Kla Tencor Corporation

David A Blankenship

Mark Davis Smith

John Joseph Biafore

John S Graves

Alessandro Vaglio Pret

John J Biafore

Trey S Graves

In some embodiments, a method may include improving a development process of a photoresist. The method may include simulating a negative-tone development process of a photoresist. The method may include determining a reaction of a developer with a soluble photoresist surface. Determining the reaction of the developer may include applying a reaction rate constant at a power of a reaction order to a blocked polymer concentration to yield a resist dissolution rate of soluble resist comprising the dissolution-limited regime of development. The method may include determining a flux of the developer into exposed and partially soluble resist. Determining the flux of the developer may include applying a vector valued diffusion coefficient of the developer dependent upon the blocked polymer concentration to a gradient of developer concentration to an expansion rate of insoluble resist comprising the expansion-controlled regime of development. The method may include optimizing an illumination source and a mask on a full chip.

Method for computer modeling and simulation of negative-tone-developable photoresists

A processor based method for measuring dimensional properties of a photoresist profile by determining a number acid generators and quenchers within a photoresist volume, determining a number of photons absorbed by the photoresist volume, determining a number of the acid generators converted to acid, determining a number of acid and quencher reactions within the photoresist volume, calculating a development of the photoresist volume, producing with the processor a three-dimensional simulated scanning electron microscope image of the photoresist profile created by the development of the photoresist volume, and measuring the dimensional properties of the photoresist profile.

Photoresist simulation

A processor based method for measuring dimensional properties of a photoresist profile. A number acid generators and quenchers within a photoresist volume is determined. A number of photons absorbed by the photoresist volume is determined. A number of the acid generators converted to acid is determined. A number of acid and quencher reactions within the photoresist volume is determined. A development of the photoresist volume is calculated. The processor is used to produce a three-dimensional simulated scanning electron microscope image of the photoresist profile created by the development of the photoresist volume. The dimensional properties of the photoresist profile are measured.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

David A Blankenship