Patent ID: 7523435
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method for forming a map comprising: forming a first map from a pattern layout; determining a map image matrix from the first map and a photolithography system model matrix; comparing the map image matrix to a target intensity matrix to determine an error; determining whether the error is below a threshold error; adding a perturbation to the first map to form a second map, wherein the perturbation is solved for using a method of proportional quadratics; Manufacturing a physical pixelated mask from the second map, wherein the physical pixelated mask includes a matrix of numbers representing opaque, transmissive and phase-shifted portions of a mask, and wherein the map comprises a τ-map, the first map comprises a first τ-map, the map image matrix comprises a τ-map image matrix, and the second map comprises a second τ-map; determining a second τ-map image matrix from the second τ-map and the photolithography system model matrix; and comparing the second τ-map image matrix to the target intensity matrix to determine a second error.