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:
Nov. 02, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2002
Renesas Technology Corp., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A focus monitoring method of the invention is characterized by transferring the pattern of a photo mask for phase shift focus monitor onto a photoresist on a semiconductor substrate by using modified illumination. Photo mask for phase shift focus monitor has first and second light transmitting portions which are adjacent to each other while sandwiching a shielding pattern, and is constructed so that a phase difference other than 180 degrees occurs between exposure light passed through the first light transmitting portion and exposure light passed through the second light transmitting portion. Consequently, a focus monitoring method, a focus monitor system, and a semiconductor fabricating method with high detection sensitivity in the z direction and which do not require changing of an illumination aperture can be achieved.