Patent ID: 7635547

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a stencil mask, the method comprising: (a) preparing a composite layer, the composite layer comprising: a membrane forming thin layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the membrane forming thin layer comprising a plurality of membrane areas each having a plurality of pattern areas for forming a pattern to be projected by particle beams and non-pattern areas placed between each pattern area, the non-pattern areas including a border area limiting the membrane areas; a substrate having a first side facing the first side of the membrane forming thin layer and a second side opposite the first side; and an oxide layer interposed between the first side of the membrane forming thin layer and the first side of the substrate; (b) forming a trench by etching the composite layer in the non-pattern areas from the second side of the membrane forming thin layer; (c) forming an auxiliary strut by filling a support layer inside the trench; and (d) forming a main strut supporting the membrane area in the border area by removing sections of the substrate included in the membrane areas.