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
  • G03F7/0002—Lithographic processes using patterning methods other than those involving the exposure to radiation, e.g. by stamping
• • 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
  • G03F7/004—Photosensitive materials
  • G03F7/09—Photosensitive materials characterised by structural details, e.g. supports, auxiliary layers
  • G03F7/095—Photosensitive materials characterised by structural details, e.g. supports, auxiliary layers having more than one photosensitive layer
• • 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
  • G03F7/20—Exposure; Apparatus therefor
• • 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
  • G03F7/20—Exposure; Apparatus therefor
  • G03F7/2022—Multi-step exposure, e.g. hybrid; backside exposure; blanket exposure, e.g. for image reversal; edge exposure, e.g. for edge bead removal; corrective exposure
• • 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
  • G03F7/20—Exposure; Apparatus therefor
  • G03F7/2051—Exposure without an original mask, e.g. using a programmed deflection of a point source, by scanning, by drawing with a light beam, using an addressed light or corpuscular source
• • 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
  • G03F7/7045—Hybrid exposures, i.e. multiple exposures of the same area using different types of exposure apparatus, e.g. combining projection, proximity, direct write, interferometric, UV, x-ray or particle beam
• • 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
• • 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
  • G03F7/70605—Workpiece metrology
  • G03F7/70616—Monitoring the printed patterns
  • G03F7/70625—Dimensions, e.g. line width, critical dimension [CD], profile, sidewall angle or edge roughness
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10P—GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H10P50/00—Etching of wafers, substrates or parts of devices
  • H10P50/20—Dry etching; Plasma etching; Reactive-ion etching
  • H10P50/28—Dry etching; Plasma etching; Reactive-ion etching of insulating materials
  • H10P50/282—Dry etching; Plasma etching; Reactive-ion etching of insulating materials of inorganic materials
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10P—GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H10P72/00—Handling or holding of wafers, substrates or devices during manufacture or treatment thereof
  • H10P72/04—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
  • H10P72/0402—Apparatus for fluid treatment
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10P—GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H10P72/00—Handling or holding of wafers, substrates or devices during manufacture or treatment thereof
  • H10P72/04—Apparatus for manufacture or treatment
  • H10P72/0448—Apparatus for applying a liquid, a resin, an ink or the like
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10P—GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H10P76/00—Manufacture or treatment of masks on semiconductor bodies, e.g. by lithography or photolithography
  • H10P76/20—Manufacture or treatment of masks on semiconductor bodies, e.g. by lithography or photolithography of masks comprising organic materials
  • H10P76/204—Manufacture or treatment of masks on semiconductor bodies, e.g. by lithography or photolithography of masks comprising organic materials of organic photoresist masks
  • H10P76/2041—Photolithographic processes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10W—GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H10W20/00—Interconnections in chips, wafers or substrates
  • H10W20/01—Manufacture or treatment
  • H10W20/071—Manufacture or treatment of dielectric parts thereof
  • H10W20/081—Manufacture or treatment of dielectric parts thereof by forming openings in the dielectric parts
  • H10W20/089—Manufacture or treatment of dielectric parts thereof by forming openings in the dielectric parts using processes for implementing desired shapes or dispositions of the openings, e.g. double patterning
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H10W—GENERIC PACKAGES, INTERCONNECTIONS, CONNECTORS OR OTHER CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10
  • H10W74/00—Encapsulations, e.g. protective coatings
  • H10W74/01—Manufacture or treatment

Definitions

• This disclosure relates generally to patterning of substrates including semiconductor substrates such as silicon wafers.
• This disclosure also relates to processes involved with photolithography including coating and developing films on substrates as part of semiconductor device fabrication.
• This disclosure particularly relates to controlling dimensions and accuracy of patterned features as part of photolithography and patterning processes.
• Photolithography involves coating substrates with films that are sensitive to electromagnetic (EM) radiation, exposing these films to a pattern of EM radiation to define a latent pattern within the film, and then developing the latent pattern to reveal a physical or relief pattern on the substrate.
• Preparation and development of such films can include thermal treatment or baking.
• a newly applied film can require a post-application bake (PAB) to evaporate solvents and/or to increase structural rigidity or etch resistance.
