Patent · US Expired

Methods for converting reticle configurations

US7147974B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
29References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 14, 2003
Grant dateDec 12, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 26, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F1/72
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The invention includes methods of converting reticles from configurations suitable for utilization with later generation (shorter wavelength) stepper radiations to configurations suitable for utilization with earlier generation (longer wavelength) stepper radiations. The invention can be utilized for converting a reticle from a configuration suitable for 193 nanometer wavelength radiation to a configuration suitable for 248 nanometer wavelength radiation. In such aspect, a quartz-containing material of a substrate can be protected with a patterned layer consisting essentially of molybdenum and silicon while the quartz-containing material is subjected to a dry etch. The configuration suitable for 248 nanometer wavelength radiation can be constructed so that a phase of 248 nanometer wavelength radiation is shifted by about 180° upon passing through combined thicknesses of the patterned layer and the quartz-containing material, relative to 248 nanometer wavelength radiation which passes only through the quartz-containing material.

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