Composite printing
Systems and techniques for printing substrates. In one implementation, a method includes patterning a substrate with a substantially arbitrary arrangement of features by introducing irregularity into a repeating array of features.
This application is a divisional application of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/688,306, filed on Oct. 17, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDThis disclosure relates to the printing of substrates.
Various lithographic techniques can be used to print patterns such as those that define integrated circuits in microelectronic devices. For example, optical lithography, e-beam lithography, UV and EUV lithography, x-ray lithography and imprint printing techniques can all be used to form micron- and submicron-sized features.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Resist layer 220 can be exposed and developed to form a pattern.
Features 305 can be formed using any of a number of different lithographic techniques such as e-beam lithography, interference lithography, and optical lithography using phase-shifting masks and optical proximity correction techniques. These lithographic techniques can involve the exposure of wafer 100 using an interference pattern. For example, features 305 can be formed using interference lithography by exposing resist 220 using two orthogonal sets of interfering laser beams with a wavelength λ1 to form the array of features with pitch 320 approaching ½λ1. The orthogonal sets can be generated by splitting a single source four ways using a pyramidal prism and interfering the reflections from two orthogonal pairs of opposing pairs of mirrors. The orthogonal pairs can illuminate a substrate at different angles of illumination or the orthogonal pairs can illuminate a substrate at the same angle of illumination. Illuminating at the same angle can impart the substrate with the same pitch in both, orthogonal, directions. Alternatively, the orthogonal sets can be generated by double exposing resist 220 after wafer 100 is subject to a 90° rotation in a traditional interferometric lithography system.
Features 305 can display features characteristic of the lithographic technique used to form features 305. For example, when features 305 are formed using interference lithography, features 305 can be formed with a definition characteristic of interference lithography and a pitch approaching ½λ1 with minimal feature distortion of the type that arises due to imperfections in projection printing systems and techniques. For example, features 305 can be formed without imperfections that arise due to the use of a mask, lenses, projection optics, and/or the backscattering of electrons. Features 305 can also show the influence of the relatively large depth of focus provided by interferometric lithography techniques. For example, the relatively large depth of focus can provide precise control of the dimensional characteristics of features, especially relative to the control provided by optical systems in which high numerical apertures limit both the depth of field and the ability to print real world substrates that are not ideally flat.
Since pattern pitch 830 can be relatively larger than contact pitch 320,
The exposure or shielding of cavities 505 by
Such composite patterning can prove advantageous. For example, a single layout piece can be patterned with features using a higher resolution system or technique and the functional impact of those features can be modified or even eliminated using a lower resolution system or technique. For example, older, typically lower resolution, equipment can be used to modify the impact of higher resolution features, providing increased lifespans to the older equipment. Patterning cost can be decreased by devoting high resolution systems to the production of high resolution features while using less expensive, lower resolution systems for the modification of the impact of those high resolution features. For example, high resolution but relatively inexpensive interferometric systems can be combined with relatively inexpensive low resolution systems to produce high quality, high resolution patterns without large capital investments. Since the arrangement of patterns produced using interferometric systems can be changed using lower resolution systems, the applicability of interferometric systems can be increased. In particular, interferometric systems can be used to form substantially arbitrary arrangements of features that are not constrained by the geometries and arrangements of interference patterns.
Enclosure 1405 encloses an interference lithography system 1410 and a patterning system 1415. Interference lithography system 1410 includes a collimated electromagnetic radiation source 1420 and interference optics 1425 that together provide interferometric patterning of substrates. Patterning system 1415 can use any of a number of different approaches for patterning a substrate. For example, patterning system 1415 can be an e-beam projection system, an imprint printing system, or an optical projection lithography system. Patterning system 1415 can also be a maskless module, such as an electron beam direct write module, an ion beam direct write module, or an optical direct write module.
Systems 1410, 1415 can share a common mask handling subsystem 1430, a common wafer handling subsystem 1435, a common control subsystem 1440, and a common stage 1445. Mask handling subsystem 1430 is a device for positioning a mask in system 1400. Wafer handling subsystem 1435 is a device for positioning a wafer in system 1400. Control subsystem 1440 is a device for regulating one or more properties or devices of system 1400 over time. For example, control subsystem 1440 can regulate the position or operation of a device in system 1400 or the temperature or other environmental qualities within environmental enclosure 1405.
