Optimization of sub-100-nm designs for mask cost reduction

Artur P. Balasinski

doi:10.1117/1.1668275

1 April 2004 Optimization of sub-100-nm designs for mask cost reduction

Artur P. Balasinski

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS, Vol. 3, Issue 2, (April 2004). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1668275

Abstract

For sub-100 nm integrated circuit (IC) technologies, many of the factors that affect the cost of photomasks, the cost of material, of the writing process, of the develop/etch process, and of inspection, are increasing by an order of magnitude per generation. In order to mitigate the impact of that increase on the return on investment of new IC products, mask shop deliverables such as yield or alignment with technology requirements need to reach new quality. This work focuses on cost containment of the mask by optimally utilizing existing reticle technology to meet device requirements at the product level. We first compare the increase of mask cost with that of other manufacturing equipment categories, and discuss their dependence on layer properties and how to control increasing costs. We then propose use of a new procedure called integrated simulation (optical combined with electrical) to estimate the impact of the mask critical dimension (CD) budget on transistor performance on the local scale (cell level) and global scale (die level). In the process, at the cell level, simulated aerial images of metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor channels are used to evaluate the parametric data dependence on the optical proximity effects and correction features at the mask grade assumed. At the die level, statistical distribution of device parameters in the die is derived to estimate the parametric yield impacted by mask CD variation. We also discuss how integrated simulation can help in resolving other challenges of advanced reticle manufacturing such as qualification of masks or the generation of dummy patterns.

©(2004) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Citation Download Citation

Artur P. Balasinski "Optimization of sub-100-nm designs for mask cost reduction," Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS 3(2), (1 April 2004). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1668275

Published: 1 April 2004

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