Patent ID: 7829247
Filing Date: 2010-11-09
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A photomask used for exposure to form a resist pattern having nonuniform thickness, said photomask comprising: a transparent mask having a planar region, said planar region including a first region, a second region surrounding said first region, and a third region outside said second region; and a plurality of square mask cells provided arranged in a first direction and in a second direction on said planar region, each of having a side shorter than a resolution limit of an optical system of an exposing device in which said photomask is used, and including at least one of a light transmitting region and a light shielding region formed of a light shielding film, wherein a light intensity of a transmitted light of said mask cell is a standardized light intensity, and is determined based on a ratio of an area of said light transmitting region to an area of said mask cell, wherein said mask cells comprise: a first group of mask cells provided in said first region and transmitting lights of a first light intensity greater than zero and less than or equal to 1; a second group of mask cells provided in said second region and transmitting lights of a second light intensity greater than zero and less than said first light intensity; a third group of mask cells provided in said third region and transmitting lights of a third light intensity greater than or equal to zero and less than said second light intensity, and wherein said light transmitting regions of at least said first and second groups of said mask cells arranged in said first direction form a continuous groove extending in said first direction, and said groove has a width in said second direction that varies along said first direction.