Incorporation of a phase map into fast model-based optical proximity correction simulation kernels to account for near and mid-range flare
First Claim
1. A method of generating a corrected phase map by performing model-based optical proximity correction comprising:
- embedding wavefront information on a first two-dimensional complex array having a plurality of array elements and an assigned diameter;
generating a phase map from said wavefront information;
computing a point spread function from said phase map;
performing optical proximity correction calculations that account for higher order aberrations to accommodate flare or spatial frequency of greater than or equal to 2μ
using said point spread function; and
generating a data file containing a transformed array of said corrected phase map having said optical proximity correction.
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Abstract
A first method to compute a phase map within an optical proximity correction simulation kernel utilizes simulated wavefront information from randomly generated data. A second method uses measured data from optical tools. A phase map is created by analytically embedding a randomly generated two-dimensional array of complex numbers of wavefront information, and performing an inverse Fourier Transform on the resultant array. A filtering function requires the amplitude of each element of the array to be multiplied by a Gaussian function. A power law is then applied to the array. The elements of the array are shuffled, and converted from the phasor form to real/imaginary form. A two-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform is applied. The array is then unshuffled, and converted back to phasor form.
30 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method of generating a corrected phase map by performing model-based optical proximity correction comprising:
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embedding wavefront information on a first two-dimensional complex array having a plurality of array elements and an assigned diameter; generating a phase map from said wavefront information; computing a point spread function from said phase map; performing optical proximity correction calculations that account for higher order aberrations to accommodate flare or spatial frequency of greater than or equal to 2μ
using said point spread function; andgenerating a data file containing a transformed array of said corrected phase map having said optical proximity correction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of generating corrected phase maps for a lithographic mask by performing model based optical proximity correction on said lithographic mask pattern incorporating said phase maps comprising:
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incorporating a point spread function array in real dimension within a set of convolution kernels; computing an aerial image with higher order aberrations to accommodate flare or a spatial frequency of greater than or equal to 2μ
using said set of convolution kernels; andgenerating a data file containing a transformed array of said corrected phase maps having optical proximity corrections.
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27. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for performing model-based optical proximity correction, said method steps comprising:
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embedding wavefront information on a first two-dimensional complex array having a plurality of array elements and an assigned diameter; generating a phase map from said wavefront information, computing a point spread function from said phase map; performing optical proximity correction calculations that account for higher order aberrations to accommodate flare or a spatial frequency of greater than or equal to 2μ
using said point spread function; andgenerating a data file containing a transformed array of said corrected phase map having said optical proximity correction. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of performing model-based optical proximity correction on a VLSI layout mask with a lithographic process model having a phase map with higher-order aberrations comprising:
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inputting an uncorrected VLSI layout mask; inputting a lithographic process model; embedding wavefront information having higher order terms on a first two-dimensional complex array having a plurality of array elements and an assigned diameter; generating a phase map having higher order terms from said wavefront information; computing a point spread function from said phase map having higher order terms that accommodate flare or a spatial frequency of greater than or equal to 2μ
;incorporating and correcting said phase map with said point spread function within the lithographic process model; performing optical proximity correction on said uncorrected VLSI layout mask using said lithographic process model having said corrected phase map having higher order aberrations; and outputting a data file containing a transformed array of a corrected VLSI layout mask.
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32. A method of simulating wafer image for a VLSI layout Mask with a lithographic process model having a phase map comprising higher-order aberrations comprising:
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inputting a VLSI layout mask; inputting a lithographic process model; embedding wavefront information having higher order terms on a first two-dimensional complex array having a plurality of array elements and an assigned diameter; generating a phase map having higher order terms from said wavefront information to accommodate flare or a spatial frequency of greater than or equal to 2μ
;computing a point spread function from said phase map having higher order terms; incorporating and correcting said phase map within the lithographic process model; performing simulation on said VLSI layout mask using said lithographic process model having said corrected phase map having higher order aberrations; and outputting a data file of containing a transformed array including simulated contours from said VLSI layout mask.
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33. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for a model-based optical proximity correction on a VLSI layout Mask with a lithographic process model having a phase map with higher-order aberrations comprising:
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inputting an uncorrected VLSI layout mask; inputting a lithographic process model; embedding wavefront information having higher order aberrations on a first two-dimensional complex array having a plurality of array elements and an assigned diameter; generating a phase map having higher order aberrations from said wavefront information to accommodate flare or a spatial frequency of greater than or equal to 2μ
;computing a point spread function from said phase map having higher order aberrations; incorporating and correcting said phase map with said point spread function within the lithographic process model; performing optical proximity correction on said uncorrected VLSI layout mask using said lithographic process model having said corrected phase map having higher order aberrations; and outputting a data file containing a transformed array of a corrected VLSI layout mask.
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Specification