Patent ID: 7713664

Claim:
A method for fabricating an attenuated phase shift photomask including a transfer pattern composed of a phase shift layer for shifting a phase of exposure light, the transfer pattern being disposed in a first region, a light-shielding zone for blocking the exposure light, and a light-absorbing pattern composed of the phase shift layer, the light-shielding zone and the light-absorbing pattern being disposed in a second region separate from the first region, the method comprising: forming over a transparent substrate in the following order: the phase shift layer, a light-shielding layer, and a negative resist layer; forming a first resist pattern by performing first exposure and development on the negative resist layer; forming a light-shielding pattern by etching the light-shielding layer using the first resist pattern as a first etching mask; removing the first resist pattern, and then forming a positive resist layer; forming a second resist pattern including a pattern corresponding to the light-absorbing pattern by performing second exposure and development on the positive resist layer; forming a phase shift pattern by etching the phase shift layer using the second resist pattern as a second etching mask; after the step of forming the phase shift pattern, selectively removing only portions composed of the second resist pattern located on the first region; after selectively removing only portions composed of the second resist pattern located on the first region, removing the light-shielding layer on the first region; and after removing the light-shielding layer on the first region, removing the second resist pattern.