The present invention provides a mask, on which a preset pattern is provided. First test patterns for determining an amount of a position offset of the mask during its movement are provided on the mask at a first side of the preset pattern and a second side of the preset pattern opposite to the first side, respectively. When being moved in a direction from the first side to the second side by a standard distance, the mask can determine whether a position offset occurs to the mask during its movement, and determine an amount of the position offset if a position offset occurs. Thus, the position offset of the mask can be corrected, thereby obtaining an accurate predetermined pattern on a glass substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201410216482.4, filed on May 21, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor manufacturing technology, and in particular, relates to a mask.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a cell forming process of a TFT LCD, a region of a glass substrate where a frame sealant is coated needs to be irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light, so as to cure the frame sealant. Meanwhile, in the above process, another glass substrate having a predetermined pattern needs to be used to shade the remaining region of the above glass substrate, so as to prevent a photoresist coated on the remaining region from being cured.

In the prior art, a process for manufacturing a glass substrate having a predetermined pattern includes steps of: S1: depositing an opaque metal layer on a glass substrate and coating a layer of photoresist on the opaque metal layer; S2: exposing a region of the glass substrate which corresponds to the predetermined pattern by using a mask, so as to denature the photoresist coated on the region which corresponds to the predetermined pattern; S3: developing the exposed region of the glass substrate to remove the denatured photoresist; S4: etching the glass substrate to remove portions of the opaque metal layer where the photoresist has been removed, so as to form the predetermined pattern on the glass substrate; and S5: removing the remaining photoresist on the glass substrate, so as to obtain the opaque metal layer in the region other than the predetermined pattern as a light blocking zone.

Specifically, in the above step S2, multiple exposures may be successively performed on a plurality of regions of the glass substrate to denature the photoresist on the region corresponding to the predetermined pattern through steps of: S21: shading most region of a glass substrate2at lower right side by using a rectangular mask1, as shown inFIG. 1; S22: exposing the upper region and the left region of the glass substrate2, as shown inFIG. 2; S23: moving the rectangular mask1(the rectangular mask1is moved upward as shown inFIG. 3), and a light blocking strip3of an exposure apparatus is used for shading desired regions of the glass substrate2, as shown inFIG. 3; S24: exposing the unshaded region of the glass substrate2, as shown inFIGS. 4; and S25: repeating the steps S23and S24to obtain the glass substrate2as shown inFIG. 5, and repeating the steps S23and S24many times to finally obtain the glass substrate2as shown inFIG. 6.

During the above process for manufacturing the glass substrate2having the predetermined pattern, the rectangular mask1needs to be repeatedly moved to shade a desired region of the glass substrate2. However, in practical applications, it is difficult to move the mask exactly to the desired position. Thus, there is generally a position offset between a desired position and an actual position of the mask. The position offset will cause a region corresponding to a portion of the desired predetermined pattern not to be exposed or cause a portion of a region which should not be exposed to be exposed, resulting in a certain error between a pattern formed on the glass substrate and the desired predetermined pattern (for the glass substrate manufactured through the above-described process, the error may be a case where a distance a (as shown inFIG. 6) between two adjacent light blocking zones cannot maintain a desired value). Therefore, in practical applications, a position offset of the mask during its movement needs to be detected, so as to correct the position offset, so that a pattern formed on the glass substrate can be consistent with the desired pattern as much as possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention intends to solve at least the above technical problem in the prior art. The present invention provides a mask, which can detect a position offset generated during its movement, to correct the position offset, so that a pattern obtained on a glass substrate can be consistent with a desired predetermined pattern.

To achieve the object of the present invention, there is provided a mask, on which a preset pattern is provided. First test patterns for determining an amount of a position offset of the mask during its movement are provided on the mask at a first side of the preset pattern and a second side of the preset pattern opposite to the first side, respectively.

Preferably, at least one of the first test patterns is provided with a plurality of tags which are arranged in a first direction from the first side to the second side, and the tags in the first test pattern located at the first side and the tags in the first test pattern located at the second side are mirror-symmetric with respect to the first direction.

Preferably, each of the first test patterns is provided with a plurality of tags which are arranged in a first direction from the first side to the second side, and the tags in the first test pattern located at the first side and the tags in the first test pattern located at the second side are mirror-symmetric with respect to the first direction.

Preferably, the plurality of tags have different preset widths, and the preset widths of the tags in each of the first test patterns progressively increase or progressively decrease in the first direction.

Preferably, the preset pattern is provided on a central portion of the mask.

