US5458998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making mask pattern data and process for manufacturing the mask
Assignee: Micron Memory Japan Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-05-21
•
Granted: 1995-10-17
•
Expires: 2012-05-21
Abstract
Abstract Pattern data of a phase shift mask can be inspected: (101) by separating and laying out pattern data of a phase shift mask in an actual pattern data layer, an auxiliary pattern data layer and a phase shift pattern data layer; (102) by inspecting and correcting only the data of the actual pattern of the actual pattern data layer; (108) by making data of an estimated pattern estimated to be transferred to a semiconductor wafer from the data of the synthetic data of the correct actual pattern data, the auxiliary pattern data and the phase shift pattern data, which are inspected and corrected; and (104) by comparing the estimated pattern data and the actual pattern data to inspect the data of the auxiliary pattern and the phase shift pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshitsugu Takekuma
- 👤 Toshio Suzuki
- 👤 Hidetoshi Iwai
- 👤 Masamichi Ishihara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:53
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F1/00; G03F1/26; H; H10; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/60; G03F1/29; G03F1/68; G03F1/82; G03F1/84
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask, the pattern data having data of an actual pattern, data of an auxiliary pattern and data of a phase shift pattern, comprising the steps of: (a) separately laying out said pattern data in a first data layer having data of the actual pattern, in a second data layer having data of the auxiliary pattern, and in a third data layer having data of the phase shift pattern; (b) inspecting only whether said data of the actual pattern is correct; and (c) correcting the data of the actual pattern where the data of the actual pattern is not correct.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask, the pattern data having data of an actual pattern, data of an auxiliary pattern and data of a phase shift pattern, comprising the steps of: (a) separately laying out said pattern data in a first data layer having data of the actual pattern, in a second data layer having data of the auxiliary pattern, and in a third data layer having data of the phase shift pattern; (b) inspecting only whether said data of the actual pattern is correct; and (c) correcting the data of the actual pattern where the data of the actual pattern is not correct.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask according to claim 1, wherein said third data layer is divided into two or more data sub-layers.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of preparing data, for making graphic data of a mask pattern of a phase shifting mask in accordance with the data, comprising: (a) preparing first data corresponding to an actual opening pattern to be formed on an integrated circuit wafer; (b) preparing second data corresponding to an auxiliary opening pattern other than the actual opening pattern, the second data being stored substantially independently of the first data; (c) preparing third data corresponding to a phase shifter pattern at least within the auxiliary opening pattern, the third data being stored substantially independently of the first data and the second data; and then (d) transforming the first data, the second data, and data based upon the third data into the graphic data with which to provide the mask pattern of the phase shifting mask.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of preparing data, for making graphic data of a mask pattern of a phase shifting mask in accordance with the data, comprising: (a) preparing first data corresponding to an actual opening pattern to be formed on an integrated circuit wafer; (b) preparing second data corresponding to an auxiliary opening pattern other than the actual opening pattern, the second data being stored substantially independently of the first data; (c) preparing third data corresponding to a phase shifter pattern at least within the auxiliary opening pattern, the third data being stored substantially independently of the first data and the second data; and then (d) transforming the first data, the second data, and data based upon the third data into the graphic data with which to provide the mask pattern of the phase shifting mask.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of preparing data according to claim 3, further comprising: (e) after step (a) and prior to step (d), checking the first data for design rule violations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of preparing data according to claim 4, further comprising: (f) after step (e) and prior to step (d), correcting at least the actual opening pattern data on the basis of the result of step (e).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of preparing data according to claim 5, further comprising: (h) after steps (a) to (c), (e) and (f), and prior to step (d), forming modified third data corresponding to a modified phase shifter pattern broader than the phase shifter pattern, and wherein the modified third data is transformed with the first and second data into said graphic data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method of preparing data according to claim 4, further comprising: (g) after steps (a) to (c) and (e), and prior to step (d), forming modified third data corresponding to a modified phase shifter pattern broader than the phase shifter pattern, and wherein the modified third data is transformed with the first and second data into said graphic data phase shift pattern data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of preparing data according to claim 7, wherein the actual opening pattern is a connection hole pattern.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of preparing data according to claim 6, wherein the actual opening pattern is a connection hole pattern.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of preparing data according to claim 5, wherein the actual opening pattern is a connection hole pattern.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of preparing data, for making graphic data of a mask pattern of a phase shift mask in accordance with the data, comprising: (a) preparing first and second data corresponding respectively to first and second opening patterns to be formed on the phase shift mask; (b) preparing third data corresponding to a first phase shifter pattern at least within the first opening pattern, the third data being stored substantially independently of the first and second data; (c) preparing fourth data corresponding to a second phase shifter pattern at least within the second opening pattern, the fourth data being stored substantially independently of the first and second data and the third data; and then (d) transforming the first and second data, and data based upon the third and fourth data, into the graphic data.