US5576829A
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US
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Method and apparatus for inspecting a phase-shifted mask
Assignee: Nikon Corp
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Filing: 1995-04-28
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Granted: 1996-11-19
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Expires: 2015-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A system for inspecting a phase-shifted photolithographic mask. This inspection system includes an illumination optical system for illuminating a mask, an imaging optical system for focusing an image of a pattern to be inspected on the mask, and detecting means for detecting the image of the inspection pattern whereby in accordance with one form, the amount of phase shift (π+δ) is determined in accordance with the light quantity ratio between the images of phase-shifter deposited portions and phase-shifter non-deposited portions of the inspection pattern in a defocus condition. In accordance with another form, the direction of incidnece of an illuminating light on the mask is changed in such a manner that of the light transmitted through the inspection pattern the other beams than the 0-order diffracted beam and either one of the ±first-order diffracted beams are intercepted at a Fourier transform plane within the imageing optical system or alternatively the 0-order diffracted beam and either one of the ±first-order diffracted beams are passed through the Fourier transform plane within the imaging optical system at positions which are symmetric with the optical axis of the imaging optical system, and the amount of phase shift (π+δ) of the phase shifters is determined in accordance with the amount of shift (Δx) within the imaging plane of the pattern image (interference pattern) detected.
Inventors
- 👤 Naomasa Shiraishi
- 👤 Nobutaka Magome
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:01
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70216; G03F7/70283; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G03F1/00; G03F1/26; G03F1/30; G03F1/68; G03F1/82; G03F1/84; G03F7/70483; G03F7/70591; G03F7/70605; G03F7/70616; G03F7/70641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of inspecting a phase-shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating said mask for forming an image of a pattern to be inspected at a predetermined imaging position from light passed through a phase-shifter deposited portion on said mask and light passed through a phase-shifter non-deposited portion on said mask respectively; detecting first information corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to said phase-shifter deposited portion within the inspection pattern image and second information corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to said phase-shifter non-deposited portion within the inspection pattern image at least one position relatively moved in an optical axis direction from said imaging position of said mask; and calculating a phase difference between said light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion and said light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion in accordance with a ratio between said first information and said second information wherein the detection of said first information and said second information is effected at each of a plurality of positions in said optical axis direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of inspecting a phase-shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating said mask for forming an image of a pattern to be inspected at a predetermined imaging position from light passed through a phase-shifter deposited portion on said mask and light passed through a phase-shifter non-deposited portion on said mask respectively; detecting first information corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to said phase-shifter deposited portion within the inspection pattern image and second information corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to said phase-shifter non-deposited portion within the inspection pattern image at least one position relatively moved in an optical axis direction from said imaging position of said mask; and calculating a phase difference between said light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion and said light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion in accordance with a ratio between said first information and said second information wherein the detection of said first information and said second information is effected at each of a plurality of positions in said optical axis direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting a numerical aperture of an illumination optical system used in said projecting step in a manner that a ratio of the numerical aperture of said illumination optical system to a numerical aperture of an imaging optical system used in said projecting step falls within a range from 0.1 to 0.3.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting a numerical aperture of an imaging optical system in a manner that of said light passed through said mask the second and higher order diffracted beams are removed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of detecting peak intensities at said positions respectively corresponding to said phase-shifter deposited portion and said phase-shifter non-deposited portion within said inspection pattern image as said first information and said second information, respectively.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of inspecting a phase-shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating said mask for forming an image of a pattern to be inspected at an imaging position from light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion of said mask and the light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion of said mask and the light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion of said mask such that one of a +first-order diffracted beam is generated from the phase-shifter deposited portion at a different directional angle with respect to the light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion; detecting information corresponding to an intensity distribution of the image at said imaging position based upon said first order diffracted beam of said phase-shifter deposited portion; and calculating a phase difference between said light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion and said light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion in accordance with said information corresponding to said intensity distribution.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
178 words
A method of inspecting a phase-shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said method comprising the steps of: illuminating said mask for forming an image of a pattern to be inspected at an imaging position from light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion of said mask and the light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion of said mask and the light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion of said mask such that one of a +first-order diffracted beam is generated from the phase-shifter deposited portion at a different directional angle with respect to the light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion; detecting information corresponding to an intensity distribution of the image at said imaging position based upon said first order diffracted beam of said phase-shifter deposited portion; and calculating a phase difference between said light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion and said light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion in accordance with said information corresponding to said intensity distribution.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