• a post-exposure bake (PEB) can be executed to set a given pattern to prevent further dissolving of films.
• Fabrication tools for coating substrates and developing films typically include many modules that can be used to add films, bake films, and develop films.
• a photolithography scanner exposes light (e.g. using 193 nm wavelength light) onto a mask or reticle such that a substrate coated with photoresist is exposed to a pattern of light.
• the photoresist can include additives to enable solubility shifting. These additives can include a photoresist acid generator (PAG) distributed evenly within the resist.
• PAG photoresist acid generator
• the PAG in the photoresist reacts with the 193 nm light (or other selected light wavelength) and creates acid that chemically changes the reacted areas of the substrate to be developed or removed thereby creating a relief pattern having, for example, nanometer size structures made of the photoresist that remain on the substrate. Note that the reacted areas can become soluble or insoluble to a given developer depending on a tone of resist and developer selected for use.
• CDs critical dimensions
• CD variation across a wafer can be induced by a number of sources including temperature variation, variation in chemical composition of process chemicals, optical imperfections, and process variation, among others. These imperfections can be introduced at multiple steps, including film application, coating, masking, exposure and etch.
• Techniques herein include processes and systems by which this reproducible CD variation pattern can be mitigated or corrected to yield desirable CDs from microfabrication patterning processes.
• Techniques herein include processes providing a resolution enhancement technique. Such a technique includes identifying a repeatable portion of CD variation across a set of wafers and generating a correction exposure pattern.
• a direct-write projection system exposes this correction pattern on a substrate as a component exposure or augmentation exposure.
• a conventional mask-based photolithographic system executes a patterning exposure which can be considered as a primary exposure or component exposure. The two exposures together enhance resolution of the patterning exposure to improve CDs on substrates processed accordingly.
• One embodiment includes a method for patterning a substrate providing resolution enhancement.
• a composite critical dimension signature is received that characterizes multiple substrates having been processed with a specific
• the specific photolithographic exposure process includes a mask-based photolithographic exposure.
• the composite critical dimension signature is created by measuring critical dimensions from the multiple substrates having been processed with the specific photolithographic exposure process and identifying repeated critical dimension values at spatial locations across the multiple substrates.
• a substrate is received to be processed with the specific photolithographic exposure process.
• the substrate is coated with a photoresist film.
• a first pattern of actinic radiation is projected onto the photoresist film.
• the first pattern of actinic radiation is projected using a maskless projection system.
• the first pattern of actinic radiation is created using the composite critical dimension signature.
• the substrate is received after having been processed with the specific photolithographic exposure process that includes the mask-based photolithographic exposure.
• the mask-based photolithographic exposure is a second pattern of actinic radiation projected onto the photoresist film.
• the substrate is developed to remove portions of the photoresist film that are soluble from the first pattern of actinic radiation and from the second pattern of actinic radiation.
• the resulting substrate has a relief pattern with improved CDs.
• FIG. 1 is a representative illustration of composite signature generation.
• FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view an example mask-less projection system used with embodiments herein.
• FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an example mask-based photolithographic exposure system used with embodiments herein.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an example dispense system used with embodiments herein.
• Techniques herein include processes and systems by which a
• Techniques herein include processes providing a resolution enhancement technique. Such a technique includes identifying a repeatable portion of CD variation across a set of wafers and then generating a correction exposure pattern.
• a direct-write projection system exposes this correction pattern on a substrate as a component exposure, augmentation exposure, or partial exposure.
• a conventional mask-based photolithographic system executes a primary patterning exposure as a second or main component. The two component exposures when combined enhance resolution of the patterning exposure to improve CDs on the substrate being processed.
