US5468337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of mending a defect in a phase shift pattern
Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1993-04-06
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Granted: 1995-11-21
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Expires: 2013-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A method to mend a black defect and a white defect of a phase shift mask pattern so that the mended phase shift mask pattern has an accurately defined pattern. In the vicinity of a black defect and the area around the same, a mending phase shifter is formed into a thickness twice as large as the thickness d of a phase shifter. All light beams through a black defect area are nearly 0 degree out of phase with a non-phase-shifted light beam, thereby the phase shift mask pattern having the black defect becoming a phase shift mask pattern with an accurately defined pattern. In a similar manner, every light beam through a white defect area is nearly 180 degree out of phase with a non-phase-shifted light beam. As a result, a mended phase shift mask pattern has an accurately defined pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Miyatake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:13
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F1/00; G03F1/68; G03F1/72; G03F1/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of mending a black defect area in a mask which has a phase shifter formed on a mask substrate in the shape of a pattern, said black defect area being made of said phase shifter and located in said phase shift pattern where it is not supposed to be, comprising the steps of: permanently forming a mending phase shifter on an around-black-defect which includes said black defect area to a thickness causing light passing therethrough to be phase shifted(±10°) by an integer multiple of 360° and eliminating an adverse optical effect of said black defect area, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of mending a black defect area in a mask which has a phase shifter formed on a mask substrate in the shape of a pattern, said black defect area being made of said phase shifter and located in said phase shift pattern where it is not supposed to be, comprising the steps of: permanently forming a mending phase shifter on an around-black-defect which includes said black defect area to a thickness causing light passing therethrough to be phase shifted(±10°) by an integer multiple of 360° and eliminating an adverse optical effect of said black defect area, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method: of claim 1, wherein said mending phase shifter is 1.5 to 2.5 times as thick as said phase shifter.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of mending a black defect are in a mask which has a phase shift pattern which is comprised of a phase shifter of a first pattern formed on a mask substrate and a light shielding film of a second pattern formed on said phase shifter, said black area defect being made of said phase shifter and located in a surface of said mask substrate where it is not supposed to be, comprising: a first step of forming a mending phase shifter entirely on said mask substrate and setting the thickness of said mending phase shifter from said surface of said mask substrate as 2 (±1/18) times as thick as said phase shifter, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter; a second step of forming a resist on said mending phase shifter at an area which corresponds to said black defect area; and a third step of etching said mending phase shifter through said resist leaving a permanently formed portion of said mending phase-shifter which phase shifts (±10°) light passing therethrough at an integer multiple of 360° C.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of mending a black defect are in a mask which has a phase shift pattern which is comprised of a phase shifter of a first pattern formed on a mask substrate and a light shielding film of a second pattern formed on said phase shifter, said black area defect being made of said phase shifter and located in a surface of said mask substrate where it is not supposed to be, comprising: a first step of forming a mending phase shifter entirely on said mask substrate and setting the thickness of said mending phase shifter from said surface of said mask substrate as 2 (±1/18) times as thick as said phase shifter, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter; a second step of forming a resist on said mending phase shifter at an area which corresponds to said black defect area; and a third step of etching said mending phase shifter through said resist leaving a permanently formed portion of said mending phase-shifter which phase shifts (±10°) light passing therethrough at an integer multiple of 360° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said phase shifter is made of an oxide silicon film and said mending phase shifter is made of SOG.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said mending phase shifter is made of oxide silicon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said first step further comprises the steps of: forming an oxide silicon film which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter entirely on said on said mask substrate in such a manner that said oxide silicon film is 2.5 or more times as thick as said phase shifter and has a flat surface; and etching said oxide silicon film from above so that a resultant oxide silicon film, which is a mending phase shifter, has a thickness 1.5 to 2.5 times as thick as said phase shifter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of, before said first step, forming a thin film entirely on said mask substrate on which said phase shifter and said light shielding pattern are disposed, said thin film being etching-resistant so that it is not etched away during the etching of said third step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said mask substrate is entirely covered with a thin film which is not etched away by the etching of said third step so that a light beam through said thin film and said phase shifter is 180 degrees out of phase with a non-phase-shifted light beam.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of mending a black defect area in a mask which has a phase shift pattern which is comprised of a light shielding film of first pattern formed on a mask substrate and a phase shifter of a second pattern formed on uncovered surface of said mask substrate, said black defect area being made of said phase shifter and located in a surface of said mask substrate where it is not supposed to be, comprising: a first step of forming a mending phase shifter entirely on said mask substrate which is made of material in such a manner that said mending phase shifter is 2 (±1/18) times as thick as said phase shifter, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter and has a flat surface; a second step of forming a resist on said mending phase shifter at an area which corresponds to said black defect area; and a third step of etching said mending phase shifter through said resist leaving a permanently formed portion of said mending phase shifter which phase shifts (±10°) light passing therethrough at an integer multiple of 360°.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