Preferably, a portion between any two adjacent tags in each of the first test patterns forms an opening, and opening directions of a plurality of formed openings are the same.

Preferably, widths of the plurality of openings are the same.

Preferably, the first direction is perpendicular to the opening direction of the plurality of openings.

Preferably, widths of the tags in each of the first test patterns range from 1.0 μm to 3.0 mm.

Preferably, the preset pattern is a rectangle.

Preferably, a plurality of second test patterns are further provided in a peripheral region of the mask, each of the plurality of second test patterns includes a plurality of figures having different sizes, and the plurality of figures are used for determining an exposure intensity.

Preferably, all of the plurality of figures are rectangles or circles.

Preferably, sizes of the plurality of figures range from 1.0 μm to 3.0 mm.

The advantageous effects of the present invention are as follows:

When being moved in a direction from a first side of a preset pattern to a second side of the preset pattern opposite to the first side by a standard distance, the mask according to the present invention can determine whether a position offset occurs during its movement, by determining whether an actual correspondence relationship between a position of the first test pattern located at the first side after the mask is moved and a position of the first test pattern located at the second side before the mask is moved is consistent with a preset correspondence relationship or not. If they are determined to be consistent, it is determined that no position offset occur to the mask during its movement. If they are determined to be inconsistent, it is determined that a position offset occurs to the mask during its movement, and an amount of the position offset of the mask during its movement can be determined by determining a change value of the actual correspondence relationship relative to the preset correspondence relationship. Thus, the position offset of the mask can be corrected according to the amount of the position offset, thereby obtaining an accurate predetermined pattern on a glass substrate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

For better understanding of the technical solutions of the present invention by a person skilled in the art, a mask according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 7is a schematic top view of a mask according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 7, on a mask10according to an embodiment of the present invention, a preset pattern11is provided, and a first test pattern12is provided at each of two opposite sides of the preset pattern11. The first test patterns12are used for determining an amount of position offset of the mask10during its movement. Preferably, the preset pattern11is a rectangle. The preset pattern11is provided on the mask10in such a way that portions of the mask10at two opposite sides of the preset pattern11have enough spaces to arrange the first test patterns12, respectively. Preferably, the preset pattern11is provided on a central portion of the mask10. The first test patterns12include a first test pattern12aprovided at a first side of the preset pattern11and a first test pattern12bprovided at a second side of the preset pattern11opposite to the first side. In the present invention, the first test pattern12aand the first test pattern12bwill be collectively referred to as the first test patterns12in a case that it is not necessary to distinguish them from each other.

When a plurality of regions of a glass substrate are exposed successively by using the mask10, the mask10is moved in a direction from the first side to the second side (i.e., the direction from the left to the right inFIG. 7) by a preset distance. Then, it can be determined whether the mask10has a position offset during its movement, by determining whether an actual position correspondence relationship between a pattern formed by exposing a glass substrate using the first test pattern12aafter the mask10is moved and a pattern formed by exposing a glass substrate using the first test pattern12bbefore the mask10is moved is consistent with a preset correspondence relationship or not (for example, the preset correspondence relationship may be that the pattern formed by exposing the glass substrate using the first test pattern12aafter the mask10is moved and the pattern formed by exposing the glass substrate using the first test pattern12bbefore the mask10is moved are aligned with each other, as the correspondence relationship between the pattern12a″and the pattern12b′inFIG. 9). If they are determined to be consistent, it can be determined no position offset occurs to the mask10during its movement. If they are determined to be inconsistent, it can be determined that a position offset occurs to the mask10during its movement, and an amount of the position offset of the mask10can be determined by comparing the actual correspondence relationship with the preset correspondence relationship.

In the present embodiment, the mask10is used to manufacture a glass substrate20having a predetermined pattern.FIG. 8is a schematic top view of a glass substrate. Specifically, an opaque metal layer is deposited on a glass substrate20, and a layer of photoresist is coated on the opaque metal layer. In manufacturing the glass substrate20having a predetermined pattern, the layer of photoresist on the glass substrate20needs to be exposed. Before exposure, the mask10is placed right above a region A of the glass substrate20, and meanwhile, the other region than the region A of the glass substrate20is shaded. Then, the region A is exposed, so that in the region A, the photoresist in a region B which corresponds to the preset pattern11of the mask10and the photoresist in regions C which correspond to the first test patterns12is insoluble in a developer, whereas the photoresist in other region D is soluble in the developer. Subsequently, the mask10is moved to above other regions of the glass substrate20to expose the corresponding regions successively. Finally, the photoresist in a region corresponding to a predetermined pattern on the glass substrate20is insoluble in the developer, whereas the photoresist outside the region corresponding to the predetermined pattern is soluble in the developer. Furthermore, in a subsequent step, the photoresist outside the region corresponding to the predetermined pattern on the glass substrate20may be removed through developing, while the photoresist in the region corresponding to the predetermined pattern remains on the glass substrate20.

