US5853923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Double layer method for fabricating a rim type attenuating phase shifting mask
Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co TSMC Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-10-23
•
Granted: 1998-12-29
•
Expires: 2017-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming a rim type attenuating phase shifting mask which requires only one resist layer and one resist developing step using a single developing solution. A transparent mask substrate has a layer of attenuating phase shifting material, a layer of opaque material, and a layer of resist material formed thereon. The layer of resist is exposed to a first pattern using a first exposure dose and a second pattern using a second exposure dose. The first exposure dose is sufficient to expose the first pattern in the entire thickness of the layer of resist material. The second exposure dose is sufficient only to expose the second pattern in a top portion of the layer of resist material. The resist is developed and the first pattern is used to etch the first pattern in the layer of opaque material and the layer of attenuating phase shifting material. The resist is then partially etched using an O 2 plasma etch leaving the second pattern in that part of the layer of resist which remains. The second pattern is then etched in the layer of opaque material and the remaining resist material is stripped.
Inventors
- 👤 San-De Tzu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:48
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F1/00; G03F1/26; G03F1/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
307 words
A method of forming a photomask, comprising the steps of: providing a transparent mask substrate having a layer of first mask material formed on said transparent mask substrate and a layer of second mask material formed on said layer of first mask material; forming a layer of resist material having a top portion and a bottom portion on said layer of second mask material; exposing a first pattern in said top portion and said bottom portion of said layer of resist material using a first exposure dosage; exposing a second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material using a second exposure dosage, wherein said second exposure dosage is such that said second pattern is not exposed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material; developing said layer of resist material, thereby forming said second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material and said first pattern in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material; etching said first pattern into said layer of second mask material using a first etching method and said first pattern formed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material as a mask; etching said first pattern into said layer of first mask material using a second etching method and said first pattern formed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material as a mask; etching away part of said layer of resist material using a third etching method, thereby forming said second pattern in the remaining part of said layer of resist material; etching said second pattern in said layer of second mask material, using a fourth etching method and said second pattern formed in said remaining part of said layer of resist material as a mask; and removing said remaining part of said layer of resist material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
307 words
A method of forming a photomask, comprising the steps of: providing a transparent mask substrate having a layer of first mask material formed on said transparent mask substrate and a layer of second mask material formed on said layer of first mask material; forming a layer of resist material having a top portion and a bottom portion on said layer of second mask material; exposing a first pattern in said top portion and said bottom portion of said layer of resist material using a first exposure dosage; exposing a second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material using a second exposure dosage, wherein said second exposure dosage is such that said second pattern is not exposed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material; developing said layer of resist material, thereby forming said second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material and said first pattern in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material; etching said first pattern into said layer of second mask material using a first etching method and said first pattern formed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material as a mask; etching said first pattern into said layer of first mask material using a second etching method and said first pattern formed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material as a mask; etching away part of said layer of resist material using a third etching method, thereby forming said second pattern in the remaining part of said layer of resist material; etching said second pattern in said layer of second mask material, using a fourth etching method and said second pattern formed in said remaining part of said layer of resist material as a mask; and removing said remaining part of said layer of resist material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said transparent mask substrate is quartz having a thickness of between about 0.2 and 0.3 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said layer of first mask material is a layer of attenuating phase shifting material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said layer of attenuating phase shifting material is a layer of MoSiON having a thickness of between about 1000 and 1360 nanometers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said phase shift provided by said attenuating phase shifting material is 180° or an odd multiple of 180°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said layer of second mask material is a layer of opaque material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said layer of opaque material is a layer of chrome having a thickness of between about 80 and 120 nanometers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said exposing a first pattern in said top portion and said bottom portion of said layer of resist material and said partially exposing a second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material uses an electron beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said exposing a first pattern in said top portion and said bottom portion of said layer of resist material and said partially exposing a second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material uses a LASER beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said developing said layer of resist material uses a single developing step and a single developing solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second etching method uses dry anisotropic etching.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said third etching method uses O 2 plasma dry anisotropic etching.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fourth etching method uses dry anisotropic etching or wet etching.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
393 words
