Patent · US Active

Method of arranging mask patterns and apparatus using the method

US7877723B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
2References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 7, 2007
Grant dateJan 25, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 8, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F1/36
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Provided are a method of fabricating a semiconductor and an apparatus using the method, and more particularly, a method of effectively arranging assist features on the mask and an apparatus using the method. The method of arranging mask patterns includes separately calculating contributions of an assist feature to image intensity at an optimal focus and at a defocus position and placing the assist feature at a position where the contribution of the assist feature to the image intensity is greater at the defocus position than at the optimal focus position. The method includes a first operation of obtaining a first contribution function for contribution of an assist feature to image intensity at a main feature at a first focus position; a second operation of obtaining a second contribution function for contribution of the assist feature to the image intensity at the main feature at a second focus position; and a third operation of determining the position of the assist feature to be a position satisfying a condition that a linear combination of the first contribution function and the second contribution function exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

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