Photomask

Claim 2

A photomask comprising: a light-transmitting substrate; a light-shielding layer provided no the substrate; a substantially tetragonal aperture opened in the light-shielding layer, said aperture having four flat sides forming four intersection regions; and shifter portions which transmit light and, at the same time, invert the phase of light, said shifter portions being provided to overlap said aperture and said light shielding layer along intermediate portions, but not at said intersection regions, of each side of the substantially tetragonal aperture.

Claim 3

The photomask as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light-transmitting substrate is a plate of a material selected from the group consisting of glass and quartz.

Claim 4

The photomask as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light-shielding layer is a thin film of a material selected from the group consisting of chromium and metal silicides.

Claim 5

The photomask as set forth in claim 1, wherein the shifter portions each comprise a resin layer.

Claim 6

The photomask as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light-shielding layer is a thin film of gold, and the shifter portions each comprise a thin film of diamond.

Claim 7

A photomask comprising: a light-transmitting substrate; a light-shielding layer provided on the substrate; an aperture opened in the light-shielding layer, said aperture having at least one flat side intersecting with at least one other aperture side to form at least two intersection regions; and means for shifting the phase of a portion but not all of light passing through the aperture, said means for shifting overlapping said aperture and said light shielding layer along at least one said flat side exclusive of said intersection regions, such that light passing through the aperture produces an exposure pattern having a straight edge corresponding to the flat side of the aperture.

Claim 8

A photomask comprising: a light-transmitting substrate; a light-shielding layer provided on the substrate; an aperture opened in the light-shielding layer, said aperture having at least one flat side intersecting with at least one other aperture side to form at least two intersection regions; and means for shifting the phase of a portion but not all of light passing through the aperture, said means for shifting overlapping said aperture and said light shielding layer along at least one said flat side exclusive of said intersection regions, such that light passing through the aperture produces an exposure pattern having a straight edge corresponding to the flat side of the aperture.

Claim 9

The photomask as set forth in claim 6, wherein the light-transmitting substrate is a plate of a material selected from the group consisting of glass and quartz.

Claim 10

The photomask as set forth in claim 6, wherein the light-shielding layer is a thin film of a material selected from the group consisting of chromium and metal silicides.

Claim 11

The photomask as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for shifting comprise a resin layer.

Claim 12

The photomask as set forth in claim 6, wherein the light-shielding layer is a thin film of gold, and said means for shifting comprises a thin film of diamond.

Claim 13

The photomask as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for shifting inverts the phase of said portion of light passing through the aperture along the flat side.

Claim 14

A photomask comprising: a light-transmitting substrate; a light-shielding layer provided on the substrate; an aperture opened in the light-shielding layer, said aperture having at least two flat sides joined at a non-zero angle to form an intersection region; and means for shifting the phase of a portion but not all of light passing through the aperture, said means for shifting overlapping said aperture and said light shielding layer along each of the two flat sides, exclusive of said intersection region such that light passing through the aperture produces an exposure pattern having a corner corresponding to said corner formed by the two flat sides of the aperture.

Claim 15

A photomask comprising: a light-transmitting substrate; a light-shielding layer provided on the substrate; an aperture opened in the light-shielding layer, said aperture having at least two flat sides joined at a non-zero angle to form an intersection region; and means for shifting the phase of a portion but not all of light passing through the aperture, said means for shifting overlapping said aperture and said light shielding layer along each of the two flat sides, exclusive of said intersection region such that light passing through the aperture produces an exposure pattern having a corner corresponding to said corner formed by the two flat sides of the aperture.

Claim 16

The photomask as set forth in claim 12, wherein the light-transmitting substrate is a plate of a material selected from the group consisting of glass and quartz.

Claim 17

The photomask as set forth in claim 12, wherein the light-shielding layer is a thin film of a material selected from the group consisting of chromium and metal silicides.

Claim 18

The photomask as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for shifting comprise a resin layer.

Claim 19

The photomask as set forth in claim 12, wherein the light-shielding layer is a thin film of gold, and said means for shifting comprise a thin film of diamond.

Claim 20

The photomask as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for shifting inverts the phase of said portion of light passing through the aperture along each of the two flat sides.

Claim 21

The photomask as set forth in claim 12, wherein said aperture is substantially tetragonal in shape.

Claim 22

The photomask as set forth in claim 18, wherein said means for shifting comprise four shifter portions, each on a flat side of said aperture and positioned over said light-shielding layer.

Claim 25

A method as in claim 20, further comprising the steps of: passing an additional portion of light through said aperture and concurrently shifting the phase of said additional portion of light wherein said additional portion of light passes along a second flat side of the aperture forming a corner with the first flat side; and applying the shifted additional portion of light on the surface to be irradiated such that said irradiation pattern has a corner corresponding to corner formed by the first and second flat sides of the aperture.