IP Library Granted Patent US 12,461,438
Granted Patent B2
US 12,461,438 · App. 17/567,478 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Blank mask and photomask using the same

Inventors: Hyung-joo Lee (Suwon-si, KR); Jiyeon Ryu (Suwon-si, KR); Kyuhun Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Inkyun Shin (Suwon-si, KR); Seong Yoon Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Suk Young Choi (Suwon-si, KR); Suhyeon Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Sung Hoon Son (Suwon-si, KR); Min Gyo Jeong (Suwon, KR)
Assignee: SK enpulse Co., Ltd.
G03F1/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,461,438
App. No.
17/567,478
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a blank mask and the like, and comprises a transparent substrate, a phase shift film disposed on the transparent substrate, and a light shielding film disposed on the phase shift film. The blank mask has a TFT1 value of 0.25 μm/100° C. or less expressed by Equation 1 below: TFT ⁢ ⁢ 1 = Δ ⁢ ⁢ PM T ⁢ ⁢ 2 - T ⁢ ⁢ 1 [ Equation ⁢ ⁢ 1 ] where, when the thermal variation of the processed blank mask, which is formed by processing the thickness of the transparent substrate of the blank mask to be 0.6 mm and removing the light shielding film, is analyzed in a thermomechanical analyzer, the measuring temperature of the thermomechanical analyzer is increased from T1 to T2, and ΔPM is a position change of the upper surface of the phase shift film in the thickness direction at T2, based on a position of the upper surface of the phase shift film at T1.

Claims (207)

1 . A blank mask comprising:

a transparent substrate;

a phase shift film disposed on the transparent substrate; and

a light shielding film, consisting of a lower layer and an upper layer of CrN, with the lower layer disposed on the phase shift film;

wherein the lower layer of the light shielding film comprises oxygen in an amount of 25 to 40 atom %,

wherein the upper layer of the light shielding film is formed by sputtering with a sputtering gas having a flow rate of N 2 which is 30% or more compared to a total flow rate of the sputtering gas,

wherein the phase shift film comprises molybdenum;

wherein the phase shift film has a transmittance of 4 to 8% for ArF light,

wherein the phase shift film comprises a phase difference adjustment layer comprising a surface containing nitrogen and the molybdenum in a uniform mixture in the in-plane direction of the surface, and

wherein a TFT1 value expressed by Equation 1 below is 0.25 μm/100° C. or less;

TFT

1

=

Δ

PM

T

2

-

T

1

[

Equation

1

]

where, when the thermal variation of the processed blank mask, which is formed by processing the thickness of the transparent substrate of the blank mask to be 0.6 mm and removing the light shielding film, is analyzed in a thermomechanical analyzer,

the measuring temperature of the thermomechanical analyzer is increased from the T1 to the T2, and

the ΔPM is a position change of the upper surface of the phase shift film in the thickness direction at the T2, based on a position of the upper surface of the phase shift film at the T1.

2 . The blank mask of claim 1 ,

wherein the TFT1 value is 0.2 μm/100° C. or less,

when the T1 is 50° C. and the T2 is 80° C.

3 . The blank mask of claim 1 ,

wherein the TFT1 value is 0.2 μm/100° C. or less,

when the T1 is 50° C. and the T2 is 150° C.

4 . The blank mask of claim 1 ,

wherein a Photon energy in a point having a Del_2 value of 0 according to Equation 3 below is 1.8 eV to 2.14 eV, when PE 1 value is 1.5 eV and PE 2 value is 3.0 eV;

Del_

2

=

lim

Δ

PE

0

(

Δ

DPS

Δ

PE

)

[

Equation

3

]

where in the Equation 3,

the DPS value is, when the light shielding film is removed from the blank mask and the surface of the phase shift film is measured with a spectroscopic ellipsometer by applying an incident angle to be 64.5°, the phase difference between P wave and S wave of reflected light if the phase difference between the P wave and the S wave of the reflected light is 180° or less, or a value of subtracting the phase difference between the P wave and the S wave of the reflected light from 360° if the phase difference between the P wave and the S wave of the reflected light is more than 180°, and

the PE value is the Photon energy of incident light within a range of the PE 1 value to the PE 2 value.

5 . The blank mask of claim 1 ,

wherein a Photon energy in a point having a Del_2 value of 0 according to Equation 3 below is 3.8 eV to 4.64 eV, when PE 1 value is 3 eV and PE 2 value is 5 eV;

Del_

2

=

lim

Δ

PE

0

(

Δ

DPS

Δ

PE

)

[

Equation

3

]

where in the Equation 3,

the DPS value is, when the light shielding film is removed from the blank mask and the surface of the phase shift film is measured with a spectroscopic ellipsometer by applying an incident angle to be 64.5°, the phase difference between P wave and S wave of reflected light if the phase difference between the P wave and the S wave of the reflected light is 180° or less, or a value of subtracting the phase difference between the P wave and the S wave of the reflected light from 360° if the phase difference between the P wave and the S wave of the reflected light is more than 180°, and

the PE value is the Photon energy of incident light within a range of the PE 1 value to the PE 2 value.

6 . The blank mask of claim 1 ,

wherein the phase shift film comprises the phase difference adjustment layer and a protective layer having a total thickness of 35 Å to 45 Å disposed on the phase difference adjustment layer,

wherein the phase shift film further comprises silicon, oxygen and nitrogen,

wherein the phase difference adjustment layer comprises nitrogen in an amount of 40 to 60 atom %,

wherein the protective layer comprises nitrogen in an amount of 20 to 40 atom %,

wherein the protective layer comprises a surface region in which the ratio of nitrogen content to oxygen content in the thickness direction is 0.4 to 2, and the surface region has a thickness of 45 to 55% compared to the total thickness of the protective layer.

7 . The blank mask of claim 6 ,

wherein the ratio of the thickness of the protective layer to the thickness of the phase shift film is 0.04 to 0.09.

8 . A blank mask comprising:

a transparent substrate;

a phase shift film disposed on the transparent substrate; and

a light shielding film, consisting of a lower layer and an upper layer of CrN, with the lower layer disposed on the phase shift film;

wherein the lower layer of the light shielding film comprises oxygen in an amount of 25 to 40 atom %,

wherein the upper layer of the light shielding film is formed by sputtering with a sputtering gas having a flow rate of N 2 which is 30% or more compared to a total flow rate of the sputtering gas,

wherein the phase shift film comprises molybdenum;

wherein the phase shift film has a transmittance of 4 to 8% for ArF light,

wherein the phase shift film comprises a phase difference adjustment layer comprising a surface containing nitrogen and the molybdenum in a uniform mixture in the in-plane direction of the surface, and

wherein a Photon energy of incident light in a point having a Del_2 value of 0 according to Equation 3 below is 3.8 eV to 4.64 eV, when PE 1 value is 3.0 eV and PE 2 value is 5.0 eV;

Del_

2

=

lim

Δ

PE

0

(

Δ

DPS

Δ

PE

)

[

Equation

3

]

where in the Equation 3,

the DPS value is, when the light shielding film is removed from the blank mask and after that the surface of the phase shift film is measured with a spectroscopic ellipsometer by applying an incident angle to be 64.5°, the phase difference between P wave and S wave of reflected light if the phase difference between the P wave and the S wave of the reflected light is 180° or less, or a value of subtracting the phase difference between the P wave and the S wave of the reflected light from 360° if the phase difference between the P wave and the S wave of the reflected light is more than 180°, and

the PE value is the Photon energy of incident light within a range of the PE 1 value to the PE 2 value.

9 . The blank mask of claim 8 ,

wherein a Photon energy of incident light in a point having the Del_2 value of 0 is 1.8 to 2.14 eV, when the PE 1 value is 1.5 eV and the PE 2 value is 3.0 eV.

10 . The blank mask of claim 8 ,

wherein an average value of the Del_2 value is 78 to 98/eV, when the PE 1 value is 1.5 eV and the PE 2 value is the minimum value within Photon energy values of incident light in a point having the Del_2 value of 0.

11 . The blank mask of claim 8 ,

wherein an average value of the Del_2 value is −65 to −55/eV, when the PE 1 value is the minimum value within Photon energy values of incident light in a point having the Del_2 value of 0, and the PE 2 value is the maximum value within Photon energy values of the incident light in a point having the Del_2 value of 0.

12 . The blank mask of claim 8 ,

wherein an average value of the Del_2 value is 60 to 120°/eV, when the PE 1 value is the maximum value within Photon energy values of incident light in a point having the Del_2 value of 0, and when the PE 2 value is 5.0 eV.

13 . The blank mask of claim 8 ,

wherein the maximum value of the Del_2 value is 105 to 300°/eV, when the PE 1 value is 1.5 eV and the PE 2 value is 5.0 eV.

14 . The blank mask of claim 13 ,

wherein the Photon energy in a point having the maximum value of the Del_2 value is 4.5 eV or more.

15 . A photomask comprising:

a transparent substrate;

a phase shift pattern film disposed on the transparent substrate; and

a light shielding pattern film, consisting of a lower layer and an upper layer of CrN, with the lower layer disposed on the phase shift pattern film;

wherein the lower layer of the light shielding pattern film comprises oxygen in an amount of 25 to 40 atom %,

wherein the upper layer of the light shielding film is formed by sputtering with a sputtering gas having a flow rate of N 2 which is 30% or more compared to a total flow rate of the sputtering gas,

wherein the phase shift film has a transmittance of 4 to 8% for ArF light,

wherein the phase shift film comprises a phase difference adjustment layer comprising a surface containing nitrogen and the molybdenum in a uniform mixture in the in-plane direction of the surface, and

wherein the phase shift film comprises molybdenum;

wherein a TFT3 value expressed by Equation 4 below is 0.25 μm/100° C. or less;

TFT

3

=

Δ

pPM

T

2

-

T

1

[

Equation

4

]

where, when the thermal variation of the processed photomask, which is formed by processing the thickness of the transparent substrate to be 0.6 mm and removing the light shielding pattern film, is analyzed in a thermomechanical analyzer,

the measuring temperature of the thermomechanical analyzer is increased from the T1 to the T2, and

the ΔpPM is a position change of the upper surface of the phase shift pattern film in the thickness direction at the T2 based on a position of the upper surface of the phase shift pattern film at the T1.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2026
From: SK ENPULSE CO., LTD.
To: LUMINAMASK CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 074478/0876 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 9, 2023
From: SKC SOLMICS CO., LTD.
To: SK ENPULSE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065509/0991 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2022
From: LEE, HYUNG-JOO; RYU, JIYEON; KIM, KYUHUN; SHIN, INKYUN; KIM, SEONG YOON; CHOI, SUK YOUNG; KIM, SUHYEON; SON, SUNG HOON; JEONG, MIN GYO
To: SKC SOLMICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 058529/0117 →
Priority Claims (4)
KR 10-2020-0189814 · Dec 31, 2020 · national
KR 10-2020-0189912 · Dec 31, 2020 · national
KR 10-2021-0025946 · Feb 25, 2021 · national
KR 10-2021-0041895 · Mar 31, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220206380A1 · Jun 30, 2022
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