US Patent:
20020197541, Dec 26, 2002
Inventors:
Warren Grobman - Austin TX, US
Ruoping Wang - Austin TX, US
Alfred Reich - Austin TX, US
International Classification:
G03F009/00
G03G016/00
G03C005/00
Abstract:
A method of patterning a wafer using four areas with differing exposure characteristics is disclosed. Two areas are phase shifted relative to the other two areas in order to create unexposed areas on the integrated circuit. Two different areas have polarizations orthogonal to each other, are frequency shifted relative to the two other areas, or are exposed by light at a time different than the two other areas to form exposed areas on the integrated circuit. The exposed areas are subsequently removed from the integrated circuit. In one embodiment, the four areas are on the same mask. The use of four areas with differing exposure characteristics allows for the patterning of more complicated and smaller geometric patterns on the integrated circuit than traditional patterning methods.