Sematech seeks out next-generation lithography

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Sep 20, 2006

Sematech has awarded a contract to qualify the imaging performance of advanced logic patterns, metrology structures and defect designs for the 45, 32 and 22nm technology nodes.

Semiconductor R and D consortium Sematech has awarded ASML a contract to qualify the imaging performance of advanced logic patterns, metrology structures and defect designs for the 45, 32 and 22nm technology nodes.

Sematech, together with its subsidiary, the International Sematech Manufacturing Initiative (ISMI), is creating these advanced designs which will incorporate ASML's resolution enhancement techniques (RETs) in the form of proprietary and patented mask technologies as well as scanner optimisation settings.

"We're proud that Sematech and ISMI chose ASML to participate in developing lithography solutions for advanced manufacturing", said Dinesh Bettadapur, President and CEO, ASML MaskTools.

"As a company, we are committed to providing the semiconductor industry with a complete and tightly integrated solutions portfolio as exemplified by our leading edge immersion scanners, innovative mask technologies, and software products for scanner-mask optimisation".

ASML will supply advanced RET mask patterns for the Sematech design structures and deliver a fully qualified set of masks together with a set of validation wafers.

ASML will also develop optimised scanner settings for the mask patterns which will be exposed on a Twinscan XT:1700i scanner at ASML's demo lab facility in Veldhoven.

The company will further assist Sematech by measuring the imaging performance of the exposures through SEM measurements and simulations.

"We are pleased to collaborate with ASML on determining the right lithography solutions for the 45, 32 and 22nm technology nodes", said John Allgair, Litho Metrology Program Manager for International Sematech Manufacturing Initiative, Sematech's manufacturing-oriented subsidiary.

"We are looking forward to reviewing the results from this project and making some key technology selection information available to our member companies".