Patent ID: 8053256

Claim:
A method for forming a uniform film thickness over a semiconductor body, comprising: forming an adjustable film layer over the semiconductor body; measuring a plurality of thicknesses from spatially diverse locations of the adjustable film layer; forming a contour map based upon the measured plurality of thicknesses, wherein the contour map illustrates variations in thickness of the adjustable film layer over a region of the semiconductor body; depositing an etch mask layer above the adjustable film layer; selectively patterning the etch mask layer to varying thicknesses based upon the contour map using a reticleless exposure system, wherein selectively patterning the etch mask layer comprises selectively exposing areas of the etch mask layer for different exposure times depending on the thickness of the underlying adjustable film layer; and selectively etching the semiconductor body to substantially planarize the adjustable film layer, wherein selectively etching the semiconductor body removes the patterned etch mask layer thereby providing etching of the underlying adjustable film layer proportional to the exposure time of the patterned etch mask layer.