IP Library Patent Application 18092179
Patent Application
App. No. 18/092,179

BLANK MASK AND PHOTOMASK USING THE SAME

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
18/092,179
Abstract

A blank mask includes a transparent substrate and a light shielding film disposed on the transparent substrate. A surface of the light shielding film has a controlled power spectrum density value at a spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 to 10 μm −1 . The surface of the light shielding film has a controlled minimum power spectrum density value at the spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 to 10 μm −1 . An Rq value of the surface of the light shielding film is 0.25 nm to 0.55 nm.

Claims (44)

1 . A blank mask comprising:

a transparent substrate; and

a light shielding film disposed on the transparent substrate,

wherein:

the light shielding film comprises a first light shielding layer and a second light shielding layer disposed on the first light shielding layer,

the second light shielding layer comprises a transition metal and at least one of oxygen and nitrogen,

a surface of the light shielding film has a power spectrum density value of 18 nm 4 or more and 50 nm 4 or less at a spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less,

the surface of the light shielding film has a minimum power spectrum density value of 18 nm 4 or more and less than 40 nm 4 at the spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less, and

an Rq value of the surface of the light shielding film is 0.25 nm or more and 0.55 nm or less, and the Rq value is a value evaluated by ISO_4287.

2 . The blank mask of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the light shielding film has a maximum power spectrum density value of 28 nm 4 or more and 50 nm 4 or less at the spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less.

3 . The blank mask of claim 1 , wherein the surface of the light shielding film has a value of 70 nm 4 or less obtained by subtracting a minimum value from a maximum value of the power spectrum density at the spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less.

4 . The blank mask of claim 1 , wherein an etching rate of the second light shielding layer measured by etching with argon gas is 0.3 Å/s or more and 0.5 Å/s or less.

5 . The blank mask of claim 1 , wherein an etching rate of the first light shielding layer measured by etching with argon gas is 0.56 Å/s or more and 1 Å/s or less.

6 . The blank mask of claim 1 , wherein an etching rate of the light shielding film measured by etching with a chlorine-based gas is 1.5 Å/s or more and 3 Å/s or less.

7 . The blank mask of claim 1 , wherein the second light shielding layer comprises the transition metal of 30 at % or more and 80 at % or less, and the nitrogen of 5 at % or more and 30 at % or less.

8 . The blank mask of claim 1 , wherein the transition metal comprises at least one of Cr, Ta, Ti and Hf, and further comprises at least one of the transition metal of groups 7 to 12.

9 . The blank mask of claim 8 , wherein the transition metal of groups 7 to 12 includes Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn.

10 . A photomask comprising:

a transparent substrate; and

a light shielding pattern film disposed on the transparent substrate,

wherein:

the light shielding pattern film comprises a first light shielding layer and a second light shielding layer disposed on the first light shielding layer,

the second light shielding layer comprises a transition metal and at least one of oxygen and nitrogen,

an upper surface of the light shielding pattern film has a power spectrum density value of 18 nm 4 or more and 50 nm 4 or less at a spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less,

the upper surface of the light shielding pattern film has a minimum power spectrum density value of 18 nm 4 or more and less than 40 nm 4 at the spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less, and

an Rq value of the upper surface of the light shielding pattern film is 0.25 nm or more and 0.55 nm or less, and the Rq value is a value evaluated by ISO_4287.

11 . The photomask of claim 10 , wherein the upper surface of the light shielding pattern film has a maximum power spectrum density value of 28 nm 4 or more and 50 nm 4 or less at the spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less.

12 . The photomask of claim 10 , wherein the upper surface of the light shielding pattern film has a value of 70 nm 4 or less obtained by subtracting a minimum value from a maximum value of the power spectrum density at the spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less.

13 . The photomask of claim 10 , wherein an etching rate of the second light shielding layer measured by etching with argon gas is 0.3 Å/s or more and 0.5 Å/s or less.

14 . The photomask of claim 10 , wherein an etching rate of the first light shielding layer measured by etching with argon gas is 0.56 Å/s or more and 1 Å/s or less.

15 . The photomask of claim 10 , wherein an etching rate of the light shielding pattern film measured by etching with a chlorine-based gas is 1.5 Å/s or more and 3 Å/s or less.

16 . The photomask of claim 10 , wherein the second light shielding layer comprises the transition metal of 30 at % or more and 80 at % or less, and the nitrogen of 5 at % or more and 30 at % or less.

17 . The photomask of claim 10 , wherein the transition metal comprises at least one of Cr, Ta, Ti and Hf, and further comprises at least one of the transition metal of groups 7 to 12.

18 . The photomask of claim 17 , wherein the transition metal of groups 7 to 12 includes Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn.

19 . A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

disposing a light source, a photomask, and a semiconductor wafer coated with a resist film;

selectively transmitting light incident from the light source through the photomask onto the semiconductor wafer; and

developing a pattern on the semiconductor wafer, wherein:

the photomask comprises a transparent substrate and a light shielding pattern film disposed on the transparent substrate,

the light shielding pattern film comprises a first light shielding layer and a second light shielding layer disposed on the first light shielding layer,

the light shielding pattern film comprises at least one of a transition metal, oxygen, and nitrogen,

an upper surface of the light shielding pattern film has a power spectrum density value of 18 nm 4 or more and 50 nm 4 or less at a spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less,

the upper surface of the light shielding pattern film has a minimum power spectrum density value of 18 nm 4 or more and less than 40 nm 4 at the spatial frequency of 1 μm −1 or more and 10 μm −1 or less, and

an Rq value of the upper surface of the light shielding pattern film is 0.25 nm or more and 0.55 nm or less, and the Rq value is a value evaluated by ISO_4287.

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 Feb 1, 2023
From: LEE, GEONGON; CHOI, SUK YOUNG; LEE, HYUNG-JOO; SON, SUNG HOON; KIM, SEONG YOON; JEONG, MIN GYO; KIM, TAEWAN; SHIN, INKYUN
To: SKC SOLMICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062557/0667 →