Overlap Margin 확보 및 Side-lobe 억제를 위한 Scattering Bar Optical Proximity Correction

Scattering Bar Optical Proximity Correction to Suppress Overlap Error and Side-lobe in Semiconductor Lithography Process

Attenuated PSM lithography 공정에서 overlay margin 확보 및 side-lobe 제거를 위해 기존의 Cr shield 방식의 단점인 복잡한 mask 제작공정과 구조를 단순화하기 위한 방법으로 scattering bar 방식을 제안하였다. Scattering bar는 Cr 보조패턴처럼 완전히 빛을 차단하는 것이 아니라 약간의 빛을 투과시켜 보강된 intensity를 상쇄하므로 side-lobe를 억제하는 방법으로 metal pattern을 생성할 때 scattering bar도 동시에 만들어 mask제작에 필요한 공정횟수를 줄이고 mask구조 역시 단순하게 한다 그리고 동시에 DOF(depth of focus)를 향상시킨다. Background clear pattern의 경우에 발생하는 side-lobe도 scattering bar를 이용하여 효율적으로 제거되었다.

Overlap Errors and side-lobes have been simultaneously solved by the rule-based correction using the rules extracted from test patterns. Lithography process parameters affecting attPSM lithography process have been determined by the fitting method to the real process data. The correction using scattering bars has been compared to the Cr shield method. The optimal insertion rule of the scattering bal's has made it possible to suppress the side-lobes and to enhance DOF at the same time. Therefore, in this paper, the solution to both side-lobe and overlap Error has been proposed using rule-based confection. Compared to the existing Cr shield method, the proposed rule-based correction with scattering bars can reduce the process complexity and time for mask production.