The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 01, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 06, 1999
Linda K. Somerville, Boise, ID (US);
Richard D. Holscher, Boise, ID (US);
Kenneth H. Somerville, Boise, ID (US);
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
The detectability of photoresist is enhanced through the addition of materials to enhance the fluorescence of photoresist such that residual photoresist that either does not fluoresce or fluoresces at an emission wavelength shorter that that which can be detected using existing automatic resist inspection tools. In one embodiment of the invention, a benign tag that does not interfere with the photochemistry of the photoresist is added to the photoresist before it is processed. In a second embodiment of the invention, a tag is introduced onto a surface on which residual photoresist may be present such that the tag is absorbed or adsorbed by the residual photoresist, thereby rendering the residual photoresist easily detectable. The tag may be introduced onto the surface in a solution.