Mask for measuring optical aberration and method of measuring optical aberration

Claim 2

A mask for measuring an optical aberration, said mask comprising: a plurality of measuring patterns, each of the plurality of measuring patterns comprising a plurality of sets of at least three masking regions separated from each other, wherein each of said masking regions within each said set are arranged as immediately adjacent parallel straight line segments, each having a width different from that of all other said masking regions within a same said set, and wherein each said measuring pattern comprises first and second said sets, the straight line segments of the first set being arranged oblique to the straight line segments of the second set.

Claim 3

The mask as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said plural measuring patterns have a generally uniform distribution over said mask.

Claim 4

The mask as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said plural measuring patterns are arranged in matrix over said mask.

Claim 5

The mask as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said plural measuring patterns are arranged in symmetrical with reference to a center point of said mask.

Claim 6

The mask as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of the first set are aligned in a first direction parallel to a first directional axis, and each of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set extend in a second direction parallel to a second directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set increase in said first direction, and wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of the second set are aligned in a second direction parallel to said second directional axis, and each of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set extend in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set increase in said second direction.

Claim 7

The mask as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 8

The mask as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 9

The mask as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said plural sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments comprise four sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments which are arranged to form four sides of a square of said measuring pattern, and said first and second directional axes are perpendicular to each other.

Claim 10

The mask as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 11

The mask as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 12

The mask as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of a first pair of said four sets are arranged along first opposite sides of said square, and said first opposite sides extend in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis and said first opposite sides are distanced in said second direction parallel to said second directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first pair are increased in the same direction parallel to said first direction, and wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of a second pair of said four sets are arranged along second opposite sides of said square, and said second opposite sides extend in said second direction parallel to said second directional axis and said second opposite sides are distanced in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second pair are increased in the same direction parallel to said second direction.

Claim 13

The mask as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said measuring pattern further comprises four outer broad straight line segments in addition to said four sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments, wherein said four outer broad straight line segments respectively extend in parallel to said four sides of said square, and each of said four outer broad straight line segments extends outside of and in parallel to corresponding one set of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments, so that said four outer broad straight line segments form an outer square which surrounds said square of said four sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments, provided that each of said four outer broad straight line segments has a broader width than any of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments.

Claim 14

The mask as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of a first pair of said four sets are arranged along first opposite sides of said square, and said first opposite sides extend in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis and said first opposite sides are distanced in said second direction parallel to said second directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first pair are increased in opposite directions to each other and parallel and perpendicular to said first direction, and wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of a second pair of said four sets are arranged along second opposite sides of said square, and said second opposite sides extend in said second direction parallel to said second directional axis and said second opposite sides are distanced in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second pair are increased in opposite directions to each other and parallel and perpendicular to said second direction.

Claim 15

The mask as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said plural sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments comprise two sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments which are arranged to form adjacent two sides of a square of said measuring pattern, and said first and second directional axes are perpendicular to each other.

Claim 16

The mask as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 17

The mask as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 18

A mask for measuring an optical aberration, said mask comprising: a measuring pattern comprising a plurality of masking regions arranged as co-axially-aligned looped lines, each having a constant width along its length, and each having different constant said width from other said co-axially-aligned looped lines.

Claim 19

A mask for measuring an optical aberration, said mask comprising: a measuring pattern comprising a plurality of masking regions arranged as co-axially-aligned looped lines, each having a constant width along its length, and each having different constant said width from other said co-axially-aligned looped lines.

Claim 20

The mask as claimed in claim 17 , wherein widths of said plural co-axially-aligned width-different looped lines are arranged in decreasing width in a radially outward direction.

Claim 21

The mask as claimed in claim 17 , wherein each of said plural co-axially-aligned looped lines has a circular ring shape.

Claim 22

The mask as claimed in claim 17 , wherein each of said plural co-axially-aligned looped lines has a polygonal ring shape.

Claim 23

The mask as claimed in claim 20 , wherein each of said plural co-axially-aligned looped lines has a hexagonal ring shape.

Claim 24

The mask as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said first and second directional axes extend to make an included angle of 45 degrees.

Claim 25

The mask as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said first and second directional axes extend to make an included angle of 22.5 degrees.

Claim 26

Use of a mask comprising: a plurality of measuring patterns, each of the plurality of measuring patterns comprising a plurality of sets of at least three masking regions separated from each other for projecting said plurality of measuring patterns through a target projecting optical system onto a resist film over a measuring wafer for measuring an optical aberration of said target projecting optical system, wherein each of said masking regions within each said set are arranged as immediately adjacent parallel straight line segments, each having a width different from that of all other said masking regions within a same said set, and wherein each said measuring pattern comprises first and second said sets, the straight line segments of the first set being arranged oblique to the straight line segments of the second set.

