Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Fu-Jye Liang

Li-Jui Chen

Chun-Kuang Chen

Chin-Hsiang Lin

Po-Chung Cheng

Chih-Tsung Shih

Hung-Wen Cho

Tzung-Chi Fu

Chih-Ming Ke

Tsai-Sheng Gau

Chang-Tsun Hsieh

Burn Jeng Lin

Guo-Tsai Huang

Lin-Hung Shiu

Ching-Yu Chang

Ru-Gun Liu

Jeng-Horng Chen

Yung-Sung Yen

Chien-Hung Lin

Chi-Cheng Hung

Wei-Liang Lin

Kuei-Shun Chen

Hung-Chang Hsieh

Hua-Tai Lin

Kuei Shun Chen

Chia-Hui Lin

Meng-Wei Chen

Chung-Hsing Chang

Hsiao-Tzu Lu

Bang-Ching Ho

Chih-Cheng Chin

Lai Chien Wen

Chun-Kung Chen

Li-Jiu Chen

Jhun-Hua Chen

Tsai-Cheng Gau

Ming-Sen Tung

Hsueh-Hung Wu

A layout modification method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The layout modification method includes calculating uniformity of critical dimensions of first and second portions in a patterned layer by using a layout for an exposure manufacturing process to produce the semiconductor device. A width of the first and second portions equals a penumbra size of the exposure manufacturing process. The penumbra size is utilized to indicate which area of the patterned layer is affected by light leakage exposure from another exposure manufacturing process. The layout modification method further includes compensating non-uniformity of the first and second portions of the patterned layer according to the uniformity of critical dimensions to generate a modified layout. The first portion is divided into a plurality of first sub-portions. The second portion is divided into a plurality of second sub-portions. Each second sub-portion is surrounded by two of the first sub-portions.

Layout modification method for exposure manufacturing process

A method for collecting information in image-error compensation is provided. The method includes providing a reticle having a first image structure and a second image structure; moving a light shading member to control a first exposure field; projecting a light over the first exposure field; recording an image of the first image structure after the light is projected; moving the light shading member to control a second exposure field; projecting the light over the second exposure field; and recording an image of the second image structure after the light is projected.

Method and apparatus for collecting information used in image-error compensation

A layout modification method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. Uniformity of critical dimensions of a first portion and a second portion in a patterned layer are calculated by using a layout for an exposure manufacturing process to produce the semiconductor device. A width of the second portion equals a penumbra size of the exposure manufacturing process, and the penumbra size is utilized to indicate which area of the patterned layer is affected by light leakage exposure from another exposure manufacturing process. Non-uniformity between the first and second portions of the patterned layer is compensated according to the uniformity of critical dimensions to generate a modified layout. The patterned layer includes a plurality of absorbers, and a first width of the absorbers is the first portion is less than a second width of the absorbers in the second portion the second portion.

A method of controlling reticle masking blade positioning to minimize the impact on critical dimension uniformity includes determining a target location of a reticle masking blade relative to a reflective reticle and positioning the reticle masking blade at the target location. A position of the reticle masking blade is monitored during an imaging operation. The position of the reticle masking blade is compared with the target location and the position of the reticle masking blade is adjusted if the position of the reticle masking blade is outside a tolerance of the target location.

Method of controlling reticle masking blade positioning to minimize impact on critical dimension uniformity and device for controlling reticle masking blade positioning

A layout modification method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. Uniformity of critical dimensions of a first portion and a second portion in a patterned layer is calculated by using a layout for an exposure manufacturing process to produce the semiconductor device. The second portion is adjacent to the first portion, and a width of the second portion equals a penumbra size of the exposure manufacturing process. The penumbra size is utilized to indicate which area of the patterned layer is affected by light leakage exposure from another exposure manufacturing process. Non-uniformity between the first and second portions of the patterned layer is compensated according to the uniformity of critical dimensions to generate a modified layout.

A reticle used for collecting information for image-error compensation is provided. The reticle includes a first black border structure and a second black border structure formed over a substrate. The first and second black borders are concentric with a center of the substrate. The reticle further includes a first image structure and a second image structure formed over the substrate. The first and second image structures each has patterns representing features to be patterned on a semiconductor wafer. In a direction away from the center of the substrate, the second image structure, the second black border structure, the first image structure and the first black border structure are arranged in order.

A layout modification method for fabricating an integrated circuit is provided. The layout modification method includes calculating uniformity of critical dimension of a patterned layer with a layout for an exposure manufacturing process to produce a semiconductor device. The patterned layer is divided into a first portion and a second portion which is adjacent to the first portion, and a width of the second portion equals to a penumbra size of the exposure manufacturing process. The layout modification method further includes retrieving an adjusting parameter for modifying the layout of the semiconductor device; determining a compensation amount based on the adjusting parameter and the uniformity of critical dimension; and compensating the critical dimension of the second portion of the patterned layer by utilizing the compensation amount to generate a modified layout.

The present disclosure provides a method. The method includes forming a resist layer on a patterned substrate; collecting first overlay data from the patterned substrate; determining an overlay compensation based on mapping of second overlay data from an integrated circuit (IC) pattern to the first overlay data from the patterned substrate; performing a compensation process to a lithography system according to the overlay compensation; and thereafter performing a lithography exposing process to the resist layer by the lithography system, thereby imaging the IC pattern to the resist layer.

Lithography process and system with enhanced overlay quality

A method includes directing a beam of radiation along an optical axis toward a workpiece support, measuring a spectrum of the beam at a first time to obtain a first profile, measuring the spectrum of the beam at a second time to obtain a second profile, determining a spectral difference between the two profiles, and adjusting a position of the workpiece support along the optical axis based on the difference. A different aspect involves an apparatus having a workpiece support, beam directing structure that directs a beam of radiation along an optical axis toward the workpiece support, spectrum measuring structure that measures a spectrum of the beam at first and second times to obtain respective first and second profiles, processing structure that determines a difference between the two profiles, and support adjusting structure that adjusts a position of the workpiece support along the optical axis based on the difference.

Method and apparatus for maintaining depth of focus

Disclosed is a lithography system. The lithography system includes a lithography exposure tool designed for performing an exposure process to a radiation-sensitive material layer coated on an integrated circuit substrate; an alignment module coupled with the lithography exposure tool, designed for alignment measurement, and configured for transferring the integrated circuit substrate to the lithography exposure tool; and an alignment calibration module designed to calibrate the alignment module relative to the lithography exposure.

System and method for lithography patterning

A method includes receiving a substrate having a material feature embedded in the substrate, wherein receiving the substrate includes receiving a first leveling data and a first overlay data generated when forming the material feature, deposing a resist film on the substrate, and exposing the resist film using a predicted overlay correction data to form a resist pattern overlying the material feature on the substrate, wherein using the predicted overlay correction data includes generating a second leveling data and calculating the predicted overlay correction data using the first leveling data, the first overlay data, and the second leveling data.

Method of overlay prediction

Provided is an apparatus that includes an overlay mark. The overlay mark includes a first portion that includes a plurality of first features. Each of the first features have a first dimension measured in a first direction and a second dimension measured in a second direction that is approximately perpendicular to the first direction. The second dimension is greater than the first dimension. The overlay mark also includes a second portion that includes a plurality of second features. Each of the second features have a third dimension measured in the first direction and a fourth dimension measured in the second direction. The fourth dimension is less than the third dimension. At least one of the second features is partially surrounded by the plurality of first features in both the first and second directions.

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Zhubei, Taiwan

Fu-Jye Liang