US5439767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Phase shift mask and its inspection method
Assignee: NEC Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1994-02-17
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Granted: 1995-08-08
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Expires: 2014-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A periodic line and space pattern made of chromium film is formed on a glass substrate, and a phase shifter is arranged on every other transparent portion of the line and space pattern. Using a stepper and the phase shift mask, photoresist film coated on a wafer is exposed several times to light of i-line by varying the focus, then developed. Next, the width Ws of the photoresist pattern formed by the exposure to the light through the phase shifter, and the width Wo of the photoresist pattern formed by the exposure to the light without passing through the phase shifter are measured. Based on the relation between Ws and Wo for defocusing, the transmittance error and the phase shift angle error of the phase shifter are obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Yamashita
- 👤 Tadao Yasuzato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:59
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F1/00; G03F1/26; G03F1/68; G03F1/82; G03F1/84
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of inspecting a transmittance error of a phase shifter on a phase shift mask, comprising the steps of: providing a periodic repetitious pattern on the phase shift mask and arranging the phase shifter on every other transparent portion of the periodic repetitious pattern; providing a substrate having a photoresist film formed thereon; exposing a first portion of the photoresist film to projected light of the periodic repetitious pattern in a second focusing condition, one of the first and second focusing condition is a defaces condition; developing the photoresist film to obtain a first width of a photoresist pattern formed by the exposure with the transparent portion and a second width of a photoresist pattern formed by the exposure with the phase shifter in both of said first portion and said second portion; and determining existence of the transmittance error by finding a condition that the second width is smaller than the first width.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of inspecting a transmittance error of a phase shifter on a phase shift mask, comprising the steps of: providing a periodic repetitious pattern on the phase shift mask and arranging the phase shifter on every other transparent portion of the periodic repetitious pattern; providing a substrate having a photoresist film formed thereon; exposing a first portion of the photoresist film to projected light of the periodic repetitious pattern in a second focusing condition, one of the first and second focusing condition is a defaces condition; developing the photoresist film to obtain a first width of a photoresist pattern formed by the exposure with the transparent portion and a second width of a photoresist pattern formed by the exposure with the phase shifter in both of said first portion and said second portion; and determining existence of the transmittance error by finding a condition that the second width is smaller than the first width.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of inspecting a phase shift angle error of a phase shifter on a phase shift mask, comprising the steps of: providing a periodic repetitious pattern on the phase shift mask and arranging the phase shifter on every other transparent portion of the periodic repetitious pattern; providing a substrate having a photoresist film formed thereon; exposing a first portion of the photoresist film to projected light of the periodic repetitious pattern in a first focusing condition; exposing a second portion of the photoresist film to projected light of the periodic repetitious pattern in a second focusing condition, one of the first and second focusing condition is a defaces condition; developing the photoresist film to obtain a first width of a photoresist pattern formed by the exposure with the transparent portion and a second width of a photoresist pattern formed by the exposure with the phase shifter in both of said first portion and said second portion; and determining existence of the phase shift angle error by finding a condition that either the first width or the second width increases or decreases corresponding to change in the defaces condition.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of inspecting a phase shift angle error of a phase shifter on a phase shift mask, comprising the steps of: providing a periodic repetitious pattern on the phase shift mask and arranging the phase shifter on every other transparent portion of the periodic repetitious pattern; providing a substrate having a photoresist film formed thereon; exposing a first portion of the photoresist film to projected light of the periodic repetitious pattern in a first focusing condition; exposing a second portion of the photoresist film to projected light of the periodic repetitious pattern in a second focusing condition, one of the first and second focusing condition is a defaces condition; developing the photoresist film to obtain a first width of a photoresist pattern formed by the exposure with the transparent portion and a second width of a photoresist pattern formed by the exposure with the phase shifter in both of said first portion and said second portion; and determining existence of the phase shift angle error by finding a condition that either the first width or the second width increases or decreases corresponding to change in the defaces condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
