LASER GENERATED I.C. MASK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved method of using a laser to generate optical masks for use in patterning layers on semiconductor elements.
Various techniques for generating optical masks have been developed wherein, for example, an electron beam "writes" a pattern in photoresist on a glass or quartz mask blank. An older technology exposes photoresist on a mask blank by flashing focused light through a properly chosen aperture. Some of these prior mask generating techniques have also included the use of laser beams. In all of these older techniques a photoresist is used for the optically active material. Photoresists have limitations that make it difficult to make the high- precision masks that are required for integrated circuit and semiconductor device manufacture. Among these limitations are the difficulty of spin coating the glass' or quartz substrate to obtain a uniform coating, the pre-exposure oven bake, the wet development of the exposed photoresist, the post development oven bake, adhesion problems at any step within the process, and the sensitivity of the resist to alpha and gamma particles. All of these process steps are prone to introduce defects in the final optical mask that will reduce the device yield. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method of patterning semiconductor masks. It is desirable that such a method be .
capable of being performed quickly and capable of economically producing high quality masks.
SHORT STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an improved method of producing optical masks for the manufacture of semiconductor devices. In accordance with the invention, a thin layer, for example, 2,000 angstroms of amorphous silicon is blanket deposited over the surface area of a glass or quartz substrate. A focused laser beam with sufficient power having a wavelength of, for example, 5,145 angstroms, is directed onto the amorphous silicon layer and traverses over the layer to form the pattern required for that particular mask. The laser beam heats the amorphous silicon in areas where the pattern is to occur, thereby crystallizing the silicon. Using conventional plasma etching or reactive ion etching techniques, such as, a conventional SFg ° pl,asma et.c.h, t..he non-cryst.al.l,i.zed, amorphous silicon layer is etched away. The etching process is sufficiently selective to remove the amorphous silicon layer, yet leave the crystallized silicon pattern on the glass or quartz substrate.
The patterned substrate can now be used as a mask in a conventional optical aligner whether it be a contact or projection aligner.
An advantage of the present invention is the elimination of photoresist and its inherent process problems and yield losses due to defects.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other improvements, advantages and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates a glass or quartz substrate coated with amorphous silicon; FIGURE 2 illustrates the laser exposure step in the mask making process; and
FIGURE 3 illustrates the final masks after plasma processing to remove the uncrystallized amorphous silicon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIGURE 1 which, by way of example, illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that the laser generated IC mask pattern may be utilized in connection with any layer or mask pattern desired for fabricating the device being manufactured. Regardless of the mask pattern desired, the initial step is a deposition of a thin layer of amorphous silicon onto a glass or quartz substrate. The glass or quartz substrate is used as a substrate for a thin, preferably 2,000 angstroms or less, layer of amorphous silicon. The substrate should be of the type similar to that used for conventional masks using photoresist having an optically flat surface and with a low coefficient of thermal expansion.
Shown in FIGURE 1 is a glass substrate 10 having a 2,000 angstrom layer of amorphous silicon 12.
A focused laser beam 20, illustrated in FIGURE 2, having a wavelength of, for example, 5,145 angstroms, is emitted from a laser source 22. The laser beam 20 is focused through the substrate onto the amorphous silicon. The laser beam traverses the substrate in the pattern desired. The beam 20 heats the amorphous silicon layer 12 causing the amorphous silicon to be crystallized. Because no deposition has taken place during this pattern formation step, there is no gas dynamic or chemical reaction time limitations. The write time limitation on the rate of formation of the pattern is heat limited by the time needed to crystallize the amorphous silicon.
In a subsequent processing step, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, a blanket etching by a dry - etch technique removes the amorphous silicon, but not the pattern of crystallized silicon 14 formed by the traversal of the laser beam over the substrate. Using SFg as a plasma etch gas, the amorphous silicon is removed leaving only the crystallized silicon pattern. The etching characteristics of crystallized silicon is different from that of amorphous silicon causing a differential rate of etching which is sufficient to leave a pattern of crystallized silicon, whereas the amorphous silicon is completely removed.
An advantage of the present invention is that there is no lateral growth of the crystallized pattern region as the laser beam heats amorphous silicon. It provides for a pattern having very accurate dimensions. The width of the pattern can
be accurately controlled over a range of less than 1 micron to 50 microns or greater. For wider patterns, several scans of the laser beam may be required. Another advantage of the present invention is that the number of steps in producing a mask is significantly reduced. Just as there is chromium or similar material first deposited onto the substrate in the conventional mask making process, there is in the present invention the deposition step of depositing the amorphous silicon layer. Also, there is the exposure step in both conventional mask making and in the present invention. In conventional mask making this exposure step may be with an electron beam, with focused light through a suitable aperture, or with a laser beam. In the present invention, the exposure step is with a laser beam. There is an etching step in both conventional processing and in the present invention. This etching step is usually by dry etching techniques in conventional mask making as it is in the present invention.
However, in the present invention many steps are eliminated. The steps that are eliminated include the photoresist spin coating step, the pre- exposure oven bake step, the wet development of the photoresist step, the post development oven hard bake step, and the photoresist removal step. The elimination of these many photoresist steps is the reason the present invention offers a significant improvement in mask making yield and, therefore, in manufactured device yield.
Shown in FIGURE 3 is the completed optical mask after plasma etching. The mask as shown is ready for use in a contact aligner, a stepper, or a projection aligner. It should be appreciated that as used herein, the term optical mask includes photomasks, electron beam masks and X-ray masks.
While the preferred embodiment has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated that other embodiments may be utilized in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.