• features such as vias and trenches, are created on substrates using various microfabrication techniques. These techniques typically include applying a film across a substrate surface, coating the substrate with resist, and exposing the resist to radiation through a photomask. Such exposure causes photo acid generators (PAGs), which are embedded in the resist, to create acid when exposed to a specific photo acid generators (PAGs), which are embedded in the resist, to create acid when exposed to a specific photo acid generators (PAGs), which are embedded in the resist, to create acid when exposed to a specific photo acid generators (PAGs), which are embedded in the resist, to create acid when exposed to a specific PAGs (PAGs), which are embedded in the resist, to create acid when exposed to a specific PAGs (PAGs), which are embedded in the resist, to create acid when exposed to a specific photo acid generators (PAGs), which are embedded in the resist, to create acid when exposed to a specific photo acid generators (PAGs), which are embedded in the resist, to create acid when exposed
• This acid weakens the resist where light is exposed (or cross-links the resist depending on the materials used).
• the exposed resist film can then be exposed to a developer by dispensing liquid chemicals onto the resist film. The developer specifically attacks and removes the resist that is weakened by the acid. The result is a relief pattern of resist with portions of an underlying layer now uncovered. The underlying layer can then be etched using the relief pattern as an etch mask. The resist film can be removed and then additional etching and or film forming processes can be continued.
• CDU critical dimension uniformity
• Various degrees of improvement in CDU can be achieved using techniques such as uniformity control of the PAG concentration in the resist, application and control techniques for resist and developer, tight thermal control of the substrate (diffusion of the generated acid is a function of temperature), uniformity control of the etching plasma environment, and resolution enhancement techniques (RET) of the radiation exposure such as a phase shifting mask, off-axis illumination, optical proximity correction, and dose mapping by CD measurement and feedback for the per step dose control provided by a scanner or stepper system (mask-based exposure).
• techniques such as uniformity control of the PAG concentration in the resist, application and control techniques for resist and developer, tight thermal control of the substrate (diffusion of the generated acid is a function of temperature), uniformity control of the etching plasma environment, and resolution enhancement techniques (RET) of the radiation exposure such as a phase shifting mask, off-axis illumination, optical proximity correction, and dose mapping by CD measurement and feedback for the per step dose control provided by a scanner or stepper system (mask-based exposure).
• RET resolution enhancement techniques
• Techniques herein include providing a hybrid or dual exposure technique to enhance resolution.
• a direct-write projection system is used to provide a lesser portion of a total exposure dosage with very high resolution using a projected image based on (formed from) repeated patterns of CD variation.
• in situ metrology is used with a coater-developer (track) tool to identify a repeatable portion of across wafer CD variation (AWLV) pattern for a given lithography process or process series.
• This repeatable pattern is then fed to a correction algorithm that drives a direct write system that provides trim dose exposures to the resist prior to (or subsequent to) full/remaining exposure.
• the direct write system can be embodied as a micro mirror projection system such as a laser galvanometer or digital light projection (DLP) chip. Other beam scanning or projection systems and light valves can alternatively be used. Essentially any projection system that can project a correction pattern directly based on digital input without using a photomask.
• the direct write system can provide a relatively small portion of a required radiation dose.
• a dose of 0.1 to 10% or 1 -3% of a required actinic radiation dose is provided by the direct write system.
• Whatever dosage amount is projected by the direct write system can be subtracted from a full dose exposure.
• the direct write system at least provides less than 50% of a total required exposure dose.
• multiple substrates are processed according to a given recipe or predetermined sequence of process steps. These substrates can be processed without the use of the direct write system. This will result in a set of substrates having CD variation. This CD variation, or some portion of CD variation, will be the same across the set of substrates. Processes, materials, and tools are not perfect. There will be some random variation across substrates being processed, but some variation will be repeated. For example, a given tool might have a hot spot on its wafer chuck that modifies CDs at that hot spot across ail wafers held by that particular chuck. As can be appreciated, substrates processed using that chuck can have a CD non-uniformity at a same coordinate location on the substrate.
• FIG. 1 shows CD signatures 199 representing a collection of CD variation maps for a set of substrates. Each substrate can have random variations, but there will also be repeating variations. The identified repeating variations are used to generate composite critical dimension signature 191. Composite critical dimension signature 191 can then map coordinate locations of repeating variations and/or provide light intensity values to correct non-uniformities at each coordinate location. Such a CD signature can be used as instructions and/or a projection image by the direct write system.
• subsequent substrates— to be processed with the same given recipe or predetermined sequence of process steps— are coated with resist according to the recipe, but while still in the track tool these substrates are exposed with a direct write system as a portion of a full exposure needed.
• a direct write system approximately 0-3% of the full exposure dose is given.
• Each point location or projected point location (scan point on the substrate) is fully adjustable from 0-100% of a possible intensity of a beam or beams from the direct write system.
• a processed substrate is returned to a track tool to receive a corrective dose prior to development.
• a composite CD signature or composite CD correction pattern is created.
• a correction pattern or series of correction patterns are sent to the direct write system, which increases the exposure at point locations where features are undersized and reduces or eliminates exposure where features are oversized (depending on resist tone).
• intensity of projection at any point location on the substrate is adjustable from zero actinic radiation to full exposure based on corresponding available power of the direct write system, or any gradation of light intensity in between.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an example cross-sectional drawing of an example direct write system 130. Pattern 131 being projected onto photoresist film 106 can vary in amount of radiation per coordinate location based on composite critical dimension signature 191.
• Substrates are then transferred to a exposure system 140 (FIG. 3), which can be a mask-based photolithographic exposure system (such as a stepper or scanner). Substrates can then be exposed, developed, etched and stripped via coater- developer module 150 (FIG. 4). The mask-based exposure dose can optionally be reduced by an amount allocated to the direct write exposure.
• a mask-based photolithographic exposure system such as a stepper or scanner.
• the mask-based exposure dose can optionally be reduced by an amount allocated to the direct write exposure.
• the exposure system 140 can have a higher spatial resolution as compared to the direct write system 130.
• Exposure system 140 can include optics 144 receiving light from light source 146 to project pattern 141 , which can be a mask-based pattern.
• Input 147, input 148, and input 149 can include various gases, such as ArF, N2, and helium for use by a given laser light source.
• gases such as ArF, N2, and helium for use by a given laser light source.
• photoresist films can be formed that are sensitive to a first wavelength for the direct write exposure and yet sensitive to a second wavelength for a remaining or full mask- based exposure.
• a type of agent sensitive to the radiation can optionally be selected to generate either an acid or a base on light exposure and/or be thermally sensitive so that the heat of white light or infrared, for example, can activate. Any combinations of actinic radiation can be used between the two exposure systems.
• Example wavelengths for combination exposures include 172 nm, 193 nm, 248 nm, 256 nm 365 nm, white light, and infrared light.
• a substrate can be coated with a photoresist film using coater-developer module 150 as a system for dispensing liquid on a substrate 105.
• Substrate holder 122 is configured to hold substrate 105 and rotate substrate 105 about an axis. Motor 123 can be used to rotate the substrate holder 122 at a selectable rotational velocity.
• a dispense unit 118 is configured to dispense liquid on a working surface of the substrate 105 while the substrate 105 is being rotated by the substrate holder 122.
• Dispense unit 118 can be positioned directly over a substrate holder, or can be positioned at another location. If positioned away from the substrate holder, than a conduit 112 can be used to deliver fluid to the substrate.
• the fluid can exit through nozzle 111.
• F!G. 4 illustrates liquid 117 being dispensed onto a working surface of substrate 105.
• Collection system 127 can then be used to catch or collect excess liquid 117 that spins off substrate 105 during a given dispense operation.
• Dispense components can include nozzle arm 113 as well as support member 115, which can be used to move a position of nozzle 111 across the substrate 105, or to be moved away from the substrate holder 122 to a resting location, such as for rest upon completion of dispense operations.
• the dispense unit 118 can be used to move a position of nozzle 111 across the substrate 105, or to be moved away from the substrate holder 122 to a resting location, such as for rest upon completion of dispense operations.
• the dispense unit 118 can be used to move a position of nozzle 111 across the substrate 105, or to be moved away from the substrate holder 122 to a resting location, such as for rest upon completion of dispense operations.
• the dispense unit 118 can be used to move a position of nozzle 111 across the substrate 105, or to be moved away from the substrate holder 122 to a resting location, such as for rest upon completion of dispense operations.
• a nozzle can have one or more valves in communication with system controller 160.
• the dispense unit 118 can have various embodiments configured to control dispense of a selectable volume of fluid on a substrate, and to dispense combination of fluids.