Hereinafter, the principle and the process for detecting a position offset of the mask10during its movement by using the mask10according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Specifically, as shown inFIG. 9, after a process of exposing the region A has been finished, two patterns12a′and12b′which respectively correspond to the first test patterns12aand12bare formed on the regions C. Meanwhile, after the process of exposing the region A has been finished, the mask10is moved in a first direction by a standard distance. In the present invention, the first direction is a direction from the first side to the second side of the preset pattern11(e.g., the direction from the left to the right inFIG. 9); the standard distance is a length of the projection of the distance between the left end of the first test pattern12aand the left end of the first test pattern12b(seeFIG. 7) on a movement path of the mask10. If a position correspondence relationship between the projections of a position where the first test pattern12ais located after the mask10is moved by the standard distance and a position where the first test pattern12bis located before the mask10is moved on the glass substrate20is consistent with a preset correspondence relationship, then in the subsequent exposure process, a position correspondence relationship between a pattern12a″corresponding to the first test pattern12aand formed on the glass substrate20after the mask10is moved and a pattern12b′corresponding to the first test pattern12band formed on the glass substrate20before the mask10is moved is consistent with the preset correspondence relationship, as shown inFIG. 9. Thus, in a practical application, if a position correspondence relationship between the pattern12a″and the pattern12b′is inconsistent with the preset correspondence relationship as shown inFIG. 10, it can be determined that a position offset occurs to the mask10during its movement, that is, the moving distance of the mask10is not the standard distance. Furthermore, an amount of the position offset of the mask10during its movement can be determined by comparing the position correspondence relationship between the pattern12a″and the pattern12b′with the preset correspondence relationship. In such a way, during a process of manufacturing the glass substrate20, the position offset of the mask10during its movement can be corrected, to reduce the position offset of the mask10during its movement, so that the pattern formed on the glass substrate20can be consistent with the desired predetermined pattern as much as possible.

A plurality of tags121are provided on each of the first test patterns12, and the plurality of tags121are used for determining the position correspondence relationship between the pattern12a″and the pattern12b′. Preferably, the plurality of tags121are arranged in the first direction (i.e., the direction from the left to the right inFIGS. 11 and 12). Further, the tags121provided on the first test pattern12aand the tags121provided on the first test pattern12bare mirror-symmetric with respect to the first direction, so as to quickly and accurately determine the position correspondence relationship between the pattern12a″and the pattern12b′. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the plurality of tags121are provided on each of the first test patterns12, and the portion between any two adjacent tags121forms an opening120, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12. Further, a plurality of openings120formed by the plurality of tags121on each first test pattern12are all located at the same side of the first test pattern12, that is, opening directions of the plurality of openings120are the same. In the present invention, the opening directions of openings120on each of the first test patterns12do not face towards the preset pattern11or a direction opposite to the preset pattern11. With such arrangement, in a case where a position offset occurs to the mask10during its movement, an amount of offset between the pattern12a″and the pattern12b′can be visually determined according to the number of the openings120by which the pattern12a″and the pattern12b′are offset, and an amount of the position offset of the mask10during its movement is thus determined. Preferably, widths of all openings120on each of the first test patterns12are the same, and the opening directions of all openings120on each of the first test patterns12are perpendicular to the first direction, such that a user can determine the amount of a position offset of the mask10during its movement more accurately and more easily. Further preferably, the openings120are non-through holes which do not penetrate through the first test patterns12.

Preferably, projections of the first test pattern12aand the first test pattern12bon a direction parallel to the opening direction of the openings120are in contact with each other, or a distance between the projections is less than a preset value. Such arrangement leads to that the pattern12a″and the pattern12b′formed on the glass substrate20through exposure are in contact with each other or a distance therebetween is small, thus a user can determine an amount of offset between the pattern12a″and the pattern12b′easily, as shown inFIG. 10. For the same reasons, in the present embodiment, preferably, in the above first test patterns12, the opening direction of the openings120on the first test pattern12ais opposite to the opening direction of the openings120on the first test pattern12b, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12. Thus, an amount of offset between two patters12a″and12b′can be determined easily, as shown inFIG. 10.

In the present embodiment, preferably, the plurality of tags121on the first test patterns12have different preset widths. Further, the preset widths of tags121on each of the first test patterns12progressively increase or progressively decrease in the first direction, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12. Specifically, among the preset widths of the tags121(i.e., distances between the two adjacent openings120), the minimum value is 1.0 μm, and the maximum value is 3.0 mm. In other words, the widths of the tags121range from 1.0 μm to 3.0 mm. In a practical application, it can be determined whether an exposure intensity during an exposure process is so high that it has an adverse effect on dimensional accuracy of a pattern formed on the glass substrate20according to the shapes of a plurality of hole walls in the pattern formed on the glass substrate20after exposure. For example, if a certain tag121disappears from a pattern corresponding to the first test patterns12and formed on the glass substrate20, it can be determined whether the exposure intensity during the exposure process is too high according to the value of the width of said tag121. Specifically, a method for determining whether an exposure intensity is too high may be as follows. Since the order of magnitude of the size of a light blocking pattern finally formed is of centimeter, and it is difficult to detect the exposure intensity, it is necessary to use the mask according to the present invention to control the exposure intensity. For example, If a tag with 1 μm disappears, it can be determined that the exposure intensity is greater than an amount of energy required for the tag with 1 μm. Thus, it can be determined that an edge of the light blocking pattern is overexposed by 1 μm. If the exposure intensity is too high, the exposure intensity needs to be reduced, so that a pattern formed on the glass substrate20can have a better dimensional accuracy in a subsequent exposure process.

When being moved in the first direction (a direction from the first side of the preset pattern11at which the first test pattern12is located to the second side of the preset pattern11which is opposite to the first side) by the standard distance, the mask according to the present invention can determine whether a position offset occurs to the mask10during its movement, by determining whether an actual correspondence relationship between a position of the first test pattern12alocated at the first side of the preset pattern11after the mask10is moved and a position of the first test pattern12blocated at the second side of the preset pattern11before the mask10is moved is consistent with a preset correspondence relationship or not. If they are determined to be consistent, it is determined that no position offset occurs to the mask10during its movement. If they are determined to be inconsistent, it is determined that a position offset occurs to the mask10during its movement, and an amount of the position offset of the mask10during its movement can be determined by comparing the actual correspondence relationship with the preset correspondence relationship. Thus, the position offset of the mask10can be corrected according to the amount of the position offset, thereby obtaining an accurate predetermined pattern on the glass substrate20.

It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, the openings120are non-through holes which do not penetrate through the first test patterns12. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In a practical application, the openings120may be through holes, as shown inFIG. 13.

It should also be noted that, in the present embodiment, a plurality of openings120are provided on both of the first test patterns12located at two opposite sides of the preset pattern11. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In a practical application, it only needs to provide a plurality of openings120on a first test pattern12located at one side of the preset pattern11. Thus, manufacturing steps of the mask10can be simplified, thereby reducing manufacturing cost of the mask10.

Further, in the present embodiment, the widths of tags121on each of the first test patterns12progressively increase or progressively decrease in the first direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In a practical application, the widths of tags121on each of the first test patterns12may be the same. In such a case, a plurality of second test patterns13may be provided in a peripheral region of the mask10, and each of the plurality of second test patterns13includes a plurality of figures having different sizes. For example, a plurality of second test patterns13may be provided in a peripheral region of the mask10, which is 10 mm to 15 mm away from the edge of the mask10. For example, six second test patterns13may be provided on each short side and each long side of the mask10, respectively, that is, a total of24second test patterns13are provided in the peripheral region of the mask10. As such, the subsequent process will not be affected, while the purpose of testing is achieved. During an exposure process, it can be determined whether an exposure intensity during the exposure process is too high according to patterns formed by the plurality of figures having different sizes after exposure, and a method for determining whether the exposure intensity is too high may be the one as described above. For example, the plurality of figures may be connected to each other as a whole, as shown inFIG. 14. Alternatively, the plurality of figures may be provided on the mask10separate from each other, as shown inFIG. 15. Preferably, as shown inFIGS. 14 and 15, each of the figures may be a rectangle or a circle. In this case, a size of the rectangle refers to a width of the rectangle, and a size of the circle refers to a diameter of the circle. The sizes of the plurality of figures range from 1.0 μm to 3.0 mm.

It should be understood that, the foregoing embodiments are only exemplary embodiments used for explaining the principle of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Various variations and improvements may be made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the protection scope of the present invention, and these variations and improvments also fall into the protection scope of the present invention.