Patent ID: 8966409
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: G03F,G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a mask, the mask comprising mask features thereon, the method comprising: creating a difference map between a desired intra-field pattern that is to be formed on substrates and an intra-field signature pattern, the intra-field signature pattern representing a pattern formed on an example substrate by an exposure field using an example E-beam-written mask; determining modifications to formation of mask features to be made using an E-beam mask writer if forming a modified E-beam-written mask having mask features modified from that of the example E-beam-written mask that will improve substrate feature variation identified in the difference map; the modifications being change in size, shape, and/or spacing of the mask features from size, shape, and/or spacing of the mask features before said determining of the modifications; programming the E-beam mask writer using the determined modifications to improve the substrate feature variation identified in the difference map; using the programmed E-beam mask writer to form the modified E-beam-written mask having the modified mask features; the modified mask features having the changed size, shape, and/or spacing on the modified E-beam-written mask; and photolithographically processing one or more substrates using the modified E-beam-written mask.