• a given photoresist film dispensed on the substrate can have various compositions for activation capability.
• one resist can include a mixed blend in which a single dispense operation dispenses two or more photoresist compositions that provide sensitivities at multiple wavelengths.
• Another option is an overcoat in which a photoresist film is a multilayer film built from two dispense operations, and each film can be sensitive to different wavelengths.
• a topcoat-forming dispense is used in which a single dispense operation deposits a photoresist composition that builds or forms two layers of photoresist by separation of the composition after being dispensed onto the substrate surface. Each of the two layers can be sensitive to different wavelengths.
• Another embodiment can include depositing a single photoresist composition that remains as a single layer but that is sensitive to multiple wavelengths of light.
• Photo reactive agents can include a photo acid generator (PAG), a thermal acid generator (TAG), and a photo destructive base (PDB).
• PAG photo acid generator
• TAG thermal acid generator
• PDB photo destructive base
• Various light source combinations can be used herein such as a lamp, ion laser (infrared, visible,
• One example embodiment includes a method for patterning a substrate.
• a composite critical dimension signature is received or otherwise obtained.
• This composite critical dimension signature characterizes multiple substrates that have been processed with a specific photolithographic exposure process. These substrates can be all processed within a single lot or day, or can be selected from substrates across multiple time periods and systems, identified by specific modules within a platform, et cetera.
• the specific photolithographic exposure process includes a mask-based photolithographic exposure. For example, this process can include substrates processed on a specific scanner or stepper using a same photomask.
• the composite critical dimension signature has been created by measuring critical dimensions from the multiple substrates having been processed with the specific photolithographic exposure process and identifying repeated critical dimension values, for example, at spatial locations across the multiple substrates.
• the composite critical dimension signature can identify a critical dimension variation pattern that has been repeated across the multiple substrates.
• the specific exposure process can also include development and etching steps completed prior to measuring for CDs.
• Substrates for measurement can be selected from a same tool, or across multiple tools of a same type. For example, substrates are measured from a single immersion scanner for correction with that single immersion scanner. Alternatively, substrates are measured across multiple immersion scanners that ail are printing a common pattern.
• a substrate is received to be processed with the specific photolithographic exposure process (for example, using a specific immersion scanner tool).
• the substrate is coated with a photoresist film.
• a first pattern of actinic radiation is projected onto the photoresist film.
• the first pattern of actinic radiation is projected using a maskless projection system.
• the first pattern of actinic radiation is created using the composite critical dimension signature.
• a correction image is created based on the composite critical dimension signature.
• This correction image spatially maps areas or point locations on the substrate to project more or less radiation to compensate for less or more radiation received from the mask-based exposure system. With areas identified on the substrate that are expected to have CDs out of a desired measurement, these areas can be pre exposed to augment a subsequent scanner exposure.
• a direct write system with independently addressable projection points can scan/project the correction image onto the photoresist film, which activates more or less photo active agents depending on an intensity or amount of actinic radiation received at each point location.
• the substrate can then be transferred to a mask-based photolithography system.
• the substrate is received after having been processed with the specific photolithographic exposure process that includes the mask-based photolithographic exposure.
• the mask-based photolithographic exposure is a second pattern of actinic radiation projected onto the photoresist film.
• the substrate is developed to remove portions of the photoresist film that are soluble from the first pattern of actinic radiation and from the second pattern of actinic radiation.
• Each pattern of actinic radiation can activate same or different photo active agents to have additive solubility changes in a same layer or across two or more layers. Accordingly either a single developer can be used or multiple developers if two different films require different developing chemicals for material removal.
• the photoresist film includes a first photo-reactive agent that reacts to a first light wavelength, and a second photo-reactive agent that reacts to a second light wavelength.
• Coating the substrate with a photoresist film can include depositing a first photoresist layer that includes the first photo-reactive agent, and subsequently depositing a second photoresist layer on the first photoresist layer.
• the second photoresist layer includes the second photo-reactive agent.
• a self-separating photoresist mixture is deposited in which the second photo-reactive agent migrates to an upper portion of the photoresist film while the first photo-reactive agent migrates to a lower portion of the photoresist film.
