Three-dimensional mask model for photolithography simulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- obtaining a plurality of kernels to adapt a thin mask transmission corresponding to a mask design layout for a physical an optical mask configured to create a device pattern for optical projection onto a substrate, to a mask 3D transmission;
combining, by a hardware computer system, the thin mask transmission and the plurality of kernels to create a mask 3D transmission corresponding to the mask design layout; and
producing electronic data, using the mask 3D transmission, used to create the optical mask for creating the device pattern,where the electronic data, or information derived therefrom, is configured to guide manufacture of the physical optical mask.
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Abstract
A three-dimensional mask model that provides a more realistic approximation of the three-dimensional effects of a photolithography mask with sub-wavelength features than a thin-mask model. In one embodiment, the three-dimensional mask model includes a set of filtering kernels in the spatial domain that are configured to be convolved with thin-mask transmission functions to produce a near-field image. In another embodiment, the three-dimensional mask model includes a set of correction factors in the frequency domain that are configured to be multiplied by the Fourier transform of thin-mask transmission functions to produce a near-field image.
17 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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obtaining a plurality of kernels to adapt a thin mask transmission corresponding to a mask design layout for a physical an optical mask configured to create a device pattern for optical projection onto a substrate, to a mask 3D transmission; combining, by a hardware computer system, the thin mask transmission and the plurality of kernels to create a mask 3D transmission corresponding to the mask design layout; and producing electronic data, using the mask 3D transmission, used to create the optical mask for creating the device pattern, where the electronic data, or information derived therefrom, is configured to guide manufacture of the physical optical mask. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, are configured to cause the computer to at least:
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obtain a plurality of edge-based kernels to adapt a thin mask transmission corresponding to a mask design layout for a physical optical mask configured to create a device pattern for optical projection onto a substrate, to a mask 3D transmission; combine the thin mask transmission and the plurality of kernels to create a mask 3D transmission corresponding to the mask design layout; and produce electronic data, using the mask 3D transmission, used to create the optical mask for creating the device pattern, where the electronic data, or information derived therefrom, is configured to guide manufacture of the physical optical mask. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon to perform mask topography effect modeling on a mask design layout and which, when executed by a computer, are configured to cause the computer to at least:
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apply a thin mask model to the mask design layout to create a thin mask transmission; apply a thick mask model to the mask design layout to generate a mask 3D residual, the thick mask model comprising a plurality of edge-based kernels; and produce electronic data, using the mask 3D transmission, used to create a physical optical mask configured to create a pattern for an integrated circuit, where the electronic data, or information derived therefrom, is configured to guide manufacture of the physical optical mask. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, are configured to cause the computer to at least:
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obtain a plurality of kernels to adapt a thin mask transmission corresponding to a mask design layout for a physical optical mask configured to create a device pattern for optical projection onto a substrate, to a mask 3D transmission; combine the thin mask transmission and the plurality of kernels to create a mask 3D transmission corresponding to the mask design layout; and produce electronic data, using the mask 3D transmission, used to create the optical mask for creating the device pattern, where the electronic data, or information derived therefrom, is configured to guide manufacture of the physical optical mask. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification