For 90nm node and beyond technology generations, one of the most critical challenges is how to meet the local CD uniformity (proximity) and global CD uniformity (GCDU) requirements within the exposure field. Both of them must be well controlled in the mask making process: (1) proximity effect and, (2) exposure pattern loading effect, or the so-called e-beam "fogging effect". In this paper, we report a method to improve our global CDU by means of a long range fogging compensation together with the Leica SB350 MW. This exposure tool is operated at 50keV and 1nm design grid. The proximity correction is done by the software - package "PROXECCO" from PDF Solutions. We have developed a unique correction method to reduce the fogging effect in dependency of the pattern density of the mask. This allows us to meet our customers’ CDU specifications for the 90nm node and beyond.
For 90nm node generation, 65nm, and beyond, dark field mask types such as contact-hole, via, and trench patterns that all are very challenging to print with satisfactory process windows for day-to-day lithography manufacturing. Resolution enhancement technology (RET) masks together with ArF high numerical aperture (NA) scanners have been recognized as the inevitable choice of method for 65nm node manufacturing. Among RET mask types, the alternating phase shifting mask (AltPSM) is one of the well-known strong enhancement techniques. However AltPSM can have a very strong optical proximity effect that comes with the use of small on-axis illumination sigma setting. For very dense contact features, it may be possible for AltPSM to overcome the phase conflict by limiting the mask design rules. But it is not feasible to resolve the inherent phase conflict for the semi-dense, semi-isolated and isolated contact areas. Hence the adoption of this strong enhancement technique for dark filed mask types in today’s IC manufacturing has been very limited. In this paper, we present a novel yet a very powerful design method to achieve contact and via masks printing for 90nm, 65nm, and beyond. We name our new mask design as: Novel Improved Contact-hole pattern Exposure PSM (NICE PSM) with off-axis illumination, such as QUASAR. This RET masks design can enhance the process window of isolated, semi-isolated contact hole and via hole patterns. The main concepts of NICE PSM with QUASAR off-axis illumination are analogous to the Super-FLEX pupil filter technology.
For 90nm node generation, 65nm, and beyond, dark field mask types such as contact-hole, via, and trench patterns that all
are very challenging to print with satisfactory process windows for day-to-day lithography manufacturing. Resolution enhancement technology (RET) masks together with ArF high numerical aperture (NA) scanners have been recognized as the inevitable choice of method for 65nm node manufacturing. Among RET mask types, the alternating phase shifting mask (AltPSM) is one of the well-known strong enhancement techniques. However, AltPSM can have a very strong optical proximity effect that comes with the use of small on-axis illumination sigma setting. For very dense contact features, it may be possible for AltPSM to overcome the phase conflict by limiting the mask design rules. But it is not feasible to resolve the inherent phase conflict for the semi-dense, semi-isolated and isolated contact areas. Hence the adoption of this strong enhancement technique for dark filed mask types in today’s IC manufacturing has been very limited. In this paper, we report a novel yet a very powerful design method to achieve contact and via masks printing for 90nm, 65nm, and beyond. We
name our new mask design as: Novel Improved Contact-hole pattern Exposure PSM (NICE PSM) with off-axis illumination, such as QUASAR. This RET masks design can enhance the process window of isolated, semi-isolated contact hole and via hole patterns. The main concepts of NICE PSM with QUASAR off-axis illumination are analogous to the
Super-FLEX pupil filter technology.
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