Patent · US Expired

In-situ balancing for phase-shifting mask

US6660649B2 · kind B2 · utility

23Cited by
11References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 29, 2002
Grant dateDec 9, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 29, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/942
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention describes a method of forming a mask comprising: providing a substrate, the substrate having a first thickness; forming a balancing layer over the substrate, the balancing layer having a second thickness; forming an absorber layer over the balancing layer, the absorber layer having a first region separated from a second region by a third region; removing the absorber layer in the first region and the second region; removing the balancing layer in the second region; and reducing the substrate in the second region to a third thickness. The present invention also describes a mask comprising: an absorber layer, the absorber layer having a first opening and a second opening, the first opening uncovering a balancing layer disposed over a substrate having a first thickness, and the second opening uncovering the substrate having a second thickness.

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