Patent ID: 9005849
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A photomask used for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: a substrate; one or more layers disposed over the substrate that define one or more dies; a full field area comprising the one or more dies; and a reduced field area disposed within and reduced in size relative to the full field area and comprising a sub-set of the one or more dies, each die within the sub-set of the one or more dies comprising a corresponding pattern of an integrated circuit that is transferred to a semiconductor wafer and each die that is outside the sub-set of the one or more dies being un-patterned, wherein portions of the full field area outside the reduced field area contain defects and the reduced field area is devoid of defects and is defined by a width within the range of approximately 20-60 mm and a length within the range of approximately 20-70 mm, a center point of the reduced field area being offset from a center point of the photomask so that the full field area avoids photomask defects.