• the first photo-reactive agent is selected from the group consisting of photo acid generator (PAG), thermal acid generator (TAG), and photo destructive base (PDB)
• the second photo-reactive agent is selected from the group consisting of photo acid generator (PAG), thermal acid generator (TAG), and photo destructive base (PDB).
• Coating the substrate with a photoresist film can include depositing a
• the second pattern of actinic radiation can require a predetermined exposure dose for creating a latent pattern within the photoresist film in that the first pattern of actinic radiation is projected with an exposure dosage that is 0.1 % to 5% of the predetermined exposure dose of the second pattern of actinic radiation.
• projecting the first pattern of actinic radiation includes calculating a total exposure dosage for creating a latent image within the photoresist film and projecting 0.1 % to 7% of the total exposure dosage using the maskless projection system in that the mask-based photolithographic exposure is executed with a remaining portion of the total exposure dosage.
• Projecting the first pattern of actinic radiation can include projecting a relatively greater dose of actinic radiation on substrate locations identified as having undersized features, and projecting a relatively lesser dose of actinic radiation on substrate locations identified as having oversized features.
• Projecting the first pattern of actinic radiation can include using a light source that is selected from the group consisting of lamp, ion laser, solid-state laser, and excimer laser.
• Projecting the first pattern of actinic radiation can include projecting actinic radiation having a wavelength selected from the group consisting of 172 nm, 193 nm, 248 nm, 256 nm, 365 nm, white light, and infrared, and wherein the specific photolithographic exposure process includes delivering actinic radiation having a wavelength selected from the group consisting of 172 nm, 193 nm, 248 nm, 256 nm, 365 nm, white light, and infrared.
• Projecting the first pattern of actinic radiation can include using a first wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is longer as compared to a second wavelength of electromagnetic radiation that is used in the mask-based
• Projecting the first pattern of actinic radiation can occur within a coater-deveioper system while the mask-based photolithographic exposure can occur within a masked-based photolithography system.
• processing the substrate with the specific photolithographic exposure process that includes the mask-based photolithographic exposure can occur subsequent to projecting the first pattern of actinic radiation onto the photoresist film.
• Projecting the first pattern of actinic radiation can include using a micro-mirror projection system configured to vary an amount of actinic radiation projected by point location on the substrate.
• Another example embodiment includes a method for patterning a substrate.
• a composite critical dimension signature is received that characterizes multiple substrates having been processed with a specific photolithographic exposure process.
• the specific photolithographic exposure process includes a mask-based photolithographic exposure.
• the composite critical dimension signature has been created by measuring critical dimensions from the multiple substrates and identifying repeated critical dimension values at respective coordinate locations.
• a substrate is received to be processed with the specific photolithographic exposure process.
• the substrate is coated with a photoresist film.
• a first pattern of actinic radiation is projected onto the photoresist film using a mask!ess projection system.
• the first pattern of actinic radiation is created using the composite critical dimension signature.
• a second pattern of actinic radiation is projected onto the photoresist film using the specific
• photolithographic exposure process that includes the mask-based photolithographic exposure.
• the photoresist film is developed to remove portions of the photoresist film that are soluble resulting from the first pattern of actinic radiation and from the second pattern of actinic radiation. Projecting a first pattern of actinic radiation onto the photoresist film can occur prior to projecting the second pattern of actinic radiation onto the photoresist film. Likewise, projecting a first pattern of actinic radiation onto the photoresist film can occur subsequent to projecting the second pattern of actinic radiation onto the photoresist film.
• CDs can be corrected then with high throughput.
• substrate or“target substrate” as used herein genericaily refers to an object being processed in accordance with the invention.
• the substrate may include any material portion or structure of a device, particularly a semiconductor or other electronics device, and may, for example, be a base substrate structure, such as a semiconductor wafer, reticle, or a layer on or overlying a base substrate structure such as a thin film.
• substrate is not limited to any particular base structure, underlying layer or overlying layer, patterned or un-patterned, but rather, is contemplated to include any such layer or base structure, and any combination of layers and/or base structures.
• the description may reference particular types of substrates, but this is for illustrative purposes only.

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