Patent ID: 7384874

Claim:
A method of forming a hardmask pattern over a semiconductor device semiconductor device, the method comprising: forming a first hardmask layer and a second hardmask layer over a semiconductor substrate; forming first and second patterns of a first type over the second hardmask layer; forming first and second overcoats over the first and second patterns of the first type, respectively, the first and second overcoats being conformal to the corresponding patterns of the first type, the first and second overcoats defining a space therebetween and configured to expose an underlying layer; forming a filling layer to fill the space defined between the first and second overcoats; removing the first and second overcoats to provide the first pattern of the first type, the second pattern of the first type, and an additional pattern provided between the first and second patterns of the first type; and etching the second hardmask layer and the first hardmask layer using the first pattern of the first type, the second pattern of the first type, and the additional pattern to obtain hardmask patterns.