236 words
An apparatus for inspecting a phase shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said apparatus comprising: an illumination optical system for illuminating said mask; an imaging optical system for forming an image of a pattern to be inspected at a predetermined imaging position by the light passed through a phase-shifter deposited portion on said mask and the light passed through a phase-shifter non-deposited portion on said mask respectively: detecting means for detecting first information corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to said phase-shifter deposited portion within said inspection pattern image and second information corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to said phase-shifter non-deposited portion within said inspection pattern image; moving means for moving said imaging position of said imaging optical system and said detecting means relatively in an optical axis direction a predetermined amount to shift the relative position of the projected image means for measuring said first and second information at said shifted position wherein the detection of said first information and said second information is effected at each of a plurality of positions in said optical axis direction; and means for calculating the light quantity difference as a result of said positional shift in order to determine the phase difference between the phase-shifter deposited portion and the phase-shifter non-deposited portion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
236 words
An apparatus for inspecting a phase shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said apparatus comprising: an illumination optical system for illuminating said mask; an imaging optical system for forming an image of a pattern to be inspected at a predetermined imaging position by the light passed through a phase-shifter deposited portion on said mask and the light passed through a phase-shifter non-deposited portion on said mask respectively: detecting means for detecting first information corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to said phase-shifter deposited portion within said inspection pattern image and second information corresponding to a light quantity at a position corresponding to said phase-shifter non-deposited portion within said inspection pattern image; moving means for moving said imaging position of said imaging optical system and said detecting means relatively in an optical axis direction a predetermined amount to shift the relative position of the projected image means for measuring said first and second information at said shifted position wherein the detection of said first information and said second information is effected at each of a plurality of positions in said optical axis direction; and means for calculating the light quantity difference as a result of said positional shift in order to determine the phase difference between the phase-shifter deposited portion and the phase-shifter non-deposited portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for adjusting a numerical aperture of said illumination optical system in a manner that a ratio of the numerical aperture of said illumination optical system to a numerical aperture of said imaging optical system falls in a range from 0.1 to 0.3.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for adjusting a numerical aperture of said imaging optical system in a manner that of the light transmitted through said mask the second and higher order diffracted beams are removed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for detecting peak intensities at said positions respectively corresponding to said phase-shifter deposited portion and said phase-shifter non-deposited portion within said inspection pattern image as said first information and second information, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising processing means for calculating a phase difference between the light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion and the light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion in accordance with a ratio between said first and second information detected in a condition where the position of said detecting means relative to the imaging position of said imaging optical system has been moved a predetermined amount by said moving means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said inspection pattern includes a one-dimensional line and space pattern formed by the same manufacturing operation as at least part of an original drawing pattern on said mask at a different position thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said inspection pattern includes a plurality of said phase-shifter deposited portions and said phase-shifter non-deposited portions which are arranged alternately.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said inspection pattern includes a plurality of said phase-shifter deposited portions and said phase-shifter non-deposited portions which are arranged alternately through the intermediary of light shielding means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said inspection pattern includes a plurality of said phase-shifter deposited portions and said phase-shifter non-deposited portions which are substantially equal in areas to each other.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for inspecting a phase-shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said apparatus comprising: an illumination optical system for illuminating said mask; an imaging optical system whereby an image of a pattern to be inspected which is formed by the light passed through said mask phase-shifter deposited portion and the light passed through said mask phase-shifter non-deposited portion is projected onto a predetermined imaging position; light shielding means arranged in the vicinity of a Fourier transform plane within said imaging optical system in a manner that of the light transmitted through said inspection pattern beams other than a 0-order diffracted beam and ±first-order diffracted beams are intercepted, and that either one of said ±first-order diffracted beams is selectively intercepted; and pattern detecting means for photoelectrically detecting the image of said inspection pattern produced by said imaging optical system.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for inspecting a phase-shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said apparatus comprising: an illumination optical system for illuminating said mask; an imaging optical system whereby an image of a pattern to be inspected which is formed by the light passed through said mask phase-shifter deposited portion and the light passed through said mask phase-shifter non-deposited portion is projected onto a predetermined imaging position; light shielding means arranged in the vicinity of a Fourier transform plane within said imaging optical system in a manner that of the light transmitted through said inspection pattern beams other than a 0-order diffracted beam and ±first-order diffracted beams are intercepted, and that either one of said ±first-order diffracted beams is selectively intercepted; and pattern detecting means for photoelectrically detecting the image of said inspection pattern produced by said imaging optical system.