SPIE Advanced Lithography: "Lithographic Process Window Optimization for Mask Aligner Proximity...

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We introduce a complete methodology for process window optimization in proximity mask aligner lithography. The commercially available lithography simulation software LAB from GenISys GmbH was used for simulation of light propagation and 3D resist development. The methodology was tested for the practical example of lines & spaces, 5 micron half-pitch, printed in a 1 micron thick layer of AZ® 1512HS positive photoresist on a silicon wafer. A SUSS MicroTec MA8 mask aligner, equipped with MO Exposure Optics® was used in simulation and experiment. MO Exposure Optics® is the latest generation of illumination systems for mask aligners. MO Exposure Optics® provides telecentric illumination and excellent light uniformity over the full mask field. MO Exposure Optics® allows the lithography engineer to freely shape the angular spectrum of the illumination light (customized illumination), which is a mandatory requirement for process window optimization. Three different illumination settings have been tested for 0 to 100 micron proximity gap. The results obtained prove, that the introduced process window methodology is a major step forward to obtain more robust processes in mask aligner lithography. The most remarkable outcome of the presented study is that a smaller exposure gap does not automatically lead to better print results in proximity lithography - what the “good instinct” of a lithographer would expect. With more than 5'000 mask aligners installed in research and industry worldwide, the proposed process window methodology might have significant impact on yield improvement and cost saving in industry.

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LITHOGRAPHIC PROCESS WINDOW OPTIMIZATION FOR MASK

ALIGNER PROXIMITY LITHOGRAPHY

Reinhard Voelkela, Uwe Voglera, Arianna Bramatia, Andreas Erdmannb, Nezih Ünalc,

Ulrich Hofmannc, Marc Hennemeyerd, Ralph Zoberbierd, David Nguyene, Juergen Bruggere

a) SUSS MicroOptics SA, Rouges-Terres 61, CH-2068 Hauterive, Switzerland, voelkel@suss.ch, www.suss.ch

b) Fraunhofer Institut IISB, Schottkystr. 10, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany

c) GenISys GmbH, Eschenstr. 66, D-82024 Taufkirchen, Germany

d) SÜSS MicroTec Lithography GmbH, Schleissheimerstrasse 90, D-85748 Garching, Germany

e) École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL STI IMT, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland

MASK ALIGNER LITHOGRAPHY EVOLUTION

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 2

New illumination system: MO Exposure Optics®

better light uniformity & telecentric illumination

customized illumination

LAB: lithography simulation

full 3D resist development

Process window optimization

visualize and optimize mask aligner lithography

find robust process

improve yield resist

hei

ght

gap

Θ

wafer

photomask

20%

80%

sidewallangle

resist pit

200nmCD

half-pitch

Proximity lithography – shadow printing

Resolution of 3 – 5 m (half-pitch) for 30 – 50 m proximity gap

Resolution proximity gap

MASK ALIGNER LITHOGRAPHY 1963 - 2014

Wafer

Mask

SUSS MicroTec, LAB – 3D Workshop, April 24, 2013 3

Side lobes

Off-Axis

Apodization

DIFFRACTION RULES PROXIMITY LITHOGRAPHY

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 4

MO EXPOSURE OPTICS: CUSTOMIZED ILLUMINATION

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 5

LITHOGRAPHIC PROCESS WINDOW FOR MASK ALIGNER

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 6

CD UNIFORMITY

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 7

resist

hei

ght

gap

Θ

wafer

photomask

20%

80%

sidewallangle

resist pit

200nmCD

half-pitch

AZ® 1512 photoresist, 1m thick

Simulation in LAB software from GenISys GmbH

Resist prints in SUSS MA6 MOEO

Data analysis in Matlab

LINES & SPACES 5 MICRON (HALF-PITCH)

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 8

SUSS LGO Optics (±1.4°) (proximity lithography settings)

PROCESS WINDOW (CD)

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 9

B

A C

resist

hei

ght

gap

Θ

wafer

photomask

20%

80%

sidewallangle

resist pit

200nmCD

half-pitch

PROCESS WINDOW (SIDE LOBE PRINTING)

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 10

resist

hei

ght

gap

Θ

wafer

photomask

20%

80%

sidewallangle

resist pit

200nmCD

half-pitch

PROCESS WINDOW (SIDEWALL ANGLE)

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 11

resist

hei

ght

gap

Θ

wafer

photomask

20%

80%

sidewallangle

resist pit

200nmCD

half-pitch

AZ® 1512 photoresist, 1m thick

PROCESS WINDOW

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 12

resist

hei

ght

gap

Θ

wafer

photomask

20%

80%

sidewallangle

resist pit

200nmCD

half-pitch

DEATH VALLEY OF PROXIMITY LITHOGRAPHY

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 13

Resolution = Proximity Gap

OUTLOOK

14

3µm L&S 4µm L&S 5µm L&S 7µm L&S 10µm L&S

≈ 10 µm ≈ 20 µm ≈ 30 µm ≈ 55 µm >100 µm

𝐶𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝐺𝑎𝑝 ≅ 0.44𝐶𝐷2

λ

Broad band illumination

LG

O

PW

fo

r L

GO

P

ara

llel Illu

min

ati

on

CONCLUSION

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 15

New illumination system: MO Exposure Optics®

better light uniformity & telecentric illumination

customized illumination

LAB: lithography & full 3D resist simulation

Process window optimization

visualize and optimize mask aligner lithography

find robust process, improve yield

JOIN OUR WORKSHOP ON THURSDAY MORNING

SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15 16

SUSS.

Our Solutions

Set Standards

SUSS MicroOptics SA Rouges-Terres 61

CH-2068 Hauterive

Switzerland

Tel +41-32-564444

Fax +41-32-5664499

info@suss.ch, www.suss.ch

17 SUSS MicroOptics, Reinhard Völkel, SPIE Advanced Lithography 2014, 9052-15

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