IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,209,613
Granted Patent B2
US 10,209,613 · App. 15/167,740 · Granted Feb 19, 2019

System and method for manufacturing planarized extreme ultraviolet lithography blank

Inventors: Cara Beasley (Scotts Valley, CA); Ralf Hofmann (Soquel, CA); Majeed Foad (Sunnyvale, CA); Timothy Michaelson (Milpitas, CA)
Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
G03F1/24G03F7/70958
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,209,613
App. No.
15/167,740
Granted
Feb 19, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated extreme ultraviolet (EUV) blank production system includes: a vacuum chamber for placing a substrate in a vacuum; a first deposition system for depositing a planarization layer having a planarized top surface over the substrate; and a second deposition system for depositing a multi-layer stack on the planarization layer without removing the substrate from the vacuum. The EUV blank is in an EUV lithography system includes: an extreme ultraviolet light source; a mirror for directing light from the EUV source; a reticle stage for placing a EUV mask blank with a planarization layer; and a wafer stage for placing a wafer. The EUV blank includes: a substrate; a planarization layer to compensate for imperfections related to the surface of the substrate, the planarization layer having a flat top surface; and a multi-layer stack on the planarization layer.

Claims (23)

1. An integrated extreme ultraviolet blank production system comprising:

a vacuum chamber for placing a substrate in a vacuum;

a flowable chemical vapor deposition system that deposits a planarization layer having a planarized top surface over the substrate, the planarization layer including a flowable film;

a cure system for curing the planarization layer without removing the substrate from the vacuum; and

a second deposition system that deposits a multi-layer stack on the planarization layer without removing the substrate from the vacuum to form the extreme ultraviolet blank.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a degas system that degasses the substrate without removing the substrate from the vacuum.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a preclean system that cleans the substrate without removing the substrate from the vacuum.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third deposition system that deposits a capping layer on the planarization layer without removing the substrate from the vacuum.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first deposition system is configured to deposit the planarization layer to a thickness in the range of 100 Å to 10,000 Å.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flowable chemical vapor deposition system can deposit the planarization layer that can level out a bump or encapsulate a particle from 10 nm to 30 nm in height on a surface underlying the planarization layer to provide a smooth top surface of the planarization layer.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flowable chemical vapor deposition system can deposit the planarization layer that fill a pit having an aspect ratio from 1:6 to 30:1 in a surface underlying the planarization layer to provide a smooth top surface of the planarization layer.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flowable chemical vapor deposition system can deposit the planarization layer that provides a top surface of the planarization layer having a surface smoothness under 0.5 nm RMS.

9. A method of fabricating an extreme ultraviolet blank, comprising:

a substrate in a vacuum;

depositing, using a flowable chemical vapor deposition system, a planarization layer having a planarized top surface on the substrate, the planarization layer including a flowable vapor deposition film;

curing the planarization layer; and

depositing a multi-layer stack on the planarization layer, wherein depositing the planarization layer, curing the planarization layer and depositing the multi-layer stack are performed without removing the substrate from the vacuum to form the extreme ultraviolet blank.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the flowable vapor deposition film is such that a top surface of the planarization layer has a greater planarity than a surface underlying the planarization layer.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein depositing the planarization layer fills a pit imperfection on a surface underlying a top surface of the planarization layer to provide a smooth top surface of the planarization layer.

12. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein depositing the planarization layer encapsulates a particle on a surface underlying the planarization layer to provide a smooth top surface of the planarization layer.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the depositing the planarization layer fills a pit having an aspect ratio from 1:6 to 30:1 in a surface underlying the planarization layer to provide a smooth top surface of the planarization layer.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein depositing the planarization layer levels out a bump or encapsulates a particle from 10 nm to 30 nm in height on a surface underlying the planarization layer to provide a smooth top surface of the planarization layer.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein depositing the planarization layer provides a top surface of the planarization layer having a surface smoothness under 0.5 nm RMS.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 14, 2016
From: BEASLEY, CARA; HOFMANN, RALF; FOAD, MAJEED; MICHAELSON, TIMOTHY
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038912/0792 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14139307 · Dec 23, 2013
Provisional Application 61778335 · Mar 12, 2013
Related Publication 20160274454A1 · Sep 22, 2016