Patent ID: 8232212

Claim:
A method of self-aligned dual patterning, comprising: loading a first substrate into a processing platform; etching a first layer of a multi-layered masking stack to form a template mask; performing an in-vacuo critical dimension (CD) measurement of the template mask; forming a spacer adjacent to the template mask, the spacer formed to a width that is dependent on the CD measurement of the template mask, wherein forming the spacer adjacent to the template mask further comprises: depositing a spacer layer over the template mask, wherein spacer layer is formed to a thickness dependent on the CD measurement of the template mask; and performing a spacer etch to expose the template mask and to form a spacer from the spacer layer; performing an in-vacuo CD measurement to determine the spacer layer thickness deposited; and supplementing the thickness of the spacer layer with an additional deposition or isotropically etching the spacer layer, prior to anisotropically etching the spacer layer to form the spacer, based on the measured spacer layer thickness; and unloading the first substrate from the processing platform.