United Microelectronics Corp.

Tuan-Yen Yu

En-Chiuan Liou

Yuan-Chi Pai

Yi-Ting Chen

Chia-Chang Hsu

Chun-Chi Yu

Chia-Hung Wang

Sho-Shen Lee

Chia-Hsun Tseng

Tang-Chun Weng

Teng-Chin Kuo

Yen-Pu Chen

Po-Tsang Chen

Shu-Yen Liu

Yi-Chih Chiang

The present invention provides a photomask, comprising: a substrate, a first region, a second region and a third region are defined thereon, wherein the third region is disposed between the first region and the second region, a patterned layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the patterned layer comprises a first patterned layer disposed in the first region, a second patterned layer disposed in the second region, and a third patterned layer disposed in the third region, and wherein a thickness of the first patterned layer is equal to a thickness of the second patterned layer, the thickness of the first patterned layer is different from a thickness of the third patterned layer, and at least one recess disposed in the third region.

Photomask

A manufacturing method of a pattern transfer mask includes the following steps. A basic mask is provided. The basic mask includes a plurality of patterns formed by a patterned absorber layer on a substrate according to a first writing layout. A photolithographic process is then performed by the basic mask to obtain individual depth of focus (iDoF) ranges of each of the patterns and a usable depth of focus (UDoF) range of the patterns. At least one constrain pattern dominating the UDoF range is selected from the patterns in the basic mask. The rest of the patterns except the constrain pattern are non-dominating patterns. A second writing layout is then generated for reducing a thickness of the patterned absorber layer in the constrain pattern or in the non-dominating patterns.

Manufacturing method of pattern transfer mask

A method of correcting an overlay error includes the following steps. First, an overlay mark disposed on a substrate is captured so as to generate overlay mark information. The overlay mark includes at least a pair of first mark patterns and at least a second mark pattern above the first mark patterns. Then, the overlay mark information is calculated to generate an offset value between two first mark patterns and to generate a shift value between the second mark pattern and one of the first mark patterns. Finally, the offset value is used to compensate the shift value so as to generate an amended shift value.

Method of correcting overlay error

A method of forming assist feature patterns includes providing an original layout pattern having at least a first region defined therein, the first region having a first light transmission rate larger than 0%; performing a search step to the original layout pattern to define at least a second region having a second light transmission rate equal to 0% in the original layout pattern; forming a plurality of assist features in the second region to increase the second light transmission rate to larger than 0%; and outputting the original layout pattern and the assist features to a reticle blank.

Method of forming assist feature patterns

Growing community of inventors

Tainan, Taiwan

Tuan-Yen Yu