Patent ID: 7393779

Claim:
A method of forming an aperture in a pattern layer, comprising the steps of: depositing said pattern layer on a substrate; depositing a hardmask on said pattern layer; depositing a seed layer on said hardmask layer; forming at least one aperture, having reference dimensions, in said seed layer, extending through said seed layer and exposing vertical sides of said seed layer in said aperture; selectively growing a reduction thickness of oxide by one of LPD and ALD on said vertical sides of said seed layer in said aperture, whereby said aperture has reduced dimensions less than said reference dimensions by said reduction thickness; forming a reduced aperture in said hardmask, using said seed layer as a mask, thereby forming a reduced aperture in said hardmask having substantially said reduced dimensions; and etching at least one aperture in said pattern layer using said reduced aperture in said hardmask.