Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an improved lithographic apparatus in which at least one of the disadvantages in the conventional techniques has been removed or alleviated. SOLUTION: A substrate stage of an immersion-type lithographic apparatus configured to project a patterned radiation beam from a patterning device onto a substrate is provided to hold the substrate and comprises at least one sensor for sensing the patterned radiation beam. The sensor includes, at least a partially transmissive layer having a front surface facing the incoming radiation beam and a back surface opposite to the front surface, and the back surface is provided with at least one sensor mark to be exposed to the radiation beam passing through the transmissive layer. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an arrangement of an alignment mark that has improved compatibility with extreme dipolar illumination settings and also with less extreme settings to be used in the other patterning step during lithography processing. SOLUTION: An alignment mark on a substrate includes a periodic arrangement of a plurality of first elements and a plurality of second elements. The elements are arranged in an alternating repetitive sequence in a first direction. An overall pitch of the periodic arrangement is equal to a sum of a width of the first element and a width of the second element in the first direction. Each first element has a first periodic sub-arrangement with a first sub-pitch and each second element has a second periodic sub-arrangement with second sub-pitch. An optical property of the first element for interaction with a beam of radiation having a wavelength λ is different from the optical property of the second element. The overall pitch is larger than the wavelength λ, and each of the first and the second sub-pitch is smaller than the wavelength. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method of determining parameters, such as a critical dimension of a patterned structure and a best focus state of a lithographic apparatus and the like, based on strength measurement of nonzero degree of diffracted light from an experimental structure. SOLUTION: An experimental structure includes a first line having a period longer than a wavelength of diffracted light, and an array of a partially filled space. The experimental structure also includes a second line including a partially filled space, and an array of the space. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for protecting and reproducing an alignment mark. SOLUTION: A part of a hard mask 414 located above a lower structure of an alignment mark 401 is selectively exposed with a predetermined exposure dose. The surface region 421 of hard mask coating on which this quantity of radiation has been irradiated rises above other regions on the surface of the hard mask. The elevated region 416 of the hard mask is formed in a corresponding location to the trench 406 of the lower layer alignment mark 401, and this elevated region 416 becomes a new alignment mark where the horizontal position of the lower layer alignment mark 401 is stored. COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
A method of production of alignment marks uses a self-aligned double patterning process. An alignment mark pattern is provided with first and second sub-segmented elements. After selecting the dipolar illumination orientation, dipole-X is used to illuminate the pattern and to image the first elements on the wafer, but not the second elements. Alternatively, dipole-Y is used to illuminate the pattern and to image the second elements on the wafer, but not the first elements. In either case, self-aligned double patterning processing may then be performed to produce product-like alignment marks with high contrast and wafer quality (WQ). Subsequently the X and Y alignment marks thus produced are used for the step of alignment in a lithographic process.