Patent ID: 7649615

Claim:
A method of patterning a wafer that is at least in part coated with a layer comprising a non-integrating photoresist to achieve superresolution, comprising: at least partially coating said wafer with a non-integrating photoresist; configuring an array of programmable pixels with a first pattern; performing at least a first exposure with said first pattern, said first exposure comprising directing energy along a path toward said wafer through said array of programmable pixels configured with said first pattern, said directed energy having a first energy distribution including center spots and associated side lobes; providing, in said path, at least one apodizing aperture, said at least one apodizing aperture modifying the phase and/or amplitude of said first energy distribution, resulting in narrower center spots and larger associated side lobes as compared to said first energy distribution; said center spots of said modified energy distribution at least partially exposing said non-integrating photoresist, said side lobes of said modified energy distribution substantially not exposing said non-integrating photoresist; moving said wafer relative to said array of programmable pixels; configuring said array of programmable pixels with at least a second pattern; performing at least a second exposure with said second pattern, said second exposure comprising directing energy along a path toward said wafer through said array of programmable pixels configured with said second pattern, said directed energy having a second energy distribution including center spots and associated side lobes; said at least one apodizing aperture provided in said path modifying the phase and/or amplitude of said second energy distribution, resulting in narrower center spots and larger side lobes as compared to said second energy distribution; said center spots of said modified second energy distribution at least partially exposing said non-integrating photoresist, said side lobes of said modified second energy distributions substantially not exposing said non-integrating photoresist; and further processing said wafer to create a structure corresponding to the patterns of at least the first and second exposures.