197 words
A method of mending a black defect area in a mask which has a phase shift pattern which is comprised of a light shielding film of first pattern formed on a mask substrate and a phase shifter of a second pattern formed on uncovered surface of said mask substrate, said black defect area being made of said phase shifter and located in a surface of said mask substrate where it is not supposed to be, comprising: a first step of forming a mending phase shifter entirely on said mask substrate which is made of material in such a manner that said mending phase shifter is 2 (±1/18) times as thick as said phase shifter, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter and has a flat surface; a second step of forming a resist on said mending phase shifter at an area which corresponds to said black defect area; and a third step of etching said mending phase shifter through said resist leaving a permanently formed portion of said mending phase shifter which phase shifts (±10°) light passing therethrough at an integer multiple of 360°.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of mending a white defect area in a mask which has a phase shifter formed on a mask substrate in the shape of a pattern, said white defect area being defined as a partially lacked portion of said phase shifter, comprising the steps of: permanently forming a mending phase shifter on and around-white-defect area which includes said white defect area to a thickness causing light passing therethrough to be phase shifted (±10°) by an integer multiple of 360° and eliminating an adverse optical effect of said white defect, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A method of mending a white defect area in a mask which has a phase shifter formed on a mask substrate in the shape of a pattern, said white defect area being defined as a partially lacked portion of said phase shifter, comprising the steps of: permanently forming a mending phase shifter on and around-white-defect area which includes said white defect area to a thickness causing light passing therethrough to be phase shifted (±10°) by an integer multiple of 360° and eliminating an adverse optical effect of said white defect, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said mending phase shifter is 1.5 to 2.5 times as thick as said phase shifter.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of mending a white defect area in a mask which has a phase shift pattern which is comprised of a phase shifter of a predetermined pattern formed on a mask substrate and a light shielding film of a predetermined pattern formed on said phase shifter, said white defect area being defined as a partially lacked portion of said phase shifter, comprising: a first step of forming a mending phase shifter entirely on said mask substrate and setting the thickness of said mending phase shifter from said surface of said mask substrate as 3 (±1/18) times as thick as said phase shifter, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter; a second step of forming a resist on said mending phase shifter at an area which corresponds to said white defect area; and a third step of etching said mending phase shifter through said resist leaving a permanently formed portion of said mending phase shifter which phase shifts light passing therethrough at an integer multiple of 360° (±10°).
Claim 17
Independent Claim
181 words
A method of mending a white defect area in a mask which has a phase shift pattern which is comprised of a phase shifter of a predetermined pattern formed on a mask substrate and a light shielding film of a predetermined pattern formed on said phase shifter, said white defect area being defined as a partially lacked portion of said phase shifter, comprising: a first step of forming a mending phase shifter entirely on said mask substrate and setting the thickness of said mending phase shifter from said surface of said mask substrate as 3 (±1/18) times as thick as said phase shifter, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter; a second step of forming a resist on said mending phase shifter at an area which corresponds to said white defect area; and a third step of etching said mending phase shifter through said resist leaving a permanently formed portion of said mending phase shifter which phase shifts light passing therethrough at an integer multiple of 360° (±10°).
Claim 18
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of mending white defect area in a mask which has a phase shift pattern which is comprised of a light shielding film of a predetermined pattern formed on a mask substrate and phase shifter of a predetermined pattern formed on an uncovered surface of said mask substrate, said white defect area being defined as a partially lacked portion of said phase shifter, comprising: a first step of forming a mending phase shifter entirely on said mask substrate and setting the thickness of said mending phase shifter from said surface of said mask substrate as 3 (±1/18) times as thick as said phase shifter, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter; a second step of forming a resist on said mending phase shifter at an area which corresponds to said white defect area; and a third step of etching said mending phase shifter through said resist leaving a permanently formed portion of said mending phase shifter which phase shifts (±10°) light passing therethrough at an integer multiple of 360°.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of mending white defect area in a mask which has a phase shift pattern which is comprised of a light shielding film of a predetermined pattern formed on a mask substrate and phase shifter of a predetermined pattern formed on an uncovered surface of said mask substrate, said white defect area being defined as a partially lacked portion of said phase shifter, comprising: a first step of forming a mending phase shifter entirely on said mask substrate and setting the thickness of said mending phase shifter from said surface of said mask substrate as 3 (±1/18) times as thick as said phase shifter, said mending phase shifter being made of material which has the same refractive index as that of said phase shifter; a second step of forming a resist on said mending phase shifter at an area which corresponds to said white defect area; and a third step of etching said mending phase shifter through said resist leaving a permanently formed portion of said mending phase shifter which phase shifts (±10°) light passing therethrough at an integer multiple of 360°.
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) | 1998-11-20 | 1999-05-22 | 1999-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-20 | 2003-05-22 | 2003-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-20 | 2007-05-22 | 2007-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |