Patent ID: 7605390

Claim:
A process for operating an electrically modulated programmable mask for optical lithography comprising: Illuminating, with a light of one of the lithographic wavelengths of 248 nm, 193 nm or 157 nm, a sapphire substrate having electrical control circuitry thereon, and further having at least a thin layer of semiconductor nano-particles with a bandgap disposed on to at least a portion of said substrate, said bandgap corresponding to the energy of said wavelength; applying, voltage or current to induce nano-particles in said thin layer to change transparency thereby controllably absorbing or transmitting at one of said lithographic wavelengths of 248 nm, 193 nm or 157 nm, said nano-particles thereby providing optical modulation at said wavelength; and exposing a semiconductor wafer with a spatial light pattern responsive to said applied voltage or current.