Multi-exposure lithography employing differentially sensitive photoresist layers
First Claim
1. A method of forming a patterned structure comprising:
- forming a stack of, from bottom to top, a second photoresist and a first photoresist on a substrate;
lithographically patterning said first photoresist with a first pattern, wherein a top surface of said second photoresist is exposed in an area of said first pattern; and
lithographically forming a second pattern in said second photoresist, wherein said second pattern includes a plurality of line troughs, wherein each of said plurality of line troughs includes a narrow portion having a first width, and wherein at least one of said plurality of line troughs includes a bulge portion having a second width greater than said first width, wherein said bulge portion is formed underneath said area of said first pattern, wherein said second pattern is formed by simultaneously lithographically exposing said first photoresist having said first pattern and said second photoresist with a light exposure pattern generated by a lithographic mask containing a pattern of a set of parallel lines of a constant width.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A stack of a second photoresist having a second photosensitivity and a first photoresist having a first photosensitivity, which is greater than second photosensitivity, is formed on a substrate. A first pattern is formed in the first photoresist by a first exposure and a first development, while the second photoresist underneath remains intact. A second pattern comprising an array of lines is formed in the second photoresist. An exposed portion of the second photoresist underneath a remaining portion of the first photoresist forms a narrow portion of a line pattern, while an exposed portion of the second photoresist outside the area of the remaining portions of the photoresist forms a wide portion of the line pattern. Each wide portion of the line pattern forms a bulge in the second pattern, which increases overlay tolerance between the second pattern and the pattern of conductive vias.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of forming a patterned structure comprising:
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forming a stack of, from bottom to top, a second photoresist and a first photoresist on a substrate; lithographically patterning said first photoresist with a first pattern, wherein a top surface of said second photoresist is exposed in an area of said first pattern; and lithographically forming a second pattern in said second photoresist, wherein said second pattern includes a plurality of line troughs, wherein each of said plurality of line troughs includes a narrow portion having a first width, and wherein at least one of said plurality of line troughs includes a bulge portion having a second width greater than said first width, wherein said bulge portion is formed underneath said area of said first pattern, wherein said second pattern is formed by simultaneously lithographically exposing said first photoresist having said first pattern and said second photoresist with a light exposure pattern generated by a lithographic mask containing a pattern of a set of parallel lines of a constant width. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification