The invention pertains to methods of forming mask patterns, methods of correcting feature dimension variation, microlithography methods, recording medium and microlithography exposure systems.
Radiation patterning tools are utilized to pattern radiation during, for example, semiconductor processing. The patterned radiation (such as, for example, UV light) is projected against a radiation-imagable material such as, for example, photoresist and utilized to create a pattern in the radiation-imagable material. The utilization of a patterned radiation for forming a desired pattern in a radiation-imagable material is typically referred to as photolithography. The radiation-patterning tool can be referred to as a photomask or reticle. The term “photomask” is traditionally understood to refer to masks which define a pattern for an entirety of a wafer, and the term “reticle” is traditionally understood to refer to a patterning tool which defines a patterned for only a portion of a wafer. However, the term “photomask”, or more generally “mask”, and “reticle” are frequently used interchangeably in modern parlance so that either term can refer to a radiation patterning tool that encompasses either a portion or an entirety of a wafer. For purposes of interpreting this disclosure and the claims that follow, the term “reticle” is utilized to generally refer to any radiation-patterning tool regardless of whether the tool is utilized to pattern an entirety of a substrate or only a portion of the substrate.
Reticles are typically manufactured by methods comprising microlithography techniques performed utilizing high energy tools which “write” a pattern onto a mask blank by exposing the mask blank to an exposure beam (e.g. an electron beam) in a predetermined write pattern. A particular write pattern is developed based upon a desired pattern for the final reticle. Typically, the pattern will comprise a plurality of pattern features. Data pertaining to the desired pattern, typically in a binary digital format, is fragmented or divided into data stripes which can be utilized to provide to an electron beam (e-beam) tool to write or expose portions of the mask blank. Each data stripe is written by scanning the exposure beam across the reticle blank in a series of frames such that the exposure defines the features of the mask.
Exposure of a mask blank (alternatively referred to as a reticle preform) to an incident electron beam is shown in
During electron beam exposure, electrons from the electron beam can unintentionally expose portions of resist layer 16 other than, or in addition to, the intended portions. Additional and/or unintended exposure can result in variation of feature dimension or critical dimension (CD). The variance in critical dimension can be non-uniform throughout the pattern such that some feature dimensions in a particular area of the pattern are closer to the intended feature dimension than those in other areas of the pattern.
One cause of unintentional exposure which can result in feature dimension variation is illustrated in
Patterning methodology has been developed which attempts to correct the fogging effect by, for example, controlling or adjusting exposure dose. Typically, the correction is based upon an assumption that the electron fogging effect is a Gaussian distribution and thus the correction is symmetrical around the center of a patterned layout with more dose correction applied in the pattern center than near the edge or corner. A typical electron fogging effect correction on a mask is shown in
Although the symmetrical correction model is somewhat effective for correcting CD variations, such fails to account for additional factors that may contribute toward the fogging effect and thereby fails to produce global CD uniformity throughout the pattern. Accordingly, it would be desirable to develop alternative methodology for correction of fogging effects.
In one aspect the invention encompasses a method of forming a mask pattern. A mask blank or “reticle preform” is provided which has a metallic layer disposed between a transparent substrate material and an imageable material. The mask blank has an upper surface comprising a main-field area bounded by a lateral periphery. A plurality of regions is defined within the main-field. The plurality of regions includes an inner region and multiple outer regions where the inner region is spaced from the entirety of the lateral periphery by at least one outer region. Exposure of the mask blank to an electron beam is initiated at an initial locus within the inner region.
In one aspect the invention encompasses a method of correcting feature dimension variation. A mask blank is exposed in accordance with an initial corrected write pattern which has a first dose correction component that is symmetrical. The initially exposed substrate is divided into a plurality of regions across and upper mask surface. The feature dimension is measured within each region and a variance is determined between the measured feature dimension and an intended feature dimension. The variance is utilized to determine a second dose correction component which is non-symmetrical. An enhanced dose correction is created which comprises the second dose correction component added to the first dose correction component which can achieve at least partial correction of the variance. The enhanced dose correction is applied to a write pattern to generate an enhanced correction write pattern and a subsequent mask blank is exposed in accordance with the enhanced dose correction write pattern.
In one aspect the invention encompasses a recording medium comprising programming configured to cause processing circuitry to perform processing. The processing includes accessing data defining a design pattern to be written onto a resist material by exposing to an exposure beam. The processing additionally includes obtaining error data pertaining to feature dimension variation caused by exposure beam deflection during writing of the design pattern. The processing additionally includes generating correction data based upon the error data, producing data defining a corrective pattern by adjusting the data defining the design pattern utilizing the corrected data, and applying the corrected pattern during an exposure event.
In one aspect the invention encompasses an electron beam exposure system. The system includes an electron beam source and a movable stage for supporting a substrate. The system additionally includes a processor which contains programming configured to cause processing circuitry to access exposure data, divide the exposure pattern into regions, determine a dose correction for each region to alleviate backscattering effects and alleviate beam deflection effects, and generate a corrected exposure pattern to apply a corrected dose for each region. The system additionally includes a controller which is configured to direct electrons emitted by the electron beam source to expose the layer of resist on a mask blank in accordance with the corrected exposure pattern.
The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).
The present invention relates to methodology and systems for correcting feature dimension variation which can occur during exposing a resist to form a feature pattern. In particular aspects, the invention pertains to correcting or alleviating feature dimension variation during electron beam lithography. It is to be understood however, that the techniques and methodology described herein can be adapted for application to other lithography techniques. Further, although the invention is described in terms of forming a mask or reticle the invention additionally contemplates utilization of the described aspects of the invention during alternative patterning application such as, for example, patterning a semiconductive wafer.
As discussed in the background section of this description, electron backscattering can create or contribute to an electron fogging effect resulting in variation of dimensions of features in a resulting pattern. The variation in feature dimension can be non-uniform throughout the pattern. One aspect of the present invention is a recognition that additional factors can contribute to the fogging effect. Specifically, as further discussed below, it is recognized that electron beam deflection and/or order of exposing areas within the pattern (write order or scan sequence) can contribute to the fogging effect. It is additionally recognized that such contribution can typically be non-symmetrical with respect to a center point of the pattern, at least in instances where a conventional scan sequence is utilized. It is also recognized that conventional symmetrical correction models only partially alleviate fogging effects and typically result in a mask or reticle having some degree of critical dimension variation. Particularly, where a conventional scan order and symmetrical correction model is utilized a resulting pattern can typically have a feature dimension variance with such variance being non-symmetrical relative to a center of the pattern.
Exemplary methods of forming a reticle in accordance with an aspect of the present invention are described with reference to
The relatively transparent material 32 will typically comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of quartz. The relatively opaque material 34 will typically be a metallic layer and can in particular applications comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of chromium. Although
A layer of resist or other imageable material 36 is present over opaque material 34. For purposes of the present description, the term ‘resist’ can refer to a material that is sensitive to irradiation such that its chemical properties change when irradiated. A negative resist can typically become less soluble in a developer upon irradiation, while a positive resist can typically become more soluble upon irradiation. In particular instances, resist material 36 can be a material is imageable by an electron beam and can be referred to as an e-beam resist.
The substrate of
Material 36 comprises an upper surface, and
A series of marks 42 are provided within boundary region 40 to illustrate exemplary locations where alignment marks can ultimately be formed. Such alignment marks can be utilized for aligning masks during fabrication of the reticle as well as, or alternatively, for aligning the reticle during utilization of the reticle during patterning of light in a semiconductor fabrication process.
With reference to
Lithography system 50 can comprise an electron beam source 52 and a stage 54 for supporting preform 30 during the pattern writing process. In particular applications, source 52 can be configured to supply an electron beam at an energy level of approximately 50 keV, although alternative powers can be utilized. Stage 54 can preferably be a moveable stage, the movement of which is controlled by a controller 56. In particular applications, electron source 52 can additionally be controlled by controller 56. Accordingly, controller 56 can be utilized to control aspects of the electron beam emitted by source 52, for example, to provide or control a particular beam shape and/or intensity. In particular applications it can be desirable that beam source 52 provide an electron beam substantially perpendicular relative to the stage and/or upper surface of the preform.
Control of stage 54 can be utilized to scan the main-field of preform 30 in a particular exposure sequence. Referring again to
The above-described left to right, bottom to top scan sequence is alternatively described with reference to
In accordance with the described above described exposure sequence, e-beam exposure of the main-field would be initiated at region 1 and proceed horizontally in a continuous manner through region 2 and so on until exposure of region x has occurred. The exposure beam would then be stepped upwardly and scanning would resume at area x+1 and proceed horizontally in a continuous manner until region y has been exposed. Such left to right, bottom to top scanning would continue until final area E has been exposed and exposure is concluded. As further illustrated in
In a conventional e-beam patterning event which utilizes the scan strategy illustrated in
Referring next to
As shown, a decrease in dark line CD areas is observed near the bottom part of the plate. Similar left to right CD variation is not observed. The observation of decreasing dark line CD approaching the last row scanned indicates that the scan direction affects the fogging effect. Although the inventors are not intended to be held to any particular theory, it is proposed that the observed phenomenon could be the result of either or both of two possible causes. First, there is less fogging electron accumulation during the beginning portion of the chip exposure relative to the accumulation that results near the end of the exposure sequence. Accordingly, more fogging effect would occur at the end of the scanning process. Second, during the pattern exposure the resist heating effect hardens the adjacent resist and reduces its sensitivity to electrons. This hardening results in more effect of the electrons on ‘unexposed’ resist areas than to areas which have already been exposed during the scanning processing. This theoretical effect would also correlate to a stronger fogging effect near the end of a scan processing relative to that observed near the beginning of the scanning sequence. Accordingly, it could be advantageous to provide an alternative exposure initiation point with the pattern and/or an alternative scanning direction and sequence.
Referring to
The plurality of grid regions shown in
Where main-field 38 is divided into a larger number of areas (rows and/or columns) than shown in
The alternative scan order and scan initiation within main-field 38 as shown in
The observed CD distribution as a result of the alternative scan sequence depicted in
Another aspect of the invention is described with reference to
Referring to panel B, an alternative main deflection field 70a can be produced in accordance with methodology of the present invention. Main deflection field 70a has a horizontal width of 1024 microns and a vertical height alpha (a) which is less than the deflection field width. Deflection field height (or frame height) α can be produced by alternative fragmentation (also referred to as fractionation) of data relative to a typical fragmentation utilized to produce the protocol illustrated in panel A. The height a is not limited to a particular value and can be, for example, from about 1 micron to about 1024 microns, and in particular instances can be from about 256 microns to about 768 microns, for applications where the main deflection field width is 1024 microns. Where the frame width is other than the exemplary 1024 microns as shown, α can have any value less than the frame width. In particular applications, α can preferably have a value such that the frame width is some integer multiple of α. More preferably, α has a value determined to produce a balanced deflection beam signature, where fogging distribution due to beam deflection is equivalent or substantially equivalent in the horizontal direction (stage scan direction) and vertical direction (orthogonal to the stage scan direction).
As shown in Panel B, due to a decreased frame height relative to that shown in panel A, the primary beam deflection area 72a has a greater width to height ratio (x/y) than would occur for larger stripe/frame height, such as where the value of α approaches the frame width. Accordingly, the shape of the primary deflection area 72a approaches a square shape dependent upon the speed of stage movement in direction d. The result is a more equivalent fogging effect distribution in the vertical and horizontal direction relative to the data fracturing and scan protocol depicted in panel A.
It can be advantageous to fragment data to produce a frame height a which is less than the frame width to minimize or eliminate the difference in fogging effect in the vertical relative to horizontal direction. The alternative data fragmentation and write protocol in accordance with the present invention as shown in Panel B can produce a more symmetrical fogging effect relative to the fogging effect which occurs using the protocol depicted in
A critical dimension uniformity map of a reticle formed with a writing direction from bottom to top (as shown in
An additional aspect of the invention is described generally with reference to
An error determination process 130 can be performed to generate error data caused by beam deflection and/or exposure order effects as discussed above. A second correction component can be determined in a processing event 140 for alleviation of non-symmetrical feature dimension error based on the error data generated regarding deflection and/or exposure order effects. Processing events 130 and 140 can comprise generation of error data and determination of a second correction component utilizing empirical derivation or calculation based upon accumulated fogging effect in the beam scan direction.
In an additional processing event 150 the determined second correction component can be applied to the predetermined pattern data. Preferably, the second correction component is utilized as a secondary component and is applied in addition to the primary correction component. More preferably, the secondary correction component is added to the primary correction component to produce an overall correction which is applied to the determined pattern data to produce a corrected pattern utilizing the corrected pattern data.
Processing sequence 100 can further comprise exposure processing 160 where exposure of a reticle blank to an electron beam is performed in accordance with the corrected data. During processing event 160, exposing a reticle blank in accordance with corrected data can comprise utilizing dose correction, however it is to be understood that the invention additionally contemplates combining dose correction and beam shape variation techniques.
The exposed reticle blank can undergo further processing including developing the exposed resist and subsequent etching to eventually result in a reticle having enhanced global critical dimension uniformity relative to reticles prepared utilizing only the primary correction component.
In addition to the above processing sequence where error generation data processing 130 is performed after application of first correction component in step, the invention also contemplates obtaining error data in an absence of a first correction component. In other words, processing 140 can be performed to determine a correction component which is inclusive of back-scatter and deflection and/or scan order corrections.
The overall methodology depicted in
A system for performing methodology in accordance with the invention is exemplified in
Referring to
Communications interface 60 is configured to implement communications with respect to one or more device external of the computer, such as, for example stage 54, source 52 and/or controller 56. Communications interface 60 may comprise a wired or wireless connection to implement unidirectional or bidirectional communications in exemplary embodiments.
Processing circuitry 62 may execute executable instructions stored within articles of manufacture, such as memory, mass storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives, floppy disks, optical disks, etc.) or within another appropriate device, and embodied as, for example, software and/or firmware instructions.
In one embodiment, processing circuitry 62 is arranged to process data, control data access and storage, issue commands, and control other desired operations. Processing circuitry may comprise circuitry configured to implement desired programming provided by appropriate media in at least one embodiment. For example, the processing circuitry may be implemented as one or more of a processor and/or other structure configured to execute executable instructions including, for example, software and/or firmware instructions, and/or hardware circuitry. Exemplary embodiments of processing circuitry include hardware logic, PGA, FPGA, ASIC, state machines, and/or other structures alone or in combination with a processor. These examples of processing circuitry are for illustration and other configurations are possible.
Storage circuitry 64 is configured to store electronic data and/or programming such as executable instructions (e.g., software and/or firmware), data, or other digital information and may include processor-usable media. Processor-usable media includes any article of manufacture which can contain, store, or maintain programming, data and/or digital information for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system including processing circuitry in the exemplary embodiment. For example, exemplary processor-usable media may include any one of physical media such as electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared or semiconductor media. Some more specific examples of processor-usable media include, but are not limited to, a portable magnetic computer diskette, such as a floppy diskette, zip disk, hard drive, random access memory, read only memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or other configurations capable of storing programming, data, or other digital information.
User interface 66 is configured to interact with a user including conveying data to a user (e.g., displaying data for observation by the user, audibly communicating data to a user, etc.) as well as receiving inputs from the user (e.g., tactile input voice instruction, etc.). Accordingly, in one exemplary embodiment, the user interface may include a display (e.g., cathode ray tube, LCD, etc.) configured to depict visual information and an audio system as well as a keyboard, mouse and/or other input device. Any other suitable apparatus for interacting with a user may also be utilized.
In one embodiment the processing circuitry 62 can comprise circuitry configured to implement desired programming in accordance with methodology of the invention. For example, the processing circuitry may be implemented to perform processing in accordance with
A recording medium in accordance with the invention can comprise programming configured to cause processing circuitry to access data defining a design pattern to be written onto a resist material by exposure to an exposure beam such as, for example, an electron beam. The programming can additionally be configured to cause processing circuitry to obtain error data pertaining to feature dimension variation in a resulting exposure pattern relative to the initial design pattern. In particular aspects, the obtaining error data can be performed after application of a primary correction component such as the symmetrical distribution component discussed above. Accordingly, the obtained error data can correspond to feature dimension variation caused by exposure beam deflection during writing of the design pattern and/or dimension error caused by fogging due to effects of write order.
The recording medium can further comprise programming configured to cause processing circuitry to generate correction data based on the error data. Further, the programming can be configured to cause the processing circuitry to produce data defining a corrected pattern by adjusting the initial data defining the design pattern utilizing the correction data. Programming can additionally be configured to cause processing circuitry to apply the corrected pattern during an exposure event.
Obtaining error data pertaining to a feature dimension variation and an exposure pattern can comprise producing one or more test reticles and/or can comprise user input. Preferably the obtaining error data comprises obtaining data utilizing an exposure initiation site, exposure order and frame height which will be utilized during applying the corrected pattern in an exposure event.
Referring to
As indicated above, the secondary correction component can be determined by writing one or more test plates (reticles). The test plates can then be utilized to produce a feature uniformity map and/or a dose correction map utilizing the average data. The resulting determined correction can then be applied to a write pattern to enhance correction relative to a reticle formed utilizing only the primary correction component. Alternatively, the secondary electron fogging correction can be calculated by, for example, applying a polynomial correction equation. By way of example, a six order polynomial correction y=a+bx+cx2+dx3+ex4+fx5+gx6 can be applied where y is the dose correction and x corresponds to a dominant fogging distribution direction. The constants a through g can be adjusted for slope and magnitude. Exemplary 6 order polynomial correction models are shown in
The secondary electron fogging correction may alternatively be calculated theoretically based on the pattern density, the x, y main deflection field dimension, the stage speed and the strength of the fogging effect upon the unexposed resist relative to the fogging effects upon exposed resist. The calculated result would be similar to the polynomial correction described above.
Application of the methodologies of the present invention during reticle writing can produce reticles having enhanced global uniformity relative to conventional techniques. The enhanced global uniformity of the reticle can in turn minimize or eliminate CD variation during subsequent patterning of, for example, a semiconductor wafer.
In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.