Patent ID: 6030752
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
A method of stitching segments defined by adjacent image patterns of a photolithographic system during the manufacture of a semiconductor device, comprising:forming a material over a semiconductor substrate;projecting a first image pattern over the substrate that defines a first segment with a first linewidth and a contact region, wherein the first image pattern has a first image pattern outer border, the first segment is spaced from the first image pattern outer border, the contact region is adjacent to and between the first segment and the first image pattern outer border, and a width of the contact region exceeds the first linewidth;projecting a second image pattern over the substrate that defines a second segment with a second linewidth, wherein the second image pattern has a second image pattern outer border, the second image pattern outer border forming an end of the second segment, the width of said contact region exceeds the second linewidth, the first and second image patterns partially overlap between the first image pattern outer border and the second image pattern outer border, and at least a portion of the end of the second segment overlaps said contact region; andremoving a portion of the material corresponding to the first and second image patterns to form the first and second segments stitched by a portion of said contact region.