Patent ID: 7381654

Claim:
A method of forming a contact or via hole, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) providing a first dielectric layer over the substrate; (c) providing a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer; (d) providing a first photoresist pattern over said second dielectric layer, said first photoresist pattern having a first dimension; (e) verifying the first dimension; (f) performing a first etch to remove a portion of the second dielectric layer left unprotected by the first photoresist pattern; (g) providing a second photoresist pattern over said second dielectric layer, said second photoresist pattern having a second dimension in a direction oriented substantially perpendicular to said first dimension; (h) verifying the second dimension; (i) performing a second etch to remove a portion of the first dielectric layer left unprotected by the second photoresist pattern; wherein the second etch forms a hole in the first dielectric layer, said hole defined by said first and second dimensions of said first and second photoresist patterns; (j) filling the hole with conductive material to a level above an upper surface of said first dielectric layer; and (k) removing the second dielectric layer and conductive material down to the upper surface of said first dielectric layer; wherein the step of verifying the first dimension comprises measuring said first dimension and comparing a measured value of said first dimension to a reference value; and wherein the step of performing a first etch comprises adjusting the timing or chemical composition of the first etch to account for a difference between said measured value of said first dimension and said reference value.