Patent ID: 9318330
Filing Date: 2016-04-19
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A method for forming a semiconductor device comprising: obtaining a wafer, the wafer comprising an anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer formed over a photoresist layer which is formed over spacer portions which are formed on a spacer assist layer which is formed over a hard mask layer, wherein the ARC layer has an etch rate substantially similar to an etch rate of the spacer assist layer; removing the photoresist layer and the ARC layer from a first region of the wafer exposing the spacer portions and portions of the spacer assist layer while leaving the photoresist layer in a second region of the wafer, the photoresist layer in the second region of the wafer contacting a spacer portion in the second region; simultaneously etching the ARC layer in a second region of the wafer and the exposed spacer assist layer in the first region of the wafer leaving remaining spacer portions and remaining spacer assist layer portions; and etching a part of the hard mask layer to form hard mask portions in the first region, using the remaining spacer portions and the remaining spacer assist layer portions as an etching mask.