Rule-based deployment of assist features
First Claim
1. A method to improve a patterning process of imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
- obtaining a rule configured to determine a characteristic of an assist feature based on a parameter selected from;
a characteristic of a design feature in the portion, a characteristic of the patterning process, a characteristic of the lithographic apparatus, and/or a combination selected from the foregoing;
determining, by a hardware computer using the rule, a distance between the assist feature and a design feature edge of a pair of design feature edges in the portion, based on a spacing between the pair of edges such that the assist feature is asymmetrical with respect to the pair of edges;
adjusting the characteristic, or adjusting another characteristic, of the assist feature using a model; and
placing the assist feature into the design layout for imaging using a patterning device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of reducing a pattern displacement error, contrast loss, best focus shift, and/or tilt of a Bossung curve, of a portion of a design layout used in a patterning process for imaging that portion onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus. The methods include determining or adjusting one or more characteristics of one or more assist features using one or more rules based on one or more parameters selected from: one or more characteristics of one or more design features in the portion, one or more characteristics of the patterning process, one or more characteristics of the lithographic apparatus, and/or a combination selected from the foregoing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method to improve a patterning process of imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus, the method comprising:
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obtaining a rule configured to determine a characteristic of an assist feature based on a parameter selected from;
a characteristic of a design feature in the portion, a characteristic of the patterning process, a characteristic of the lithographic apparatus, and/or a combination selected from the foregoing;determining, by a hardware computer using the rule, a distance between the assist feature and a design feature edge of a pair of design feature edges in the portion, based on a spacing between the pair of edges such that the assist feature is asymmetrical with respect to the pair of edges; adjusting the characteristic, or adjusting another characteristic, of the assist feature using a model; and placing the assist feature into the design layout for imaging using a patterning device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a rule recorded thereon, wherein the rule determines a characteristic of an assist feature based on a parameter selected from:
- a characteristic of a design feature in a portion of a design layout for imaging onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus by a pattering process, a characteristic of the patterning process, a characteristic of the lithographic apparatus, and/or a combination selected from the foregoing;
wherein, based on the rule, the assist feature is located asymmetrically with respect to a pair of design feature edges in the portion of the design layout dependent on a position of the design feature in a slit of illumination used to illuminate a patterning device configured to pattern the illumination according to the design feature for imaging on the substrate in the lithographic apparatus.
- a characteristic of a design feature in a portion of a design layout for imaging onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus by a pattering process, a characteristic of the patterning process, a characteristic of the lithographic apparatus, and/or a combination selected from the foregoing;
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions recorded thereon configured to cause a hardware computer system to at least:
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obtain a rule configured to determine a characteristic of an assist feature based on a parameter selected from;
a characteristic of a design feature in a portion of a design layout for imaging onto a substrate using a lithographic apparatus by a pattering process, a characteristic of the patterning process, a characteristic of the lithographic apparatus, and/or a combination selected from the foregoing;determine, using the rule, a distance between the assist feature and a design feature edge of a pair of design feature edges in the portion, based on a spacing between the pair of edges such that the assist feature is asymmetrical with respect to the pair of edges; adjust the characteristic, or adjust another characteristic, of the assist feature using a model; and place the assist feature into the design layout for imaging using a patterning device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification