Patent ID: 6444399
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: B82Y,G03F,H01J

Abstract:
In a charged-particle-beam microlithographic method in which a pattern, defined on a reticle segmented into subfields, is projection-transferred to a sensitive substrate using a charged particle beam, on which sensitive substrate images of the reticle subfields are stitched together to form the pattern layer on the substrate, to be preceded or followed by formation of one or more other layers on the substrate that overlap the pattern layer, a method for defining a reticle pattern on the segmented reticle, comprising:providing a pattern comprising pattern elements, the pattern including first locations at which overlayer accuracy with an overlying or underlying layer must be relatively high and second locations at which overlayer accuracy with an overlying or underlying layer can be relatively low; and where a subfield boundary must cross one or more pattern features, configuring the subfield boundary to cross the pattern features at the second locations.