Patent · US Expired

Optimized optical lithography illumination source for use during the manufacture of a semiconductor device

US7283205B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
4References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 19, 2005
Grant dateOct 16, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 20, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/701
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and structure for optimizing an optical lithography illumination source may include a shaped diffractive optical element (DOE) interposed between the illuminator and a lens during the exposure of a photoresist layer over a semiconductor wafer. The DOE may, in some instances, increase depth of focus, improve the normalized image log-slope, and improve pattern fidelity. The DOE is customized for the particular pattern to be exposed. Description and depiction of a specific DOE for a specific pattern is provided. Additionally, a pupilgram having a particular pattern, and methods for providing a light output which forms the pupilgram, are disclosed.

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