Patent ID: 8110321

Claim:
A method for manufacturing an optical projection mask comprising a damascene reticle by the steps as follows: patterning a mask plate which is transparent and forming said damascene reticle with said mask plate having a first level of transmissivity; forming a feature recess in said mask plate; filling said feature recess with a material having a different level of transmissivity from said first level of transmissivity of said mask plate, thereby forming said damascene reticle; providing a reticle polishing carrier for a polishing tool capable of accommodating said damascene reticle within said reticle polishing carrier; inserting said damascene reticle into a recess in said reticle polishing carrier upon a reticle pad positioned within said recess below said reticle, with said recess having lateral dimensions conforming to the sides of the reticle; providing both said reticle polishing carrier and said reticle pad with an array of aligned passageways therethrough for exhaustion of air from space between said reticle polishing carrier and said damascene reticle; said reticle pad extending continuously across said recess in contact with said damascene reticle aside from said array of aligned passageways; retaining said damascene reticle on said reticle polishing carrier by exhausting air through said passageways from said space between said reticle polishing carrier and said reticle; and then planarizing said damascene reticle on said reticle polishing carrier; whereby generation of a vacuum can retain said reticle in place under vacuum conditions and application of air under pressure can eject said damascene reticle from said reticle polishing carrier.