Intel Corporation

Kevin Huggins

Richard E Schenker

Mark C Phillips

The present invention describes a method of conditioning radiation upstream from a reticle including: pixelating the radiation, the pixelating involving partitioning into pixels; modulating a first set of the pixels to configure for openings; modulating a second set of the pixels to outline for specific features of the openings; modulating a third set of the pixels to correct for local non-uniformities; modulating a fourth set of the pixels to compensate for global non-uniformities; and modulating a fifth set of the pixels to establish for gray scale.

Pixelated modulation of illumination pupil image

Elongated features may be incorporated at least partially in an alignment region. The alignment region may be defined by a plurality of alignment features aligned along a first axis. A long axis of the elongated features may be neither parallel nor perpendicular to the first axis. The alignment region may further include another plurality of alignment features aligned a second axis that is not parallel to the first axis. The second axis may be neither parallel to or perpendicular to the long axis.

Angled elongated features for improved alignment process integration

Lithography using controlled polarization. One aspect generates an electromagnetic radiation suitable for production of microelectronic devices, linearly polarizes at least a portion of the radiation at a pupil plane of a projection system to form linearly polarized radiation, and exposing a substrate using the linearly polarized radiation at a high exposure angle.

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Hillsboro, OR, United States of America

Kevin Huggins