Patent ID: 8197996
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method of patterning a substrate using a dual-tone (D-T) processing sequence, comprising: forming a layer of radiation-sensitive material on the substrate, wherein the layer of radiation-sensitive material comprises a dual-tone (D-T) resist material having a plurality of radiation-sensitive positive tone groups and a plurality of radiation-sensitive negative tone groups attached to a polymer backbone; creating a first patterned layer of exposed radiation-sensitive material by exposing the layer of radiation-sensitive material using first EM radiation and a reticle having a first set of masking features, and heating the first patterned layer of exposed radiation-sensitive material to create a plurality of high exposure regions, a plurality of medium exposure regions, and a plurality of low exposure regions; determining a first threshold profile for a first dual-tone development procedure using at least one of the high exposure regions in the first patterned layer of exposed radiation-sensitive material; determining a first set of simulated limits for the first dual-tone development procedure for the first patterned layer; modifying the first threshold profile, if the first threshold profile exceeds at least one of the first set of simulated limits; and developing the first patterned layer of exposed radiation-sensitive material, if the first threshold profile does not exceed at least one of the first set of simulated limits.