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:
Jun. 06, 2017
Filed:
Aug. 27, 2014
Globalfoundries Inc., Grand Cayman, KY;
Ayman Hamouda, Fishkill, NY (US);
GlobalFoundries Inc., Grand Cayman, KY;
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for SAV (self-aligned via) retargeting. The SAV (Self Aligned Vias) process aids in the alignment of the vias with the metal above (Mx+1) during the dual damascene process. The retargeting enables an increase the area of the via during photolithography without affecting the final critical dimension. SAV retargeting is the via retargeting during the mask tape-out to reshape the via and protect it against possible via-to-Mx+1 overlay error. With embodiments of the present invention, the via edge movement is linked to the actual driver behind the SAV retargeting, which is maintaining a minimum area coverage with the metal above at extreme overlay error conditions. Accordingly, for a via edge to get SAV retargeted, a calculation is first made to determine how much its opposite via edge is subject to be cut during SAV due to overlay error.