Patent ID: 7056645

Claim:
A method for patterning a large area geometry, comprising: illuminating a chromeless phase shift lithography (CPL) mask with an illumination source that emits light at a wavelength of one of 248 nm, 93 nm, or 157 nm, the CPL mask comprising a reticle having a phase-shifting feature pattern for patterning the large area geometry, the phase-shifting feature pattern including an inner pattern comprising a plurality of phase-shifting features interspersed with non-phase-shifting areas and arranged in an alternating two-dimensional pattern surrounded by an at least substantially-filled phase-shifting peripheral area having a perimeter forming a pattern outline that is similar to an outline of the large area geometry, wherein light passing through the phase-shifting features and phase-shifting peripheral area is phase-shifted relative to light passing through the non-phase-shifting areas of the CPL mask; and projecting phase-shifted and non-phase-shifted light passing through the CPL mask onto a layer of resist.