IP Library Granted Patent US 7,318,997
Granted Patent B2
US 7,318,997 · App. 10/951,828 · Granted Jan 15, 2008

Exposure apparatus and method for forming fine patterns of semiconductor device using the same

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,318,997
App. No.
10/951,828
Granted
Jan 15, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed are an exposure apparatus for forming fine patterns of a semiconductor using an electric field and a method for forming fine patterns using the exposure apparatus. The exposure apparatus comprises an electric field generator for generating an electric field to be applied to infiltrate an acid (H + ) produced when a photoresist film is exposed into non-exposure regions. Non-exposure regions into which an acid is infiltrated along with exposure regions in a development process can be removed by applying an electric field to the acid produced during exposure of a photoresist film such that the acid is infiltrated into the non-exposure regions.

Claims (20)

1. A method for forming fine patterns of a semiconductor device in a development process, comprising:

applying an electric field, while rotating a wafer, laterally across a horizontal surface of an exposed photoresist film on the wafer to infiltrate acid into non-exposure regions of the photoresist and form an acid-infiltrated non exposure region to a width sufficient to reduce a width of a subsequently developed pattern: and

removing the acid-infiltrated non-exposure region along with exposure regions.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the photoresist film by applying a photoresist agent for deep ultraviolet (DUV) to the wafer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electric field comprises changing the electric field periodically.

4. A method for forming fine patterns of a semiconductor device, comprising:

forming a photoresist film on a wafer;

exposing the photoresist film by irradiating a mask on which patterns are formed;

infiltrating an acid generated in exposure regions of the photoresist film into non-exposure regions by applying an electric field to the acid laterally across a horizontal surface of the wafer while rotating the wafer, and forming a non-exposure region into which the acid is infiltrated to a width sufficient to reduce a width of a subsequently developed pattern; and

removing the exposure regions and the non-exposure regions into which the acid is infiltrated by developing the exposure regions and the non-exposure regions.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the photoresist film is formed by applying a photoresist agent for deep ultraviolet (DCV) to the wafer.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein applying the electric field comprises changing the electric field periodically.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the non-exposure region into which acid is infiltrated has a uniform width.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the developed regions have a width less than a width of respective light shield patterns.

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein removing the non-exposure region into which acid is infiltrated comprises developing the photoresist.

10. The method of claim 4 , further comprising applying the electric field to the wafer after the photoresist film on the wafer is exposed and before removing the non-exposure regions into which acid is infiltrated along with exposure regions.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acid-infiltrated non-exposure region has a uniform width.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the developed regions have a width less than a width of respective light shield patterns.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the acid-infiltrated non-exposure region comprises developing the photoresist.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the electric field to the wafer after the photoresist film on the wafer is exposed and before removing the acid-infiltrated non-exposure regions along with exposure regions.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 017749 FRAME 0335. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNOR SHOULD BE "DONGBUANAM SEMICONDUCTOR INC.". Recorded Jun 21, 2006
From: DONGBUANAM SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: DONGBU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017821/0670 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 8, 2006
From: DONGANAM SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
To: DONGBU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017749/0335 →
MERGER Recorded May 31, 2005
From: DONGBU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
To: DONGBUANAM SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
Reel/Frame 016292/0146 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 27, 2004
From: KIM, HYUNG-WON; BAEK, SEUNG-WON
To: DONGBU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 015858/0501 →