Patent · US Expired

Lithography contrast enhancement technique by varying focus with wavelength modulation

US6829040B1 · kind B1 · utility

17Cited by
12References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 7, 2003
Grant dateDec 7, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 7, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70333
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A projection lithography system exposes a photo sensitive material on a surface of a semiconductor substrate that includes surface height variations between a high level and a low level. The system comprises an illumination source projecting illumination within a narrow wavelength band centered about a nominal wavelength on an optic path towards the substrate during an exposure period. A wavelength modulation system within the optic path comprises means for chromatically separating the narrow wavelength band into at least two sub-bands, the first sub-band being smaller than the narrow wavelength band and centered about a first sub-band wavelength and the second sub-band being smaller than the narrow wavelength band and centered about a second sub-band wavelength and means for passing each of the first sub-band and the second sub-band during distinct time periods within the exposure period.

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