Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Critical dimension (CD) uniformity of photoresist island patterns using alternating phase shifting mask
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Application No.: US17093313Application Date: 2020-11-09
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Publication No.: US11573494B2Publication Date: 2023-02-07
- Inventor: Jesmin Haq , Tom Zhong , Zhongjian Teng
- Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
- Applicant Address: TW Hsinchu
- Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
- Current Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
- Current Assignee Address: TW Hsinchu
- Agency: Haynes and Boone, LLP
- Main IPC: G03F7/20
- IPC: G03F7/20 ; H01L43/12 ; G03F7/039 ; G03F1/30 ; G03F7/38 ; G03F7/09 ; G03F7/11 ; G03F7/32 ; H01L27/22

Abstract:
A photoresist film is patterned into an array of island shapes with improved critical dimension uniformity and no phase edges by using two alternating phase shifting masks (AltPSMs) and one post expose bake (PEB). The photoresist layer is exposed with a first AltPSM having a line/space (L/S) pattern where light through alternating clear regions on each side of an opaque line is 180° phase shifted. Thereafter, there is a second exposure with a second AltPSM having a L/S pattern where opaque lines are aligned orthogonal to the lengthwise dimension of opaque lines in the first exposure, and with alternating 0° and 180° clear regions. Then, a PEB and subsequent development process are used to form an array of island shapes. The double exposure method enables smaller island shapes than conventional photolithography and uses relatively simple AltPSM designs that are easier to implement in production than other optical enhancement techniques.
Public/Granted literature
- US20210055659A1 Critical Dimension (CD) Uniformity of Photoresist Island Patterns Using Alternating Phase Shifting Mask Public/Granted day:2021-02-25
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