Patent ID: 7432191
Filing Date: 2008-10-07
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of patterning a thin film on a substrate, comprising: preparing a film stack on said substrate, said film stack comprising said thin film formed on said substrate, a developable anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer formed on said thin film, and a first layer of photo-resist formed on said developable ARC layer; imaging said first layer of photo-resist and said developable ARC layer with a first image pattern; developing said first layer of photo-resist and said developable ARC layer to form said first image pattern in said first layer of photo-resist and said developable ARC layer; removing said first layer of photo-resist; modifying said developable ARC layer to form a modified ARC layer using a thermal treatment process; forming a second layer of photo-resist on said modified ARC layer; imaging said second layer of photo-resist with a second image pattern; developing said second layer of photo-resist to form said second image pattern in said second layer of photo-resist; and transferring said first image pattern and said second image pattern in said second layer of photo-resist and said modified ARC layer to said thin film using one or more etching processes.