Improving yield through the application of process window OPC
2009
As the industry progresses toward more challenging patterning nodes with tighter error budgets and weaker process
windows, it is becoming clear that current single process condition Optical Proximity Corrections (OPC) as well as OPC
verification methods such as Optical Rules Checking (ORC) performed at a single process point fail to provide robust
solutions through process. Moreover, these techniques can potentially miss catastrophic failures that will negatively
impact yield while surely failing to capitalize on every chance to enhance process window. Process-aware OPC and
verification algorithms have been developed [1,2] that minimize process variability to enhance yield and assess process
robustness, respectively. In this paper we demonstrate the importance of process aware OPC and ORC tools to enable
first time right manufacturing solutions, even for technology nodes prior to 45nm such as a 65nm contact level, by
identifying critical spots on the layout that became significant yield detractors on the chip but nominal ORC could not
catch. Similarly, we will demonstrate the successful application of a process window OPC (PWOPC) algorithm capable
of recognizing and correcting for process window systematic variations that threaten the overall RET performance, while
maintaining printed contours within the minimum overlay tolerances. Direct comparison of wafer results are presented
for two 65nm CA masks, one where conventional nominal OPC was applied and a second one processed with PWOPC.
Thorough wafer results will show how our process aware OPC algorithm was able to address and successfully strengthen
the lithography performance of those areas in the layout previously identified by PWORC as sensitive to process
variations, as well as of isolated and semi-isolated features, for an overall significant yield enhancement.
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