Systems and methods for mitigating variances on a patterned wafer using a prediction model
US7297453B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S430/146
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Disclosed are systems and methods for mitigating variances (e.g., critical dimension variances) on a patterned wafer are provided. In general, variances of a patterned wafer are predicted using one or more reticle fabrication and/or wafer processing models. The predicted variances are used to modify selected transparent portions of the reticle that is to be used to produce the patterned wafer. In a specific implementation, an optical beam, such as a femto-second laser, is applied to the reticle at a plurality of embedded positions, and the optical beam is configured to form specific volumes of altered optical properties within the transparent material of the reticle at the specified positions. These reticle volumes that are created at specific positions of the reticle result in varying amounts of light transmission or dose through the reticle at such specific positions so as to mitigate the identified variances on a wafer that is patterned using the modified reticle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.