Escaping death: single-patterning contact printing for 32/28-nm logic technology nodes

Bradley Morgenfeld; Ian Stobert; Ju Jin An; Massud A. Aminpur; Colin J. Brodsky; Alan Thomas; Henning Haffner; Martin Ostermayr; Hideki Kanai; Norman Chen

doi:10.1117/1.JMM.11.1.013010

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19 March 2012 Escaping death: single-patterning contact printing for 32/28-nm logic technology nodes

Bradley Morgenfeld, Ian Stobert, Ju Jin An, Massud A. Aminpur, Colin J. Brodsky, Alan Thomas, Henning Haffner, Martin Ostermayr, Hideki Kanai, Norman Chen

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J. of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS, 11(1), 013010 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMM.11.1.013010

Abstract

As 193-nm immersion lithography is extended indefinitely to sustain technology roadmaps, there is increasing pressure to contain escalating lithography costs by identifying patterning solutions that can minimize the use of multiple-pass processes. Contact patterning for the 32/28-nm technology nodes has been greatly facilitated by the just-in-time introduction of new process enablers that allow the support of flexible foundry-oriented ground rules alongside high-performance technology, without inhibiting migration to a single-pass patterning process. The incorporation of device-based performance metrics, along with rigorous patterning and structural variability studies, was critical in the evaluation of material innovation for improved resolution and CD shrink. Additionally, novel design changes for single patterning incorporating mask optimization efforts, along with new capability in data preparation, were assessed to allow for minimal impact of implementation of a single patterning contact process late in the 32-nm and 28-nm development cycles. In summary, this paper provides a comprehensive study of what it takes to turn a contact-level double-patterning process into a single-patterning process consisting of design and data manipulation, as well as wafer manufacturing aspects, together with many results.

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Bradley Morgenfeld, Ian Stobert, Ju Jin An, Massud A. Aminpur, Colin J. Brodsky, Alan Thomas, Henning Haffner, Martin Ostermayr, Hideki Kanai, and Norman Chen "Escaping death: single-patterning contact printing for 32/28-nm logic technology nodes," Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS 11(1), 013010 (19 March 2012). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMM.11.1.013010

Published: 19 March 2012

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