Patent · US Expired

Multi-level photoresist profile method

US5906910A · kind A · utility

34Cited by
23References
3Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJan 16, 1998
Grant dateMay 25, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 16, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F1/50
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method is providing for making a multi-level reticle which transmits a plurality of incident light intensities, which in turn, are used to form a plurality of thicknesses in a photoresist profile. A partially transmitting film, used as one of the layers of the reticle, is able to provide an intermediate intensity light. The intermediate intensity light has an intensity approximately midway between the intensity of the unattenuated light passing through the reticle substrate layer, and the totally attenuated light blocked by an opaque layer of the reticle. The exposed photoresist receives light at two intensities to form a via hole in the resist in response to the higher intensity light, and a connecting line to the via at an intermediate level of the photoresist in response to the intermediate light intensity. A method for forming the multi-level resist profile from the multi-level reticle is provided as well as a multi-level reticle apparatus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.