Abstract:
A projection aligner includes a light source, a condenser lens system for directing light from the light source onto a mask on which a circuit pattern is formed, a projecting lens system for collecting on the surface of a wafer the light transmitted through the mask, and an aperture member disposed between the light source and the condenser lens system. The aperture member includes a transmitting zone for transmitting light from the light source and a phase shift member for producing a predetermined phase difference between light transmitted through the transmitting zone and light transmitted through a region surrounding the transmitting zone.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a projection aligner for use in the process of manufacturing LSIs. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     FIG. 20 shows a conventional projection aligner. A fly-eye lens 3 is disposed diagonally to a lamp house 1. A mirror 2 is disposed between the lens 3 and the house 1. An aperture member 4 is positioned in front of the fly-eye lens 3. Condenser lenses 5 and 6, a mirror 7, and an exposure mask 8 on which a desired circuit pattern is formed are arranged along an optical path. A wafer 10 is situated in front of the mask 8, and a projecting lens system 9 is disposed between the mask 8 and the wafer 10. 
     As shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the aperture member 4 has a disk-like configuration with a circular opening 4a at the center thereof. 
     Light emanating from the lamp house 1 reaches the fly-eye lens 3 through the mirror 2, and is split into light beams which pass through lenses 3a, of the fly-eye lens 3. The light transmitted through the respective lenses 3a pass through the opening 4a of the aperture member 4, the condenser lens 5, the mirror 7 and the condenser lens 6, and then irradiate an exposure zone of the mask 8. The light beams transmitted through the lenses 3a of the fly-eye lens 3 are superposed on each other on the surface of the mask 8, and thus the beams irradiate uniformly the surface of the mask 8. In this way, the light beams pass through the mask 8 and reach the wafer 10 through the projecting lens system 9, whereby the circuit pattern is imaged on the surface of the wafer 10. 
     It is known that the minimum resolution R of such a projection aligner is proportional to λ/NA, where λ is the wavelength being used and NA is the numerical aperture of the optical system. Thus, the optical system has hitherto been designed so that the numerical aperture is increased to improve the resolution of the projection aligner. In recent years the improved resolution copes with a higher degree of integration of LSIs. 
     It is also known that as the numerical aperture of an optical system increases, the minimum resolution R decreases and the depth of focus (DOF) of the projection aligner also decreases even more than the resolution R does. The DOF is proportional to λ/NA 2 . For this reason, in the conventional projection aligner, the DOF decreases with an increase in the resolution, and the accuracy in transferring transcribing the circuit pattern deteriorates. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a projection aligner increasing resolution and enlarging the depth of focus. 
     In order to achieve the above object, according to this invention, there is provided a projection aligner comprising: a light source; a condenser lens system for directing light from the light source onto a mask on which a circuit pattern is formed; a projection lens system for collecting on the surface of a wafer the light transmitted through the mask; and an aperture member disposed between the light source and the condenser lens system wherein the aperture member includes a transmitting zone for transmitting the light emanating from the light source and a phase shift member for producing a predetermined phase shift between light transmitted through the center of the transmitting zone and light transmitted through a region surrounding the transmitting zone. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a view showing the optical system of a projection aligner in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an aperture member used in the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the aperture member shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a view showing the distribution of the intensity of light on the surface of a wafer when the light is completely focused thereon; 
     FIG. 5 is a view showing the distribution of the intensity of light on the surface of the wafer when the light is not focused thereon; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the surface of the wafer when the light is not focused thereon; 
     FIG. 7 is a view showing the result in which an optical image on the surface of the wafer is simulated when the width of a phase shift member of the aperture member is changed; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an aperture member used in a second embodiment; 
     FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an aperture member used in a third embodiment; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the aperture member shown in FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing an aperture member used in a fourth embodiment; 
     FIG. 12 is a view showing the optical system of a projection aligner in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view showing an aperture member used in the fifth embodiment; 
     FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the aperture member shown in FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is a view showing the distribution of the intensity of light on the surface of the wafer when the light is not focused thereon according to the fifth embodiment; 
     FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of an aperture member used in a sixth embodiment; 
     FIG. 17 is a plan view showing an aperture member used in a seventh embodiment; 
     FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the aperture member shown in FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing an aperture member used in an eighth embodiment; 
     FIG. 20 is a view showing the optical system of the conventional projection aligner; 
     FIG. 21 is a plan view of an aperture member used in the aligner shown in FIG. 20; and 
     FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the aperture member shown in FIG. 21. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a view showing the optical system of a projection aligner in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. A fly-eye lens 13 is disposed diagonally to a lamp house 11 from a lamp which emits light having a wavelength of λ, and a mirror 12 is disposed between the lens 13 and the house 11. An aperture member 21 is positioned in front of the fly-eye lens 13. Condenser lenses 15 and 16, a mirror 17, and an exposure mask 18 on which a desired circuit pattern is formed are arranged along an optical path. A wafer 20 is situated in front of the mask 18, and a projecting lens system 19 is disposed between the mask 18 and the wafer 20. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the aperture member 21 has a disk-like outer frame 22 and an annular phase shift member 23 having a width W. A circular opening 22a having a radius A is formed at the center of the frame 22. The phase shift member 23 is formed around the periphery of the opening 22a. The outer frame 22 is formed of a light-intercepting, i.e., opaque member such as metal. The opening 22a forms a transmitting zone D through which light from the lamp house 11 is transmitted. The phase shift member 23 is formed of, for example, SiO 2 , and is also formed to such a thickness that there is a phase difference of a half-wavelength, λ/2, between light transmitted through the center of the transmitting zone D, where there is no phase shift member 23 present, and light transmitted through the phase shift member 23. 
     The operation of this embodiment will now be explained. Light from the lamp house 11 reaches the fly-eye lens 13 through the mirror 12, and is split into light beams which pass through lenses 13a, which constitute the fly-eye lens 13. The light beams transmitted through the respective lenses 13a pass through the transmitting zone D of the aperture member 21, the condenser lens 15, the mirror 17 and the condenser lens 16, and then irradiate an exposure zone of the mask 18. The light beams transmitted through the lenses 13a of the fly-eye lens 13 are superposed on each other on the surface of the mask 18, and thus the beams irradiate uniformly the surface of the mask 18. In this way, the light beams pass through the mask 18 and reach the wafer 20 through the projecting lens system 19, whereby an image of the circuit pattern is formed on the surface of the wafer 20. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, because of the phase shift member 23 formed at the periphery of the transmitting zone D of the aperture member 21, the phases of light beams L2 and L3 transmitted through the phase shift member 23 of the aperture member 21 are reversed with respect to the phase of light beam L1 transmitted through the center of the transmitting zone D. Therefore, when these light beams L1-L3 collect on the surface of the wafer 20, the light beams L2 and L3, each in a reverse phase, interfere with the light beam L1, thus offsetting each other. 
     FIG. 4 is a view showing the distribution of the intensity of light on the surface of the wafer when the light beams are completely focused thereon. If the aperture member 21 were not provided with the phase shift member 23, the distribution would be formed as indicated by a broken line 25. In this embodiment, however, because the aperture member 21 is provided with the phase shift member 23, the light beam L1 is offset by a reverse component 26 of the light beams L2 and L3, and thus the distribution of the intensity of light is formed as indicated by a solid line 24. It is thus proved that when the lights are completely focused, because of the provision of the phase shift member 23, there is a decrease in the intensity of light, but there is substantially no deterioration in the shape of the distribution of the intensity of light. 
     On the other hand, when the light are beams not focused on the wafer 20 as shown in FIG. 6, the light beams L1-L3 do not converge at one point on the surface of the wafer 20. Thus, as indicated by dot chain lines of FIG. 5, the reverse components of light beams L2 and L3, transmitted through the phase shift member 23, are distributed only around the center of a portion where the light beam L1 is most intense. For this reason, only the intensity of light around a distribution line formed when the aperture member 21 is not provided with the phase shift member 23 is offset by reverse components 29 and 30 of the light beams L2 and L3. In reality, the intensity of light is distributed as indicated by a solid line 27. For this reason, when the light beams are defocused, that is, when the light beams L1-L3 do not converge at one point on the surface of the wafer 20, only the intensity of light around a defocused image decreases. Then the image contrast is improved, so that it approaches the level of image contrast when the light beams are focused. In other words, an image of sharp contrast is obtainable in a wide optical axis direction, and the depth of focus (DOF) is enlarged. 
     The projection aligner shown in FIG. 1 permits enlargement of the DOF, as described above, while at the same time increasing the numerical aperture NA. 
     The ratio of the width W of the phase shift member 23 to the radius A of the transmitting zone D of the aperture member 21 is changed and an optical image contrast on the surface of the wafer 20 is simulated. FIG. 7 shows the results of the simulation. The abscissa of FIG. 7 indicates the degree of focus, the amount of defocus increasing toward the right. The ordinate indicates the width of a 25% distribution of the maximum intensity Ip, that is, one-fourth of the Ip of the optical image, as shown in FIG. 4. Symbol B 0  in FIG. 7 indicates an example of an allowable value of the width of the optical image when the circuit pattern is transferred. An optical image having a width B not greater than the allowable value B 0  is required for accurate transferral. 
     In the case of W/A=0, that is, when the phase shift member 23 is not provided, as indicated by a broken line 31, the width B of the optical image increases sharply with an increase in the degree of defocusing, whereas the contrast decreases. In the case of W/A=5%, as indicated by a solid line 32, even when there is some increase in the degree of defocusing, the optical image exhibits a constant value which is substantially equal to the width B when the light beams are completely focused. The value the increase, exceeding the allowable value B 0 . In the case of W/A=10%, as indicated by a dot chain line 33, as the degree of defocus increases, the width B of the optical image first decreases, and then increases and exceeds the allowable value B 0 . The results of such a simulation prove that the use of the aperture member 21 satisfying a relationship W/A=5% is effective in accurately and stably transferring the circuit pattern. 
     The phase difference between light transmitted through the center of the transmitting zone D and light transmitted through a portion around the transmitting zone D, due to the phase shift member 23, is not limited to a half-wavelength. However, as described in the embodiment mentioned above, the use of the half-wavelength is the most effective in enlarging the DOF. 
     FIG. 8 shows an aperture member 41 used in a second embodiment. The aperture member 41 is constructed in such a way that an outer frame 42 and a phase shift member 43 are formed on a crystalline substrate 44. In this embodiment, the deposition of SiO 2  on the crystal substrate 44 permits easy formation of the phase shift member 43. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 both show an aperture member 51 used in a third embodiment. The aperture member 51 is constructed in such a manner that a circular phase shift member 53 is formed at the center of a circular opening 52a in an outer frame 52. The phase shift member 53 is formed on a crystalline substrate 54. In the aperture member 51, as opposed to the aperture member 21 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the phase of light transmitted through the center of a transmitting zone D is reversed with respect to the phase of light transmitted through a portion around the zone D. The same advantage as that described with the aperture member 21 is obtainable. 
     FIG. 11 shows an aperture member 61 used in a fourth embodiment. The aperture member 61 is constructed in the following way. First, an outer flame 62 and a phase shift member 63 are formed on a crystalline substrate 64. Then, antireflection films 65 and 66 made of, for example, MgF 2 , are formed on the phase shift member 63 and the crystalline substrate 64 exposed outside. The formation of the antireflection films 65 and 66 reduces the amount of stray light, thus resulting in improved resolution and contrast of an image. The antireflection film may be formed on either the obverse or the reverse surface of a transmitting zone D. In FIG. 11, although the antireflection films are formed on the aperture member with the structure shown in FIG. 8, they may be provided on any of the aperture members with the structures described above. The same advantage as that described above is obtainable. 
     FIG. 12 is a view showing the optical system of a projection aligner in accordance with a fifth embodiment of this invention. In this embodiment, an aperture member 71 is used in place of the aperture member 21 of the optical system in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the aperture member 71 has a circular outer frame 72, an annular phase shift member 73, and an annular light-intercepting member 74. A circular opening 72a having a radius A is disposed at the center of the outer frame 72. The phase shift member 73 having a width W 1  is disposed around the periphery of the opening 72a. The light-intercepting member 74 having a width W 2  is formed around the inside periphery of the phase shift member 73. In other words, the center of a transmitting zone D is separated by the light-intercepting member 74 from a portion around the zone D. The outer frame 72 and the light-intercepting member 74 are made of an opaque material, such as metal, which blocks light. The phase shift member 73 is made of, for instance, SiO 2 . 
     When the aperture member 71 having a such a light-intercepting member 74 is used, as indicated by dot chain lines of FIG. 15, when the lights are defocused, the centers of reverse components 36 and 37 of light beams L2 and L3, transmitted through the phase shift member 73, will deviate in an amount equal to a predetermined distance W 3  from components 38 of a light beam L1 which are positioned most outwardly. For this reason, only light in a portion around a distribution line formed when the aperture member 71 is not provided with the phase shift member 73 is offset by the reverse components 36 and 37 of the light beams L2 and L3. In reality, the intensity of light is distributed as indicated by a solid line 34. Thus, when the light beams are defocused, only the intensity of light around a defocused image decreases, and the image contrast is considerably improved, so that it approaches the level of image contrast when the light beams are completely focused. In other words, an image of sharp contrast is obtainable in a wide optical axis direction, and the depth of focus (DOF) is enlarged. 
     The ratio W 2  /A of the width W 2  of the light-intercepting member 74 to the radius A of the transmitting zone D of the aperture member 71 was changed and a circular contact hole pattern-exposed. It was found that when the ratio W 2  /A is about 3%, the circuit pattern can be most stably transferred. 
     As shown in FIG. 16, it may also be possible to employ an aperture member 81 constructed in such a way that an outer frame 82, a phase shift member 83, and a light-intercepting member 84 are formed on one crystalline substrate 85. In such a case, the deposition of SiO 2  and metal on the crystalline substrate 85 permits easy formation of the phase shift member 83 and the light-intercepting member 84. 
     Alternatively, as in an aperture member 91 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a circular phase shift member 93 may be formed at the center of a circular opening 92a in an outer frame 92 and a light-intercepting member 94 may be formed around the phase shift member 93. The phase shift member 93 and the light-intercepting member 94 are formed on a crystalline substrate 95. 
     As in an aperture member 101 depicted in FIG. 19, the formation of antireflection films 106 and 107 made of, for example, MgF 2 , reduces the amount of stray light, thus resulting in improved resolution and contrast of an image. In the aperture member 101, first, an outer frame 102, a phase shift member 103, and a light-intercepting member 104 are formed on a crystalline substrate 105. Then, the antireflection film 106 is formed on the phase shift member 103, the light-intercepting member 104 and the obverse side of the crystalline substrate 105, and the antireflection film 107 is formed on the reverse side of the crystalline substrate 105. The antireflection film may be formed on either the obverse or the reverse surface of a transmitting zone D. In FIG. 19, although the antireflection films are formed on the aperture member with the structure shown in FIG. 16, they may be provided on an aperture member with a different structure. The same advantage as that described above is obtainable.