Patent ID: 6423977
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A pattern size evaluation method for evaluating a size of a device pattern which is formed by exposing a resist film on a to-be-processed substrate, developing the device pattern, and evaluating the size of the device pattern based on a monitoring pattern formed at the same time as the device pattern on the to-be-processed substrate, comprising the steps of:designing the monitoring pattern, the monitoring pattern being arranged to form a resist monitoring pattern composed of juxtaposed pattern elements having a pitch that is less than a pitch of elements of the device pattern, the monitoring pattern also being arranged such that a rate of change of intensity of reflected light from the monitoring pattern is greater than a rate of change of intensity of reflected light from the device pattern at an end of a developing step; exposing the resist film by a mask including both the device pattern and the designed monitoring pattern within one shot; developing the exposed resist film to form the device pattern and the monitoring pattern of the resist; illuminating the monitoring pattern with a parallel light of a predetermined wavelength after the developing step; detecting the intensity of diffracted light obtained from the monitoring pattern; and evaluating the size of the device pattern based on the intensity of the diffracted light from and only from the monitoring pattern having been exposed to only substantially the same amount of radiation as the device pattern.