Patent · US Active

Process tuning with polarization

US9563135B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
2References
19Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateSep 21, 2011
Grant dateFeb 7, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 30, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70625
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for configuring an illumination source of a lithographic apparatus, the method including dividing the illumination source into pixel groups, each pixel group including one or more illumination source points in a pupil plane of the illumination source; changing a polarization state of each pixel group and determining an incremental effect on each of the plurality of critical dimensions resulting from the change of polarization state; calculating a first plurality of sensitivity coefficients for each of the plurality of critical dimensions using the determined incremental effects; selecting an initial illumination source; iteratively calculating a lithographic metric as a result of a change of polarization state using the calculated first plurality of sensitivity coefficients, the change of the polarization state of the pixel group in the initial illumination source creating a modified illumination source; and adjusting the initial illumination source based on the iterative results of calculations.

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