Patent ID: 7271950

Claim:
A pellicle operable to transmit light at a particular wavelength, the pellicle comprising: a frame; and an amorphous fluoropolymer thin film coupled to the frame, the thin film operable to transmit light at a particular wavelength for projecting a photomask image onto a wafer during a photolithographic process, the thin film including an optical thickness greater than a design thickness by an amount less than or equal to approximately one-quarter of the particular wavelength such that transmission of light through the thin film at the particular wavelength at an angle of incidence greater than zero is substantially maximized, the design thickness comprising a thickness of the thin film that maximizes transmission of light incident to the thin film at a normal angle at the particular wavelength; the thin film formed to cooperate with a photomask including an opening such that when light is transmitted at the particular wavelength through the opening in the photomask, through the thin film and onto the wafer to project an image of the photomask opening onto the wafer, wherein a portion of the transmitted light is diffracted by the photomask opening and passes through the thin film at the angle of incidence greater than zero, the transmission of such portion of light passing through the thin film at the angle of incidence greater than zero being maximized due to the optical thickness of the thin film produces an increased resolution of the projected image on the wafer.