A character size optimization technique for throughput enhancement of character projection lithography

— We propose a character size optimization technique to enhance the throughput of maskless lithography as well as photomask manufacture. The number of electron beam shots to draw the patterns of circuits is a dominant factor in the manufacture time and the cost for devices. Our technique is capable of drastically reducing them by optimizing the size of characters, which are the patterns to project and are placed on CP masks. Experimental results show that our technique reduced 72.0% of EB shots in the best case, comparing with the ad hoc character sizing.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: ISCAS
• Authors: Makoto Sugihara, Taiga Takata, Kenta Nakamura, Ryoichi Inanami, Hiroaki Hayashi, Katsumi Kishimoto, Tetsuya Hasebe, Yukihiro Kawano, Yusuke Matsunaga, Kazuaki Murakami, Katsuya Okumura
• Keywords: Electron Beam Shots, ISCAS 2006, Maskless Lithography, Size Optimization Technique