EP1317692A2 - Verfahren zur verbesserung der bildqualität und zur erhöhung der schreibgeschwindigkeit bei belichtung lichtempfindlicher schichten - Google Patents
Verfahren zur verbesserung der bildqualität und zur erhöhung der schreibgeschwindigkeit bei belichtung lichtempfindlicher schichtenInfo
- Publication number
- EP1317692A2 EP1317692A2 EP01978135A EP01978135A EP1317692A2 EP 1317692 A2 EP1317692 A2 EP 1317692A2 EP 01978135 A EP01978135 A EP 01978135A EP 01978135 A EP01978135 A EP 01978135A EP 1317692 A2 EP1317692 A2 EP 1317692A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- exposure
- light
- exposure dose
- structural elements
- dose
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/70—Microphotolithographic exposure; Apparatus therefor
- G03F7/70483—Information management; Active and passive control; Testing; Wafer monitoring, e.g. pattern monitoring
- G03F7/7055—Exposure light control in all parts of the microlithographic apparatus, e.g. pulse length control or light interruption
- G03F7/70558—Dose control, i.e. achievement of a desired dose
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/70—Microphotolithographic exposure; Apparatus therefor
- G03F7/70216—Mask projection systems
- G03F7/70283—Mask effects on the imaging process
- G03F7/70291—Addressable masks, e.g. spatial light modulators [SLMs], digital micro-mirror devices [DMDs] or liquid crystal display [LCD] patterning devices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/70—Microphotolithographic exposure; Apparatus therefor
- G03F7/70425—Imaging strategies, e.g. for increasing throughput or resolution, printing product fields larger than the image field or compensating lithography- or non-lithography errors, e.g. proximity correction, mix-and-match, stitching or double patterning
- G03F7/70466—Multiple exposures, e.g. combination of fine and coarse exposures, double patterning or multiple exposures for printing a single feature
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method for the maskless structuring of light-sensitive layers, in particular for microelectronics, microsystem technology, thin film technology, the production of flat screens, the direct exposure of semiconductor wafers in semiconductor production, the direct exposure of printed circuit boards and for the structuring of masks and reticles in lithographic applications.
- structuring methods are used in mass production, in which the structures to be imaged, for example on a silicon wafer for the production of chips, are preferably used by using masks made of quartz glass coated with metal.
- the surface is structured by coating its surface with a photoresist and, through the use of the masks, partial exposure.
- This form of structuring known as photolithography, is technologically very mature and therefore widespread in mass production.
- WO 93/09472 specifies a technical solution in which the maskless structuring, as is known from the technologies working with masks, is carried out with light.
- the cited document describes a method and a device in which the light beam emanating from a light source is modulated by surface light modulators. The light beam is guided onto an imaging element, modulated by this imaging element with regard to its areal spread and the radiation modulated in this way is fed to the layer to be structured.
- the imaging element is a special mirror chip, which has a plurality of microelectrodes which can be individually controlled and arranged in a matrix under its surface. Depending on the control of these electrodes, the layer located below the chip surface of the mirror chip deforms partially.
- Diffraction of the light emitted by the light source for structuring occurs at the deformed areas, so that the light is reflected directly and without diffraction only by the uncontrolled areas.
- suitable optics with a semi-transparent mirror and a All diffracted light components are then filtered out and only the directly reflected light is directed onto the light-sensitive layer to be structured.
- the structuring of the light-sensitive layer takes place in several exposure processes.
- the total exposure dose (nominal exposure dose) required to generate a structural element or groups of structural elements or parts thereof is divided among the individual exposure processes. According to a known procedure, the procedure is such that during the first exposure process an exposure takes place with 50% of the total exposure dose required and the exposure dose is halved in each subsequent exposure process. Since the total exposure dose required must be obtained after all exposure processes have been carried out, this means that the exposure process with the lowest exposure dose (intensity) must be carried out twice.
- the object of the invention is therefore to provide a method by which the aforementioned disadvantages are avoided.
- possibilities for increasing the writing speed and improving the image quality are to be shown.
- the object is achieved with a method characterized by the claims.
- it is proposed according to the invention to divide the total exposure dose (nominal exposure dose) divided over several exposure processes for the individual exposure processes in such a way that the exposure dose, based on a predetermined minimum exposure dose, is increased for each exposure process compared to the previous exposure process.
- the exposure dose in the last exposure process according to the invention is more than 50% of the nominal exposure dose.
- the method is advantageously designed such that the exposure dose is doubled from one exposure process to the next, starting from a predetermined minimum exposure dose.
- the entire exposure sequence of the dose ⁇ (2i-l / 2N-l) * dose nom ⁇ - nal sequence, which is carried out in several exposure processes for generating a structural element, a group of structural elements or parts thereof, is sufficient.
- N denotes the total number the exposure processes for producing a structural element, a group of structural elements or parts thereof.
- the index i gives the sequential number of the each exposure process so that the dose corresponds to the exposure dose or light intensity during the exposure process with the serial number i.
- Dos nom ⁇ na ] _ corresponds to the nominal exposure dose.
- the specified exposure regulation assuming a total of 4 exposure processes for the last exposure process, an exposure dose of approximately 53% of the nominal exposure dose results. Since repeated exposure with the same exposure dose is omitted at the end of the entire exposure process, the number of exposure processes is advantageously reduced by at least one. This increases the overall writing speed of an exposure system operating according to this method.
- the imaging elements are preferably implemented in accordance with the device described in the prior art and working with a mirror chip. Of course, the use of other options for area light modulation is also conceivable.
- the invention proposes to use a plurality of surface light modulators aligned with one another to increase the writing speed.
- the light signal emanating from a light source always strikes only one of the plurality of imaging elements as a flash of light, this being accomplished by appropriate control of shutters assigned to the imaging elements. Due to the different imaging elements, different image fields (partial images) are also imaged on the layer to be structured.
- Synchronization of the continuous movement of the substrate located on a positioning table, on which the layer to be structured is applied with the control of the imaging elements and the flashes of light ensures that these partial images do not lie one above the other but next to one another on the layer to be structured.
- the offset between the individual partial images is set at a predetermined repetition rate of the light flashes by the travel speed of the positioning table.
- the advantage of this procedure can be seen in the fact that the repetition rate for the light flashes can be increased compared to the previously known method in accordance with the number of imaging elements used. It takes into account the fact that an imaging element has a certain inertia when it is actuated, and consequently the repetition rate of the light flashes, for example when using a pulsed laser, can be significantly higher than the number of possible reversals of the imaging element. By using several imaging elements, this discrepancy between the possibilities that exist through the use of the laser and the inertia in controlling the imaging elements is reduced.
- the first consists of imaging all imaging elements onto the layer to be structured with the same exposure dose.
- the travel speed of the positioning table is set so that the individual drawing files are exactly next to each other.
- This process is repeated until the entire surface to be structured is on the Substrate is exposed.
- the exposure dose for all imaging elements is then doubled in accordance with the specified exposure specification and the entire area to be structured on the substrate is exposed with this new exposure dose. This process is repeated until exposure with an exposure dose of slightly more than 50% of the nominal exposure dose.
- the second possibility resulting from the combination of the proposed exposure regulation and the use of several imaging elements is that exactly one exposure dose from the series of exposure doses resulting according to the proposed exposure regulation is assigned to each imaging element.
- the travel speed of the positioning table is set in such a way that the partial images exposed by a certain imaging element lie exactly next to one another, while the partial images of different image elements result by an amount that results from the number of imaging elements and the repetition rate of the light flashes overlap. In this way it is achieved that the entire surface to be structured on the substrate is exposed in a single exposure pass.
- the advantage of the first proposed possibility over the second is that the number of exposure processes to be carried out, which is determined by the predetermined address resolution, is independent of the number of imaging elements used for exposure.
- the maximum writing speed is only achieved if the number of exposure doses required to achieve the required address resolution is equal to the number of imaging elements used or an integer multiple thereof. In all cases, the writing speed is reduced compared to the first option.
- a pulsed light source preferably a laser
- the light emitted by a light source can be chopped into individual light flashes by means of a mechanical, optical or electronic shutter.
- secondary conditions When generating the pixel pattern by means of a random-based algorithm, secondary conditions must be taken into account that are known before the generation of the pixel pattern.
- a secondary condition can be, for example, that at least a certain number of pixels must be driven in the direction perpendicular to the edge between the overlapping image fields.
- a second constraint can be that a certain number of pixels or parts of a pixel are to be exposed twice in the overlap area, ie these pixels are then exposed from both image fields.
- the image accuracy is also increased by the fact that the partial fields exposed by a specific imaging element on the layer to be structured have an offset.
- a corresponding generation of the pixel pattern on the imaging element ensures that each structure to be exposed is generated by different areas on the imaging element. In this way, pixel errors (for example defects due to electrodes in the pixel matrix that cannot be controlled) or errors caused by different optical properties of individual regions of the imaging element are avoided.
- the offset between the individual subfields is expediently chosen such that it is larger than the areas of the imaging element which are disturbed by pixel defects or by different optical properties of individual areas of the imaging element.
- An excimer laser with a wavelength of 248nm is used as the light source.
- a predetermined structure is to be applied to an object with a light-sensitive layer in four exposure processes.
- the nominal exposure dose for the for structuring The photoresist used is 20 raJ / cm 2 .
- Each of the imaging elements is controlled in a different way to produce a partial image of the structure to be produced on the light-sensitive layer. In this case, three different image fields, each formed as a pixel pattern, are generated by correspondingly controlling the microelectrodes on the imaging elements.
- the three imaging elements are initially illuminated with an intensity of 6.6% of this nominal exposure dose, that is to say 1.33 mJ / cm 2 .
- an intensity of 6.6% of this nominal exposure dose that is to say 1.33 mJ / cm 2 .
- a different and only one of the imaging elements is struck by the light flashes and the pattern generated in accordance with its control is transferred via the optics into the layer to be structured. This process is repeated until the entire surface to be structured on the substrate is exposed.
- the partial images generated by the individual imaging elements on the layer to be structured do not lie exactly next to one another but have an overlap area, the pixel pattern for this overlap area being generated on the basis of a random-based algorithm taking into account secondary conditions.
- the exposure dose is increased to 13.3%, ie to 2.66 mJ / cm 2 .
- the entire surface to be structured is in turn exposed on the substrate.
- the subfields assigned to the individual imaging elements do not lie exactly above one another in the second exposure pass compared to the subfields generated in the first exposure pass, but have an offset that is greater than the areas on the imaging elements disturbed by pixel defects or different optical properties. In order to ensure that exactly the same structure is always exposed, the offset in the Generation of the pixel pattern for the individual imaging elements is taken into account.
- the next exposure process takes place with a dose of 26.6%, ie 5.33 mJ / cm 2 .
- the process is completed by exposing the entire area to be structured on the substrate with an exposure dose of 53.3%, ie 10.66 mJ / cm 2 .
- the exposure sequence described improves the quality of the structures produced on the light-sensitive layer in such a way that regions on the individual imaging elements which are disturbed by pixel defects or different optical properties only have a value which is proportional to the exposure dose and thus a little more than 50% at most. can contribute to the quality of the mapping of a certain structure.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Exposure And Positioning Against Photoresist Photosensitive Materials (AREA)
- Exposure Of Semiconductors, Excluding Electron Or Ion Beam Exposure (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE10046518A DE10046518A1 (de) | 2000-09-15 | 2000-09-15 | Verfahren zur Verbesserung der Bildqualität und zur Erhöhung der Schreibgeschwindigkeit bei Belichtung lichtempfindlicher Schichten |
| DE10046518 | 2000-09-15 | ||
| PCT/DE2001/003518 WO2002023845A2 (de) | 2000-09-15 | 2001-09-11 | Verfahren zur verbesserung der bildqualität und zur erhöhung der schreibgeschwindigkeit bei belichtung lichtempfindlicher schichten |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP1317692A2 true EP1317692A2 (de) | 2003-06-11 |
Family
ID=7656912
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP01978135A Withdrawn EP1317692A2 (de) | 2000-09-15 | 2001-09-11 | Verfahren zur verbesserung der bildqualität und zur erhöhung der schreibgeschwindigkeit bei belichtung lichtempfindlicher schichten |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6844916B2 (de) |
| EP (1) | EP1317692A2 (de) |
| JP (1) | JP2004509456A (de) |
| DE (1) | DE10046518A1 (de) |
| WO (1) | WO2002023845A2 (de) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6831768B1 (en) | 2003-07-31 | 2004-12-14 | Asml Holding N.V. | Using time and/or power modulation to achieve dose gray-scaling in optical maskless lithography |
| US7391499B2 (en) * | 2004-12-02 | 2008-06-24 | Asml Netherlands B.V. | Lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method |
| KR101633761B1 (ko) | 2012-01-17 | 2016-06-27 | 에이에스엠엘 네델란즈 비.브이. | 리소그래피 장치 및 디바이스 제조 방법 |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4007716A1 (de) * | 1990-02-24 | 1991-08-29 | Bacher Gmbh B | Verfahren und vorrichtung zur erstellung einer kopiervorlage |
| CA2075026A1 (en) * | 1991-08-08 | 1993-02-09 | William E. Nelson | Method and apparatus for patterning an imaging member |
| US5132723A (en) | 1991-09-05 | 1992-07-21 | Creo Products, Inc. | Method and apparatus for exposure control in light valves |
| WO1993009472A1 (de) * | 1991-10-30 | 1993-05-13 | Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. | Belichtungsvorrichtung |
| CA2087625C (en) * | 1992-01-23 | 2006-12-12 | William E. Nelson | Non-systolic time delay and integration printing |
| US5684620A (en) | 1996-01-30 | 1997-11-04 | Schoonscan, Inc. | High resolution imaging system and method of imaging using the same |
| US5691541A (en) * | 1996-05-14 | 1997-11-25 | The Regents Of The University Of California | Maskless, reticle-free, lithography |
| WO1998004950A1 (en) * | 1996-07-25 | 1998-02-05 | Anvik Corporation | Seamless, maskless lithography system using spatial light modulator |
| WO1998029782A1 (de) | 1996-12-31 | 1998-07-09 | Luellau Friedrich | Verfahren zur ansteuerung einer belichtungsvorrichtung |
| US6232963B1 (en) * | 1997-09-30 | 2001-05-15 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Modulated-amplitude illumination for spatial light modulator |
| DE19944760A1 (de) | 1999-09-17 | 2001-03-22 | Basys Print Gmbh Systeme Fuer | Vorrichtung und Verfahren zur Kompensation von Inhomogenitäten bei Abbildungssystemen |
-
2000
- 2000-09-15 DE DE10046518A patent/DE10046518A1/de not_active Withdrawn
-
2001
- 2001-09-11 US US10/380,493 patent/US6844916B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2001-09-11 EP EP01978135A patent/EP1317692A2/de not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-09-11 WO PCT/DE2001/003518 patent/WO2002023845A2/de not_active Ceased
- 2001-09-11 JP JP2002527160A patent/JP2004509456A/ja active Pending
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| See references of WO0223845A2 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JP2004509456A (ja) | 2004-03-25 |
| WO2002023845A3 (de) | 2002-08-15 |
| DE10046518A1 (de) | 2002-04-04 |
| US20040017555A1 (en) | 2004-01-29 |
| US6844916B2 (en) | 2005-01-18 |
| WO2002023845A2 (de) | 2002-03-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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| 17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20030320 |
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| AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR |
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| RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: BRUNN, STEFAN Inventor name: KOERNER, TIM Inventor name: PAUFLER, JOERG |
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| RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DERANGEWAND |
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| RBV | Designated contracting states (corrected) |
Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE LI NL |
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| RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWAN |
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| 17Q | First examination report despatched |
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| STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
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| 18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20090707 |