165 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask comprising steps of: providing a periodic line and space pattern made of opaque film formed on a transparent substrate; forming a phase shifter on every other transparent portion of said line and space pattern to provide a phase shift mask; exposing a photoresist film coated on a wafer to light passing through said phase shift mask at least two times by varying focus condition at different areas, one of said varying focus condition is a defaces condition; developing said photoresist film to obtain a first width of a photoresist pattern formed by exposure to said light through said phase shifter and a second width of a photoresist pattern formed by exposure to said light without passing through said phase shifter; and measuring said first and second widths of the photoresist pattern to find a size relationship between them to determined existence of a transmittance error and a phase shift angle error based on a predetermined relation thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask comprising steps of: providing a periodic line and space pattern made of opaque film formed on a transparent substrate; forming a phase shifter on every other transparent portion of said line and space pattern to provide a phase shift mask; exposing a photoresist film coated on a wafer to light passing through said phase shift mask at least two times by varying focus condition at different areas, one of said varying focus condition is a defaces condition; developing said photoresist film to obtain a first width of a photoresist pattern formed by exposure to said light through said phase shifter and a second width of a photoresist pattern formed by exposure to said light without passing through said phase shifter; and measuring said first and second widths of the photoresist pattern to find a size relationship between them to determined existence of a transmittance error and a phase shift angle error based on a predetermined relation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask according to claim 3, wherein said wafer is a semiconductor chip wafer and said first and second width of a photoresist pattern are formed on areas corresponding to scribe line areas of said semiconductor chip wafer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask according to claim 3, wherein measurement of said first and second width of said photoresist pattern is made by employing a pattern at a central part of said periodic line and space pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask according to claim 3, wherein measurement of said first and second width of said photoresist pattern is made by employing a scanning electron microscope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask according to claim 3, wherein said light is a light of i-line.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
170 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask comprising steps of: exposing a photoresist film by using a phase shift mask having a transparent portion and a phase shifter portion in a first focus condition at a first region; exposing the photoresist film by using said phase shift mask in a second focus condition at a second region, one of said first and second focus condition is defaces condition; developing the photoresist film to obtain a first photoresist pattern and a second photoresist pattern, said first photoresist pattern having first and second photoresist widths formed by the exposure with the transparent portion and the shifter portion, respectively, in the first focus condition, said second photoresist pattern having third and fourth photoresist widths formed by the exposure with the transparent portion and the shifter portion, respectively, in the second focus condition; and measuring said first, second, third and fourth photoresist widths to find a size relationship among them to determine existence of a transmittance error and a phase shift angle error.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
170 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask comprising steps of: exposing a photoresist film by using a phase shift mask having a transparent portion and a phase shifter portion in a first focus condition at a first region; exposing the photoresist film by using said phase shift mask in a second focus condition at a second region, one of said first and second focus condition is defaces condition; developing the photoresist film to obtain a first photoresist pattern and a second photoresist pattern, said first photoresist pattern having first and second photoresist widths formed by the exposure with the transparent portion and the shifter portion, respectively, in the first focus condition, said second photoresist pattern having third and fourth photoresist widths formed by the exposure with the transparent portion and the shifter portion, respectively, in the second focus condition; and measuring said first, second, third and fourth photoresist widths to find a size relationship among them to determine existence of a transmittance error and a phase shift angle error.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask according to claim 8, wherein said existence of a transmittance error is determined by finding a condition that either one of said second and third photoresist widths is smaller than said first and third photoresist widths.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
An inspecting method of a phase shift mask according to claim 8, wherein said existence of a phase shift angle error is determined by finding either a condition that said first width is different from said third width or a condition that said second width is different from said fourth width.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5258246A
Cited
US5275896A
Cited
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-08-07 | 1999-02-06 | 1999-08-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-07 | 2003-02-06 | 2003-08-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-07 | 2007-02-06 | 2007-08-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |