Patent US6221539B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6221539B1
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Mask pattern correction method and a recording medium which records a mask pattern correction program
Assignee: Kioxia Corp
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Filing: 1999-07-22
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Granted: 2001-04-24
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Expires: 2019-07-22
Abstract
Abstract All edge positions constituting a first mask pattern are shifted by a predetermined change amount, to obtain a second mask pattern. A first finished plan shape transferred by the fist mask pattern and a second finished plan shape transferred by the second mask pattern are obtained by a calculation. Coefficients, which are obtained by respectively dividing dimensional differences between the edge positions of the first and second finished plan shapes by the change amount, are respectively calculated and assigned for edges. A corrected pattern is prepared by shifting the edge positions of the first mask pattern in accordance with magnitude of division of differences between a design pattern and the first finished plan shape by the coefficients assigned to the edges.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiya Kotani
- 👤 Satoshi Tanaka
- 👤 Soichi Inoue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:48
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70425; G03F7/70433; G03F7/70441; G03F1/00; G03F1/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A mask pattern correction method used for forming a design pattern on a wafer by a projection optical system, comprising: a first step of preparing a second mask pattern by shifting each of positions of edges forming a first mask pattern by a predetermined change amount; a second step of obtaining a first finished plan shape transferred by the first mask pattern, and a second finished plan shape transferred by the second mask pattern, by means of a calculation or experiment; a third step of calculating coefficients obtained by dividing a dimensional difference between edge positions of corresponding edges of the first and second finished plan shapes, by the change amount, for every edge, and assigning the coefficients to the edges; and a fourth step of preparing a corrected pattern by shifting the edge positions of the edges of the first mask pattern in accordance with magnitude of division of differences between the design pattern and the first finished plan shapes, by the coefficients assigned to the edges.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A mask pattern correction method used for forming a design pattern on a wafer by a projection optical system, comprising: a first step of preparing a second mask pattern by shifting each of positions of edges forming a first mask pattern by a predetermined change amount; a second step of obtaining a first finished plan shape transferred by the first mask pattern, and a second finished plan shape transferred by the second mask pattern, by means of a calculation or experiment; a third step of calculating coefficients obtained by dividing a dimensional difference between edge positions of corresponding edges of the first and second finished plan shapes, by the change amount, for every edge, and assigning the coefficients to the edges; and a fourth step of preparing a corrected pattern by shifting the edge positions of the edges of the first mask pattern in accordance with magnitude of division of differences between the design pattern and the first finished plan shapes, by the coefficients assigned to the edges.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
A mask pattern correction method according to claim 1 , further comprises: a step of preparing a new corrected pattern by shifting the edge positions of the corrected pattern in accordance with magnitude of division of differences between the design pattern and the finished plan shape of the corrected pattern by the coefficients assigned to the edges, the step being repeated until dimensional differences between edge positions of corresponding edges of the design pattern and a plan shape depending on the corrected pattern satisfy a predetermined tolerance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A mask pattern correction method according to claim 1 , wherein the dimensional differences between the edge positions are respectively dimensional differences at the center positions of the edges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A mask pattern correction method according to claim 1 , wherein the edges are previously divided into edge segments each having a predetermined length obtained by multiplying a grid size of a mask drawing device by an integer, and the dimensional differences and the coefficients are calculated for every edge segments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A mask pattern correction method according to claim 1 , wherein the coefficients are calculated in consideration of an influence which a shift of a part of an edge position makes on a dimensional change of another edge position, by preparing a plurality of second mask patterns each obtained by shifting a part of the plurality of edge positions constituting the first mask pattern by a predetermined change amount.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A mask pattern correction method used for forming a design pattern on a wafer by a projection optical system, wherein a corrected pattern is prepared by individually shifting a position of each of edges of the first mask pattern such that first dose amounts, at which edge positions of a finished plan shape transferred by a first mask pattern respectively become equal to edge positions of the design pattern, become equal to a predetermined reference dose amount.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A mask pattern correction method used for forming a design pattern on a wafer by a projection optical system, wherein a corrected pattern is prepared by individually shifting a position of each of edges of the first mask pattern such that first dose amounts, at which edge positions of a finished plan shape transferred by a first mask pattern respectively become equal to edge positions of the design pattern, become equal to a predetermined reference dose amount.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