A method of forming a photomask, comprising the steps of: providing mask substrate, wherein said mask substrate is transparent to light having a characteristic wavelength; providing a layer of attenuating phase shifting material on said mask substrate, wherein said layer of attenuating phase shifting material provides a phase shift and partial transmission of light having said characteristic wavelength; providing a layer of opaque material on said layer of attenuating phase shifting material, wherein said layer of opaque material is opaque to light having said characteristic wavelength; forming a layer of resist material having a top portion and a bottom portion on said layer of opaque material; exposing a first pattern in said top portion and said bottom portion of said layer of resist material using a first exposure dosage; exposing a second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material using a second exposure dosage, wherein said first pattern lies within said second pattern and said second exposure dosage is such that said second pattern is not exposed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material; developing said layer of resist material after exposing said first pattern and partially exposing said second pattern in said layer of resist material, thereby forming said second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material and said first pattern in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material; etching said first pattern into said layer of opaque material using a first etching method and said first pattern formed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material as a mask; etching said first pattern into said layer of attenuating phase shifting material using a second etching method and said first pattern formed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material as a mask; partially etching away said layer of resist material using a third etching method, thereby forming said second pattern in the remaining part of said layer of resist material; etching said second pattern in said layer of opaque material, using a fourth etching method and said second pattern formed in said remaining part of said layer of resist material as a mask, after partially etching away said layer of resist material; and removing said remaining part of said layer of resist material after etching said second pattern in said layer of opaque material.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
393 words
A method of forming a photomask, comprising the steps of: providing mask substrate, wherein said mask substrate is transparent to light having a characteristic wavelength; providing a layer of attenuating phase shifting material on said mask substrate, wherein said layer of attenuating phase shifting material provides a phase shift and partial transmission of light having said characteristic wavelength; providing a layer of opaque material on said layer of attenuating phase shifting material, wherein said layer of opaque material is opaque to light having said characteristic wavelength; forming a layer of resist material having a top portion and a bottom portion on said layer of opaque material; exposing a first pattern in said top portion and said bottom portion of said layer of resist material using a first exposure dosage; exposing a second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material using a second exposure dosage, wherein said first pattern lies within said second pattern and said second exposure dosage is such that said second pattern is not exposed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material; developing said layer of resist material after exposing said first pattern and partially exposing said second pattern in said layer of resist material, thereby forming said second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material and said first pattern in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material; etching said first pattern into said layer of opaque material using a first etching method and said first pattern formed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material as a mask; etching said first pattern into said layer of attenuating phase shifting material using a second etching method and said first pattern formed in said bottom portion of said layer of resist material as a mask; partially etching away said layer of resist material using a third etching method, thereby forming said second pattern in the remaining part of said layer of resist material; etching said second pattern in said layer of opaque material, using a fourth etching method and said second pattern formed in said remaining part of said layer of resist material as a mask, after partially etching away said layer of resist material; and removing said remaining part of said layer of resist material after etching said second pattern in said layer of opaque material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said mask substrate is quartz having a thickness of between about 0.2 and 0.3 inches.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said layer of attenuating phase shifting material is a layer of MoSiON having a thickness of between about 1000 and 1360 nanometers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said layer of opaque material is a layer of chrome having a thickness of between about 80 and 120 nanometers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said characteristic wavelength is 365 nanometers or 263 nanometers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said layer of resist has a thickness of between about 400 and 600 nanometers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said exposing a first pattern in said top portion and said bottom portion of said layer of resist material and said partially exposing a second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material uses an electron beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said exposing a first pattern in said top portion and said bottom portion of said layer of resist material and said partially exposing a second pattern in said top portion of said layer of resist material uses a LASER beam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said developing said layer of resist material after exposing said first pattern and partially exposing said second pattern in said layer of resist material uses a single developing step and a single developing solution.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said second etching method uses dry anisotropic etching.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said third etching method uses O 2 plasma dry anisotropic etching.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said fourth etching method uses dry anisotropic etching or wet etching.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said phase shift provided by said attenuating phase shifting material is 180° or an odd multiple of 180° for light having said characteristic wave length.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said partial transmission of light provided by said attenuating phase shifting material transmits between about 3 and 10 per cent of the light intensity incident on said attenuating phase shifting material, for light having said characteristic wave length.
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) | 2001-12-28 | 2002-06-29 | 2002-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-28 | 2006-06-29 | 2006-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-28 | 2010-06-29 | 2010-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |