Patent ID: 6468704
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: G03F,H01L

Abstract:
A method for alignment to an alignment mark array, within a patterned layer formed upon a substrate, of a subsequent step-and-repeat photomask pattern comprising:providing a substrate; forming upon the substrate a patterned layer having therein an array of alignment marks; forming over the patterned layer and alignment mark array a subsequent layer or layers; aligning the alignment mark array of the underlying patterned layer to a photomask pattern employing a scanning method further comprising: scanning the alignment mark array in a first direction employing a step-and-repeat laser scanning system; changing the orientation of the alignment mark array 90 degrees orthogonally with respect to the first scanning direction; and performing subsequent scanning with the step-and-repeat system to align the photomask pattern to the underlying alignment mark array with enhanced accuracy.