Patent · US Active

Method for time-evolving rectilinear contours representing photo masks

US7992109B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by
59References
20Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJun 4, 2010
Grant dateAug 2, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 4, 2030

Classification

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

Abstract

Photomask patterns are represented using contours defined by level-set functions. Given target pattern, contours are optimized such that defined photomask, when used in photolithographic process, prints wafer pattern faithful to target pattern. Optimization utilizes “merit function” for encoding aspects of photolithographic process, preferences relating to resulting pattern (e.g. restriction to rectilinear patterns), robustness against process variations, as well as restrictions imposed relating to practical and economic manufacturability of photomasks.

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