System and method for making photomasks

• Main Authors: VICKERY CARL A, ATON THOMAS J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.03.2011
• Subjects: APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ELECTROGRAPHY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HOLOGRAPHY; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR,STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES,e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTORDEVICES; PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHYSICS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

The present disclosure is directed to a method for preparing photomask patterns for a lithography process that employs a plurality of photomasks. The method comprises receiving data describing a drawn pattern. An edge of the drawn pattern is identified that can be defined using a first photomask and a second photomask, and the first photomask is chosen for patterning the edge. Patterns are formed for the first photomask and the second photomask, wherein the first photomask pattern is formed to pattern the edge, and the second photomask pattern is formed to have a wing adjacent to the edge for protecting the edge from double patterning. A process for patterning an integrated circuit device is also disclosed.