Patent ID: 7344824

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor comprising the steps of: interposing an alternating aperture phase shift photomask between a semiconductor wafer and an energy source, wherein said alternating aperture phase shift photomask comprises: a substantially transparent substrate having at least one light transmitting opening formed therein; a partially absorbing film layer covering portions of said substantially transparent substrate not defined by said at least one light transmitting opening; and a patterned layer of opaque material affixed to said partially absorbing film, wherein said patterned layer exposes at least one portion of said underlying partially absorbing film layer, wherein said partially absorbing film layer comprises a thickness which substantially balances an aerial image intensity of light transmitted through said at least one partially absorbing opening with light transmitted through said at least one light transmitting opening; generating energy in the energy source; transmitting said generated energy through light transmitting opening in said substantially transparent substrate and said at least one exposed partially absorbing film layer; and etching an image on said semiconductor wafer corresponding to said light transmitting opening in said substantially transparent substrate and said at least one exposed partially absorbing film layer.