168 words
A mask pattern correction method according to claim 6 , wherein a step of shifting the edge positions of the first mask pattern comprises: a step of preparing a second mask pattern by shifting the edge positions constituting the first mask pattern by a predetermined change amount; a step of obtaining a first finished plan shape transferred by the first mask pattern, and a second finished plan shape transferred by the second mask pattern, while changing an dose amount; and a step of obtaining the first dose amounts and second dose amounts at which edge positions of the second finished plan shape respectively become equal to the edge positions of the design pattern, respectively for edges, of calculating and assigning coefficients obtained by dividing differences between the first and second exposures to the edges, respectively, and of shifting the edge positions of the first mask pattern in accordance with magnitude of division of differences between the first dose amounts and the reference dose amount by the coefficients, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
A mask pattern correction method according to claim 6 , further comprising a step of preparing a new corrected pattern by shifting edge positions of the corrected pattern in accordance with magnitude of division of differences between the reference dose amounts and dose amounts of a finished plan shape transferred by the corrected pattern at the edge position of the design pattern, by the coefficients, respectively, the step being repeated until dose differences between the reference dose amounts and the first dose amounts satisfy a predetermined tolerance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A mask pattern correction method according to claim 6 , wherein the dose amounts at which the edge positions of the finished plan shape become equal to the edge positions of the design pattern are determined with reference to centered edge position, respectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
A mask pattern correction method according to claim 6 , wherein the edges are previously divided into edge segments each having a predetermined length obtained by multiplying a drawing grid width of a mask drawing device by an integer, and the dose differences and the coefficients are calculated for every edge segments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
70 words
A mask pattern correction method according to claim 6 , wherein the coefficients are calculated in consideration of an influence which a shift of a part of an edge position makes on a dimensional change of another edge position, by preparing a plurality of second mask patterns each obtained by shifting only a part of the plurality of edge positions constituting the first mask pattern by a predetermined change amount.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
A recording medium recording a mask pattern correction program for realizing a function of correcting a mask pattern used for forming a design pattern on a wafer by a projection optical system, the mask pattern correction program being used for realizing: a function of preparing a second mask pattern by shifting each of positions of edges forming a first mask pattern by a predetermined change amount; a function of obtaining a first finished plan shape transferred by the first mask pattern, and a second finished plan shape transferred by the second mask pattern; and a function of preparing a corrected pattern by shifting the edge positions of the edges of the first mask pattern by amounts based on parameters obtained by or used for transfer of the first and second mask patterns, and the change amount, to each edge.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
139 words
A recording medium recording a mask pattern correction program for realizing a function of correcting a mask pattern used for forming a design pattern on a wafer by a projection optical system, the mask pattern correction program being used for realizing: a function of preparing a second mask pattern by shifting each of positions of edges forming a first mask pattern by a predetermined change amount; a function of obtaining a first finished plan shape transferred by the first mask pattern, and a second finished plan shape transferred by the second mask pattern; and a function of preparing a corrected pattern by shifting the edge positions of the edges of the first mask pattern by amounts based on parameters obtained by or used for transfer of the first and second mask patterns, and the change amount, to each edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A recording medium according to claim 12 , wherein the parameters are respectively dimensional differences between corresponding edges of the first and second finished plan shapes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A recording medium according to claim 12 , wherein the parameters are respectively differences between first dose amounts, at which edge positions of a first finished plan shape become respectively equal to the edge positions of the design pattern, and second dose amounts, at which edge positions of a second finished plan shape become respectively equal to the edge positions of the design pattern.
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) | 2004-04-23 | 2004-10-23 | 2005-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-04-23 | 2008-10-23 | 2009-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-04-23 | 2012-10-23 | 2013-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |