Patent ID: 8154710
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: G03B,G03F

Abstract:
1. A lithography process window analyzing method for performing exposure processing a plurality of times with an exposure amount and a focus position changed on a photosensitive substrate, measuring dimensions of a plurality of circuit patterns transferred onto the photosensitive substrate, setting a process window based on ranges of exposure amounts and focus positions for setting at least the dimensions of the circuit patterns within an allowable range in design, and evaluating reliability of the set process window, the lithography process window analyzing method comprising: setting, based on a plurality of process conditions including exposure amounts and focus positions in the performed exposure processing, analysis reliability M, wherein analysis reliability M is related to a reliability of process conditions and includes an arbitrary exposure amount and an arbitrary focus position; calculating, via a computer, reliability R, wherein reliability R is a reliability of the process window based on the analysis reliability M concerning the process conditions included in the process window; and comparing a magnitude relation between the reliability R and a predetermined threshold and determining presence or absence of reliability of the process window according to a result of the comparison, wherein the process window includes an area obtained from measured value of the exposure processing and an area obtained by extrapolating the area obtained from the measured value, and wherein, based on the process conditions including the exposure amounts and the focus positions, after allowance boundary curves are calculated as boundary of an allowable range in design of the dimensions of the circuit patterns concerning the process conditions and including the exposure amounts and the focus positions in the performed exposure processing and the allowance boundary curves are extrapolated, the process window is defined in an area between the extrapolated allowance boundary curves.