Determining lithographic set point using optical proximity correction verification simulation
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of determining a lithographic tool set point for a lithographic process, the method comprising:
- providing a model of a production lithographic process including simulations of printed shapes;
analyzing the model of the production lithographic process to determine whether a set of structures on a production mask used in the production lithographic process to create the printed shapes will fail under a plurality of set points, wherein the analyzing includes;
determining that a set point in the plurality of set points is a failure point;
establishing the failure point as an outer limit for at least one process condition; and
testing another set point in the plurality of set points within the outer limit to determine if the another set point is another failure point;
determining an operating region of set points where the set of structures on the production mask does not fail; and
establishing a set point location within the operating region based upon a set point selection function.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to determining a lithographic set point using simulations of optical proximity correction verification. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of determining a lithographic tool set point for a lithographic process is disclosed. The method may include: providing a model of a production lithographic process including simulations of printed shapes; analyzing the model of the production lithographic process to determine whether a set of structures on a production mask used in the production lithographic process to create the printed shapes will fail under a plurality of set points; determining an operating region of set points where the set of structures on the production mask does not fail; and establishing a set point location within the operating region based upon a set point selection function.
57 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of determining a lithographic tool set point for a lithographic process, the method comprising:
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providing a model of a production lithographic process including simulations of printed shapes; analyzing the model of the production lithographic process to determine whether a set of structures on a production mask used in the production lithographic process to create the printed shapes will fail under a plurality of set points, wherein the analyzing includes; determining that a set point in the plurality of set points is a failure point; establishing the failure point as an outer limit for at least one process condition; and testing another set point in the plurality of set points within the outer limit to determine if the another set point is another failure point; determining an operating region of set points where the set of structures on the production mask does not fail; and establishing a set point location within the operating region based upon a set point selection function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer system comprising:
at least one computing device configured to determine a lithographic tool set point for a lithographic process by performing actions comprising; providing a model of a production lithographic process including simulations of printed shapes; analyzing the model of the production lithographic process to determine whether a set of structures on a production mask used in the production lithographic process to create the printed shapes will fail under a plurality of set points, wherein the analyzing includes; determining that a set point in the plurality of set points is a pass point; establishing the pass point as an inner limit for at least one process condition; and testing another set point in the plurality of set points outside the inner limit to determine if the another set point is another pass point; determining an operating region of set points where the set of structures on the production mask does not fail; and establishing a set point location within the operating region based upon a set point selection function. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program comprising program code embodied in at least one non-transitory computer readable medium, which when executed, enables a computer system to implement a method for determining a lithographic tool set point for a lithographic process, the method comprising:
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providing a model of a production lithographic process including simulations of printed shapes; analyzing the model of the production lithographic process to determine whether a set of structures on a production mask used in the production lithographic process to create the printed shapes will fail under a plurality of set points, wherein the analyzing includes; determining that a set point in the plurality of set points is a failure point; establishing the failure point as an outer limit for at least one process condition; and testing another set point in the plurality of set points within the outer limit to determine if the another set point is another failure point; determining an operating region of set points where the set point of structures on the production mask does not fail; and establishing a set point location within the operating region based upon a set point selection function. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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Specification