.

Abstract: A shading area having a transmissivity in the range of 0 to 2% is formed at the center of a clear defect in a wiring pattern of a halt tone mask. Semitransparent areas having a transmissivity in the range of 10 to 25% are formed, adjacently to shading area, in areas extending from the inside of the edge of an imaginary pattern having no defect to the outside of the edge. In this way, in the correction of the defect in the half tone mask, the working accuracy tolerable margin of the correction portion of the defect can be made large.

Abstract: In a pattern inspection apparatus inspecting a pattern formed on a device and the like with a plurality of inspection lights, a sensitivity adjustment method in which respective optical systems associated with the inspection lights are efficiently and precisely checked to adjust the sensitivity thereof is attained. The sensitivity adjusting method for adjusting sensitivity of the pattern inspection apparatus performing inspection with a plurality of inspection lights includes the steps of preparing a sensitivity adjusting substrate divided into a plurality of regions to which identical reference patterns are provided, and scanning the reference patterns with the plurality of inspection lights making one of the plurality of inspection lights respectively correspond to one of the reference patterns, after attaching the sensitivity adjusting substrate to the pattern inspection apparatus.

Abstract: Organic matter and metal impurities present on the surface of a photomask are removed. Foreign matter still adhering to the surface of the photomask is removed with H2 gas dissolved water. The photomask is dried. Thus provided is a method of washing a photomask in a manner which permits attaining an effect of removing foreign matter equivalent or superior to that of a conventional method with a small amount of chemical solution and reducing the amounts of chemicals and high purity water.