Patent ID: 7760360

Claim:
A method of monitoring a photolithographic process, comprising: (a) using a photolithographic process to pattern a substrate to form (i) a scatterometry target having a plurality of parallel elongated features, each elongated feature having a length in a lengthwise direction and a plurality of stress-relief features including gaps disposed at a plurality of positions along the length of each elongated feature, the gaps interrupting the elongated features and (ii) other features, each of the other features having at least one of a microelectronic function or a micro-electromechanical function; (b) detecting a return signal in response to illumination of the scatterometry target wherein the gaps are adapted to produce a return signal which mimics a return signal from a scatterometry target that does not have the stress-relief features; and (c) using the return signal to determine a result of the photolithographic process.