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said detecting means is movable in the direction of the optical axis of said imaging optical system, said detecting means further comprising: control means responsive to a detection signal generated from said photoelectric detector to position said photoelectric detector at said imaging position; and processing circuit means responsive to a detection signal generated from said control means when said photoelectric detector is positioned at said imaging position to calculate a phase difference between the light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion and the light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said light shielding means includes a light shielding member whereby of the light transmitted through said inspection pattern at least either one of said ±first-order diffracted beams is attenuated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said inspection pattern includes a one-dimensional line and space pattern formed by the same manufacturing operation as at least part of an original drawing pattern on said mask at a position different therefrom on said mask.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said inspection pattern includes a plurality of said phase-shifter deposited portions and said phase-shifter non-deposited portions which are arranged alternately.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said inspection pattern includes a plurality of said phase-shifter deposited portions and said phase-shifter non-deposited portions which are arranged alternately through the intermediary of light shielding means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein an area ratio between said phase-shifter deposited portion and said phase-shifter non-deposited portion in said inspection pattern is in the range from 7:1 to 7:2 or 1:7 to 2:7.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for inspecting a phase-shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said apparatus comprising: an illumination optical system for illuminating said mask; an imaging optical system whereby an image of a pattern to be inspected which is formed by the light passed through said mask phase-shifter deposited portion and the light passed through said mask phase-shifter non-deposited portion is projected onto a predetermined imaging position; beam deflecting means for determining a direction of incidence of the illuminating light from said illumination optical system on said mask in a manner that said illuminating light falls at a predetermined angle of incidence on said mask, and that of the light transmitted through said inspection pattern a 0-order diffracted beam and either one of ±first-order diffracted beams are respectively passed through a Fourier transform plane within said imaging optical system at positions which are substantially symmetric with respect to an optical axis of said imaging optical system; and pattern detecting means arranged at or near said imaging position for photoelectrically detecting the image of said inspection pattern produced by said imaging optical system.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
199 words
An apparatus for inspecting a phase-shifted mask including at least one phase shifter adapted to change the phase of light and selectively deposited in correspondence to a desired pattern configuration, said apparatus comprising: an illumination optical system for illuminating said mask; an imaging optical system whereby an image of a pattern to be inspected which is formed by the light passed through said mask phase-shifter deposited portion and the light passed through said mask phase-shifter non-deposited portion is projected onto a predetermined imaging position; beam deflecting means for determining a direction of incidence of the illuminating light from said illumination optical system on said mask in a manner that said illuminating light falls at a predetermined angle of incidence on said mask, and that of the light transmitted through said inspection pattern a 0-order diffracted beam and either one of ±first-order diffracted beams are respectively passed through a Fourier transform plane within said imaging optical system at positions which are substantially symmetric with respect to an optical axis of said imaging optical system; and pattern detecting means arranged at or near said imaging position for photoelectrically detecting the image of said inspection pattern produced by said imaging optical system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said pattern detecting means comprises: a photoelectric detector for detecting said 0-order diffracted beam and either one of said ±first-order diffracted beams; and a processing circuit responsive to a detection signal generated from said photoelectric detector to calculate a phase difference between the light passed through said phase-shifter deposited portion and the light passed through said phase-shifter non-deposited portion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said imaging optical system includes a spatial filter arranged in the vicinity of a Fourier transform plane of said imaging optical system to intercept the other beams than said 0-order diffracted beam and either one of said ±first-order diffracted beams which are transmitted through said inspection pattern.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said imaging optical system includes light shielding means for attenuating at least one of said 0-order diffracted beam and said + or -first-order diffracted beam which are transmitted through said inspection pattern.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said inspection pattern includes a one-dimentional line and space pattern formed by the same manufacturing operation as at least part of an original drawing pattern on said mask at a position different therefrom on said mask.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said inspection pattern comprises a plurality of said phase-shifter deposited portions and said phase-shifter non-deposited portions which are arranged alternately.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said inspection pattern comprises a plurality of said phase-shifter deposited portions and said phase-shifter non-deposited portions which are alternately arranged through the intermediary of light shielding means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein an area ratio between said phase-shifter deposited poriton and said phase-shifter non-deposited portion in said inspection pattern is in the range from 7:1 to 7:2 or 1:7 to 2:7.
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) | 1999-11-19 | 2000-05-20 | 2000-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-11-19 | 2004-05-20 | 2004-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-11-19 | 2008-05-20 | 2008-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |