Patent ID: 8298953

Claim:
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device, the method comprising: depositing a first material layer over a semiconductor substrate; depositing a mask material layer over the first material layer; depositing a first photoresist layer over the mask material layer; exposing the first photoresist layer using a first mask to pattern the first photoresist layer; developing and rinsing the first photoresist layer to expose first portions of the mask material layer; etching the exposed first portions of the mask material layer thereby forming a plurality of first and second features, wherein the first features comprise patterns for the semiconductor device and the second features comprise printing assist features; stripping the first photoresist layer; depositing a second photoresist layer over the etched mask material layer; exposing the second photoresist layer using a second mask to pattern the second photoresist layer; developing and rinsing the second photoresist layer to expose second portions of the etched mask material layer; etching the exposed second portions of the etched mask material layer thereby removing the second features and end extensions of the first features and forming at least one space between the first features; stripping the second photoresist layer; and etching exposed portions of the first material layer to transfer the pattern of the mask material layer to the first material layer.