Intel Corporation

Robert M Bigwood

Charles Henry Wallace

Oleg Golonzka

Swaminathan Sivakumar

Elliot Tan

Hossam A Abdallah

Paul Anton Nyhus

Mohit K Haran

Deepak S Rao

Alexander F Kaplan

Shem Ogadhoh

Joseph E Brandenburg

Hossam M Abdallah

Techniques are disclosed for realizing a two-dimensional target lithography feature/pattern by decomposing (splitting) it into multiple unidirectional target features that, when aggregated, substantially (e.g., fully) represent the original target feature without leaving an unrepresented remainder (e.g., a whole-number quantity of unidirectional target features). The unidirectional target features may be arbitrarily grouped such that, within a grouping, all unidirectional target features share a common target width value. Where multiple such groupings are provided, individual groupings may or may not have the same common target width value. In some cases, a series of reticles is provided, each reticle having a mask pattern correlating to a grouping of unidirectional target features. Exposure of a photoresist material via the aggregated series of reticles substantially (e.g., fully) produces the original target feature/pattern. The pattern decomposition techniques may be integrated into any number of patterning processes, such as litho-freeze-litho-etch and litho-etch-litho-etch patterning processes.

Pattern decomposition lithography techniques

Via CD control for BEOL interconnects is described. For example, a method of fabricating an interconnect structure includes forming a lower metallization layer comprising alternating metal lines and dielectric lines above a substrate. The method also includes forming an inter-layer dielectric layer above the metallization layer. The method also includes forming a first grating pattern above the inter-layer dielectric layer, orthogonal to the alternating metal lines and dielectric lines of the lower metallization layer. The method also includes forming a second grating pattern above the first grating pattern. The method also includes patterning the inter-layer dielectric layer using the first grating pattern and the second grating pattern to form via locations and line regions in the inter-layer dielectric layer. The method also includes forming metal vias and metal lines in the via locations and line regions, respectively, of the inter-layer dielectric layer.

Metal via processing schemes with via critical dimension (CD) control for back end of line (BEOL) interconnects and the resulting structures

Techniques are disclosed for realizing a two-dimensional target lithography feature/pattern by decomposing (splitting) it into multiple unidirectional target features that, when aggregated, substantially (e.g., fully) represent the original target feature without leaving an unrepresented remainder (e.g., a whole-number quantity of unidirectional target features). The unidirectional target features may he arbitrarily grouped such that, within a grouping, all unidirectional target features share a common target width value. Where multiple such groupings are provided, individual groupings may or may not have the same common target width value. In some cases, a series of reticles is provided, each reticle having a mask pattern correlating to a grouping of unidirectional target features. Exposure of a photoresist material via the aggregated series of reticles substantially (e.g., fully) produces the original target feature/pattern. The pattern decomposition techniques may be integrated into any number of patterning processes, such as litho-freeze-litho-etch and litho-etch-litho-etch patterning processes.

A correction for photolithography masks used in semiconductor and micro electromechanical systems is described. The correction is based on process windows. In one example, the invention includes evaluating a segment of an idealized photolithography mask at a plurality of different possible process variable values to estimate a corresponding plurality of different photoresist edge positions, comparing the estimated edge positions to a minimum critical dimension, and moving the segment on the idealized photolithography mask if the estimated edge positions do not satisfy the minimum critical dimension.

Process window-based correction for photolithography masks

Growing community of inventors

Hillsboro, OR, United States of America

Robert M Bigwood