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of preparing data, for making graphic data of a mask pattern of a phase shift mask in accordance with the data, comprising: (a) preparing first and second data corresponding respectively to first and second opening patterns to be formed on the phase shift mask; (b) preparing third data corresponding to a first phase shifter pattern at least within the first opening pattern, the third data being stored substantially independently of the first and second data; (c) preparing fourth data corresponding to a second phase shifter pattern at least within the second opening pattern, the fourth data being stored substantially independently of the first and second data and the third data; and then (d) transforming the first and second data, and data based upon the third and fourth data, into the graphic data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method of preparing data according to claim 11, further comprising: (e) after steps (a) to (c), and prior to step (d), forming modified third data corresponding to a modified first phase shifter pattern broader than the first phase shifter pattern, and forming modified fourth data corresponding to a modified second phase shifter pattern broader than the second phase shifter pattern and wherein the modified third data and modified fourth data are transformed with the first and second data into said graphic data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method of preparing data according to claim 11, further comprising: (e) after steps (a) and (b), and prior to step (d), forming modified third data corresponding to a modified first phase shifter pattern broader than the first phase shifter pattern; and (f) after steps (a) and (c), and prior to step (d), and substantially independently of forming the modified third data, forming modified fourth data corresponding to a modified second phase shifter pattern broader than the second phase shifter pattern, and wherein the modified fourth data is transformed with the first and second data and modified third data into said graphic data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask according to claim 1, wherein said first data layer has only said data of the actual pattern, said second data layer has only said data of the auxiliary pattern, and said third data layer has only said data of the phase shift pattern.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask, the pattern data having data of an actual pattern, data of an auxiliary pattern and data of a phase shift pattern, comprising the steps of: (a) separately laying out said pattern data in a first layer having the data of an actual pattern, in a second layer having the data of an auxiliary pattern, and in a third layer having the data of a phase shift pattern, the first, second and third layers being separate from each other; (b) inspecting only whether the data of the actual pattern is correct and providing a data of a correct actual pattern; (c) after said inspecting and said providing the data of the correct actual pattern, combining the data of the correct actual pattern, the data of the auxiliary pattern and the data of the phase shift pattern in a single pattern so as to form data a synthetic pattern; and (d) making data of an estimated pattern, which is a pattern transferred to a substrate, from the synthetic pattern; and (e) comparing the data of the estimated pattern with the data of the actual pattern.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
194 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask, the pattern data having data of an actual pattern, data of an auxiliary pattern and data of a phase shift pattern, comprising the steps of: (a) separately laying out said pattern data in a first layer having the data of an actual pattern, in a second layer having the data of an auxiliary pattern, and in a third layer having the data of a phase shift pattern, the first, second and third layers being separate from each other; (b) inspecting only whether the data of the actual pattern is correct and providing a data of a correct actual pattern; (c) after said inspecting and said providing the data of the correct actual pattern, combining the data of the correct actual pattern, the data of the auxiliary pattern and the data of the phase shift pattern in a single pattern so as to form data a synthetic pattern; and (d) making data of an estimated pattern, which is a pattern transferred to a substrate, from the synthetic pattern; and (e) comparing the data of the estimated pattern with the data of the actual pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask according to claim 15, wherein said first layer has only said data of the actual pattern, said second layer has only said data of the auxiliary pattern and the third layer has only the data of the phase shift pattern.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method of making pattern data of phase shift mask according to claim 15, wherein the data of the actual pattern contains errors, wherein said errors are found during said inspecting, and wherein said providing data of the correct actual pattern including correcting the data of the actual pattern so as to provide the data of the correct actual pattern.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask according to claim 15, wherein said comparing includes determining whether said data of the actual pattern and said data of the estimated pattern are coincident.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask according to claim 15, wherein the third layer includes a first sub-layer of a first phase shift pattern and a second sub-layer of a second phase shift pattern.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask according to claim 15, wherein said inspecting only the data of the actual pattern includes checking the data of the actual pattern for design rule violations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask according to claim 15, wherein laying out the third layer having data of a phase shift pattern includes providing an initial layer having data of a phase shifter and modifying said initial layer so as to broaden the data of the phase shifter to provide the data of the phase shift pattern.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
100 words
A method of making pattern data of a phase shift mask according to claim 21, wherein the third layer includes a first sub-layer having a first phase shift pattern and a second sub-layer having a second phase shift pattern, and wherein the first and second sub-layers are respectively laid out by providing initial first and second sub-layers having data of first and second phase shifters and modifying the initial first and second sub-layers so as to broaden data of the first and second phase shifters so as to provide respectively the data of the first and second phase shift patterns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-16 | 1999-04-17 | 1999-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-16 | 2003-04-17 | 2003-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-04-17 | 2007-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |