Method for improved manufacturability and patterning of sub-wavelength contact hole mask

1. A method of applying optical proximity correction features to a mask having a target pattern comprising a plurality of features to be imaged, said method comprising the steps of:

defining a set of process parameters to be utilized to image said mask;

determining an interference map based on said process parameters and said target pattern;

defining an area of influence which represents the area about a given feature in said target pattern in which scattering bars will be utilized in said mask; and

disposing a scattering bar in said mask adjacent said given feature in a location indicated by said interference map, said disposing including determining whether said location is within said area of influence such that no scattering bar associated with said given feature is disposed outside said area of influence of said given feature.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

defining an area of influence for each of said plurality of features; and

disposing at least one scattering bar within said area of influence for a plurality of said plurality of features.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of performing a optical proximity correction process after said scattering bars have been disposed in said mask.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein said plurality of features comprises an array of contact holes.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein said plurality of features comprises randomly spaced contact holes.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of connecting adjacent scattering bars located within a given area of influence so as to form a single scattering bar, said single scattering being sub-resolution.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein said scattering bars disposed in said mask exhibit a π-phase shift relative to said given feature.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein said scattering bars disposed in said mask exhibit a 0-phase shift relative to said given feature.

9. A method of generating a mask having a target pattern comprising a plurality of features to be imaged and optical proximity correction features, said method comprising the steps of:

defining a set of process parameters to be utilized to image said mask;

determining an interference map based on said process parameters and said target pattern;

defining an area of influence which represents the area about a given feature in said target pattern in which scattering bars will be utilized in said mask; and

disposing a scattering bar in said mask adjacent said given feature in a location indicated by said interference map, said disposing including determining whether said location is within said area of influence such that no scattering bar associated with said given feature is disposed outside said area of influence of said given feature.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:

defining an area of influence for each of said plurality of features; and

disposing at least one scattering bar within said area of influence for a plurality of said plurality of features.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of performing a optical proximity correction process after said scattering bars have been disposed in said mask.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of features comprises an array of contact holes.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of features comprises randomly spaced contact holes.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of connecting adjacent scattering bars located within a given area of influence so as to form a single scattering bar, said single scattering being sub-resolution.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein said scattering bars disposed in said mask exhibit a π-phase shift relative to said given feature.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein said scattering bars disposed in said mask exhibit a 0-phase shift relative to said given feature.

17. A computer program product for controlling a computer comprising a recording medium readable by the computer, means recorded on the recording medium for directing the computer to generate files corresponding to a mask having a target pattern comprising a plurality of features to be imaged and optical proximity correction features, said generation of said files comprising the steps of:

defining a set of process parameters to be utilized to image said mask;

determining an interference map based on said process parameters and said target pattern;

defining an area of influence which represents the area about a given feature in said target pattern in which scattering bars will be utilized in said mask; and

disposing a scattering bar in said mask adjacent said given feature in a location indicated by said interference map, said disposing including determining whether said location is within said area of influence such that no scattering bar associated with said given feature is disposed outside said area of influence of said given feature.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 , wherein said generation of said files further comprises the steps of:

defining an area of influence for each of said plurality of features; and

disposing at least one scattering bar within said area of influence for a plurality of said plurality of features.

19. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein said generation of said files further comprises the step of performing a optical proximity correction process after said scattering bars have been disposed in said mask.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein said plurality of features comprises an array of contact holes.

21. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein said plurality of features comprises randomly spaced contact holes.

22. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein said generation of said files further comprises the step of connecting adjacent scattering bars located within a given area of influence so as to form a single scattering bar, said single scattering being sub-resolution.

23. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein said scattering bars disposed in said mask exhibit a π-phase shift relative to said given feature.

24. The computer program product of claim 18 , wherein said scattering bars disposed in said mask exhibit a 0-phase shift relative to said given feature.

25. A device manufacturing method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substrate that is at least partially covered by a layer of radiation-sensitive material;

(b) providing a projection beam of radiation using an imaging system;

(c) generating a mask having a plurality of feature, said mask utilized to endow the projection beam with a pattern in its cross-section;

(d) projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of the layer of radiation-sensitive material,

wherein, in step (c), said mask is formed by a method comprising the steps of:

defining a set of process parameters to be utilized to image said mask;

determining an interference map based on said process parameters and a target pattern;

defining an area of influence which represents the area about a given feature in said target pattern in which scattering bars will be utilized in said mask; and

disposing a scattering bar in said mask adjacent said given feature in a location indicated by said interference map, said disposing including determining whether said location is within said area of influence such that no scattering bar associated with said given feature is disposed outside said area of influence of said given feature.