Method for monitoring focus in EUV lithography

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 9588440
SERIAL NO

14620803

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Abstract

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This invention relates to a method of obtaining optimal focus for exposing a photoresist in an EUV lithography with an EUV mask containing a pattern with an assist feature. The invention also relates to an EUV mask with a special focus test target for monitoring focus in EUV lithography, and a method of fabricating this EUV mask by designing the special focus test target. The EUV mask contains a repeating pattern, wherein the repeating pattern has two different pitches, i.e. a first pitch and a second pitch, and contains an assist feature between main features. Because the two different pitches have different focus offsets, the difference between linewidths of said gratings provides a calibration curve which is a measure of focus. The method for monitoring focus is performing an EUV exposure using a focus position with a pre-determined focus position as calibrated using the linewidth difference between the two gratings. The EUV mask for monitoring focus of present invention is applicable to both test and product masks.

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Patent Owner(s)

  • INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Brunner, Timothy Allan Ridgefield, US 11 213
Burkhardt, Martin White Plains, US 30 348

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