Control subsystem 1440 can also translate stage 1445 between a first position 1450 and a second position 1455. Stage 1445 includes a chuck 1460 for gripping a wafer. At first position 1450, stage 1445 and chuck 1460 can present a gripped wafer to patterning system 1415 for patterning. At second position 1455, stage 1445 and chuck 1460 can present a gripped wafer to interference lithography system 1410 for interferometric patterning.
To ensure the proper positioning of a wafer by chuck 1460 and stage 1445, control subsystem 1440 includes an alignment sensor 1465. Alignment sensor 1465 can transduce and control the position of the wafer (e.g., using wafer alignment marks) to align a pattern formed using interference lithography system 1410 with a pattern formed by patterning system 1415. Such positioning can be used when introducing irregularity into a repeating array of features, as discussed above.
Mask stage 1510 can support a mask 1530 in the illumination path. Projection optics 1515 can be a device for reducing image size. Projection optics 1515 can include a filtering projection lens. As stage 1445 repeatedly translates a gripped wafer for exposure by illuminator 1505 through mask stage 1510 and projection optics 1515, alignment sensor 1465 can ensure that the exposures are aligned with a repeating array of interferometric features to introduce irregularity into the repeating array.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, both positive and negative resists can be used for either of resist layers 220, 705. Lithographic techniques that use different wavelengths can be used to process the same substrate. Substrates other than semiconductor wafers can be patterned. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A method comprising:
- patterning a substrate with a substantially arbitrary arrangement of features by introducing irregularity into a periodic array defined in the substrate using interference lithography.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing irregularity comprises forming an arbitrary figure at a location to mask a portion of the periodic array.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein patterning the substrate further comprises etching the substrate through portions of the repeating array not covered by the arbitrary figure.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein introducing irregularity into the periodic array comprises introducing irregularity into a two-dimensional periodic array of contacts.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein patterning the substrate further comprises etching the substrate using the substantially arbitrary arrangement to direct the etching.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein patterning the substrate further comprises patterning the substrate with the substantially arbitrary arrangement having a pitch approaching one half the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation used in the interference lithography.
7. A method comprising:
- using interference lithography to expose a substrate with an interference pattern, the interference pattern imparting the substrate with repeating first features; and
- introducing irregularity into the repetition of the interference pattern to impart a substantially arbitrary feature arrangement to the substrate.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein introducing irregularity comprises forming a substantially arbitrary figure to mask some portion of the interference pattern.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising patterning the substrate using the substantially arbitrary figure to define the substantially arbitrary feature arrangement.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein using interference lithography to expose the substrate comprises imparting, to the substrate, first features having a pitch approaching one half the wavelength of the interference lithography electromagnetic radiation.
11. A method comprising:
- patterning a substrate using interference lithography, the patterning providing first features with a first pitch approaching one half the wavelength of a patterning electromagnetic radiation; and
- eliminating the impact of at least some of the first features on the substrate using a second lithographic technique providing second features with a second pitch, the second pitch being two or more times larger than the first pitch.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein patterning the substrate using interference lithography comprises exposing the substrate with a pair of interference patterns.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein exposing the substrate comprises exposing the substrate with a substantially identical pair of interference patterns.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein exposing the substrate comprises exposing the substrate with the pair of interference patterns simultaneously.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein eliminating the impact of at least some of the first features on the substrate comprises patterning using a binary mask.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein eliminating the impact of at least some of the first features on the substrate comprises printing an arbitrary figure to mask some of the first features.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein eliminating the impact of at least some of the first features on the substrate further comprises etching a portion of the substrate through the first features not covered by the arbitrary figure.
18. A method comprising:
- using interference lithography to define a periodic array of features;
- masking some of the features in the periodic array; and
- etching a substantially arbitrary arrangement of features in a substrate using unmasked features in the periodic array as a guide.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein using interference lithography to define the periodic array comprises using interference lithography to define a periodic array of contacts.
20. An apparatus comprising:
- an interference lithography exposure module to produce a first exposure resulting in an array of repeating contacts in a photosensitive media; and
- a second patterning module to reduce regularity of the features in the array.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the interference exposure lithography module comprises:
- a pyramidal beam splitter to split an electromagnetic radiation four ways; and
- two sets of opposing pairs of mirrors disposed to create an interference pattern by reflecting the split electromagnetic radiation.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 20, 2005
Publication Date: Jan 26, 2006
Inventor: Yan Borodovsky (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 11/232,366
International Classification: G03B 27/00 (20060101); G03F 7/20 (20060101);