Claim 27

Use of a mask comprising: a plurality of measuring patterns, each of the plurality of measuring patterns comprising a plurality of sets of at least three masking regions separated from each other for projecting said plurality of measuring patterns through a target projecting optical system onto a resist film over a measuring wafer for measuring an optical aberration of said target projecting optical system, wherein each of said masking regions within each said set are arranged as immediately adjacent parallel straight line segments, each having a width different from that of all other said masking regions within a same said set, and wherein each said measuring pattern comprises first and second said sets, the straight line segments of the first set being arranged oblique to the straight line segments of the second set.

Claim 28

The use as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said plural measuring patterns have a generally uniform distribution over said mask.

Claim 29

The use as claimed in claim 25 , wherein said plural measuring patterns are arranged in matrix over said mask.

Claim 30

The use as claimed in claim 25 , wherein said plural measuring patterns are arranged in symmetrical with reference to a center point of said mask.

Claim 31

The use as claimed in claim 24 , wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of the first set are aligned in a first direction parallel to a first directional axis, and each of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set extend in a second direction parallel to a second directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set increase in said first direction, and wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of the second set are aligned in a second direction parallel to said second directional axis, and each of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set extend in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set increase in said second direction.

Claim 32

The use as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 33

The use as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 34

The use as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said plural sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments comprise four sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments which are arranged to form four sides of a square of said measuring pattern, and said first and second directional axes are perpendicular to each other.

Claim 35

The use as claimed in claim 31 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 36

The use as claimed in claim 31 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 37

The use as claimed in claim 31 , wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of a first pair of said four sets are arranged along first opposite sides of said square, and said first opposite sides extend in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis and said first opposite sides are distanced in said second direction parallel to said second directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first pair are increased in the same direction parallel to said first direction, and wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of a second pair of said four sets are arranged along second opposite sides of said square, and said second opposite sides extend in said second direction parallel to said second directional axis and said second opposite sides are distanced in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second pair are increased in the same direction parallel to said second direction.

Claim 38

The use as claimed in claim 34 , wherein said measuring pattern further comprises four outer broad straight line segments in addition to said four sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments, wherein said four outer broad straight line segments respectively extend in parallel to said four sides of said square, and each of said four outer broad straight line segments extends outside of and in parallel to corresponding one set of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments, so that said four outer broad straight line segments form an outer square which surrounds said square of said four sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments, provided that each of said four outer broad straight line segments has a broader width than any of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments.

Claim 39

The use as claimed in claim 31 , wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of a first pair of said four sets are arranged along first opposite sides of said square, and said first opposite sides extend in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis and said first opposite sides are distanced in said second direction parallel to said second directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first pair are increased in opposite directions to each other and parallel and perpendicular to said first direction, and wherein said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of a second pair of said four sets are arranged along second opposite sides of said square, and said second opposite sides extend in said second direction parallel to said second directional axis and said second opposite sides are distanced in said first direction parallel to said first directional axis, and said widths of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second pair are increased in opposite directions to each other and parallel and perpendicular to said second direction.

Claim 40

The use as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said plural sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments comprise two sets of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments which are arranged to form adjacent two sides of a square of said measuring pattern, and said first and second directional axes are perpendicular to each other.

Claim 41

The use as claimed in claim 37 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and the same among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 42

The use as claimed in claim 37 , wherein said mask includes said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said first set in said first direction is constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns, and a pitch for alignment of said plural width-different parallel straight line segments of said second set in said second direction is also constant for each of said plural measuring patterns and different among said plural measuring patterns.

Claim 43

A use for measuring an optical aberration, said use comprising: a measuring pattern comprising a plurality of masking regions arranged as co-axially-aligned looped lines, each having a constant width along its length, and each having different constant said width from other said co-axially-aligned looped lines.

Claim 44

A use for measuring an optical aberration, said use comprising: a measuring pattern comprising a plurality of masking regions arranged as co-axially-aligned looped lines, each having a constant width along its length, and each having different constant said width from other said co-axially-aligned looped lines.

Claim 45

The use as claimed in claim 40 , wherein widths of said plural co-axially-aligned width-different looped lines are arranged in decreasing width in a radially outward direction.

Claim 46

The use as claimed in claim 40 , wherein each of said plural co-axially-aligned looped lines has a circular ring shape.

Claim 47

The use as claimed in claim 40 , wherein each of said plural co-axially-aligned looped lines has a polygonal ring shape.

Claim 48

The use as claimed in claim 43 , wherein each of said plural co-axially-aligned looped lines has a hexagonal ring shape.

Claim 49

The use as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said first and second directional axes extend to make an included angle of 45 degrees.

Claim 50

The use as claimed in claim 28 , wherein said first and second directional axes extend to make an included angle of 22.5 degrees.