The present application provides a method for adjusting the local thickness of a photoresist, and a semiconductor front layer structure. The thickness of the photoresist layer in a first region of the stack structure is more than the thickness of the photoresist layer in a second region. The photomask is configured to include an auxiliary pattern for exposing the first region and another pattern for exposing the second region. The first region and the second region of the photoresist layer are exposed simultaneously by one photomask. The exposure intensity is adjusted so that part of the surface of the first region is dissolved during the development, the auxiliary pattern is not transferred to the photoresist layer in the first region, resulting in decreased thickness of the photoresist layer in the first region after development. After development, the other pattern is transferred to the photoresist layer in the second region.

A method for exposing a light-sensitive layer to light using an optical system, wherein at least one light beam is generated by respectively at least one light source and pixels of an exposure pattern grid are illuminated by at least one micro-mirror device with a plurality of micro-mirrors. An affine distortion takes place, in particular a shearing, of the exposure pattern grid.

A method for exposing a light-sensitive layer to light using an optical system, wherein at least one light beam is generated by respectively at least one light source and pixels of an exposure pattern grid are illuminated by at least one micro-mirror device with a plurality of micro-mirrors. An affine distortion takes place, in particular a shearing, of the exposure pattern grid.

A method of manufacturing a mask includes attaching a first mask base substrate and a second mask base substrate to opposite sides of an adhesive layer, forming a photoresist layer on the first and second mask base substrates, exposing and developing the photoresist layer to remove the photoresist layer on effective area at centers of surfaces of the first and second mask base substrates such that the first photoresist layer remains on non-effective areas at edges of surfaces of the first mask base substrate and the second mask base substrate, etching the effective area to form a stepped groove on the first and second mask base substrates, separating the first and second mask base substrates from the adhesive layer, and forming a pattern hole in the effective area of first and second mask base substrates, each with the first stepped groove thereon.

A method of manufacturing a mask includes attaching a first mask base substrate and a second mask base substrate to opposite sides of an adhesive layer, forming a photoresist layer on the first and second mask base substrates, exposing and developing the photoresist layer to remove the photoresist layer on effective area at centers of surfaces of the first and second mask base substrates such that the first photoresist layer remains on non-effective areas at edges of surfaces of the first mask base substrate and the second mask base substrate, etching the effective area to form a stepped groove on the first and second mask base substrates, separating the first and second mask base substrates from the adhesive layer, and forming a pattern hole in the effective area of first and second mask base substrates, each with the first stepped groove thereon.

Disclosed is an inspection apparatus for use in lithography. It comprises a support for a substrate carrying a plurality of metrology targets; an optical system for illuminating the targets under predetermined illumination conditions and for detecting predetermined portions of radiation diffracted by the targets under the illumination conditions; a processor arranged to calculate from said detected portions of diffracted radiation a measurement of asymmetry for a specific target; and a controller for causing the optical system and processor to measure asymmetry in at least two of said targets which have different known components of positional offset between structures and smaller sub-structures within a layer on the substrate and calculate from the results of said asymmetry measurements a measurement of a performance parameter of the lithographic process for structures of said smaller size. Also disclosed are substrates provided with a plurality of novel metrology targets formed by a lithographic process.

Disclosed is an inspection apparatus for use in lithography. It comprises a support for a substrate carrying a plurality of metrology targets; an optical system for illuminating the targets under predetermined illumination conditions and for detecting predetermined portions of radiation diffracted by the targets under the illumination conditions; a processor arranged to calculate from said detected portions of diffracted radiation a measurement of asymmetry for a specific target; and a controller for causing the optical system and processor to measure asymmetry in at least two of said targets which have different known components of positional offset between structures and smaller sub-structures within a layer on the substrate and calculate from the results of said asymmetry measurements a measurement of a performance parameter of the lithographic process for structures of said smaller size. Also disclosed are substrates provided with a plurality of novel metrology targets formed by a lithographic process.

Disclosed is an inspection apparatus for use in lithography. It comprises a support for a substrate carrying a plurality of metrology targets; an optical system for illuminating the targets under predetermined illumination conditions and for detecting predetermined portions of radiation diffracted by the targets under the illumination conditions; a processor arranged to calculate from said detected portions of diffracted radiation a measurement of asymmetry for a specific target; and a controller for causing the optical system and processor to measure asymmetry in at least two of said targets which have different known components of positional offset between structures and smaller sub-structures within a layer on the substrate and calculate from the results of said asymmetry measurements a measurement of a performance parameter of the lithographic process for structures of said smaller size. Also disclosed are substrates provided with a plurality of novel metrology targets formed by a lithographic process.

Disclosed is an inspection apparatus for use in lithography. It comprises a support for a substrate carrying a plurality of metrology targets; an optical system for illuminating the targets under predetermined illumination conditions and for detecting predetermined portions of radiation diffracted by the targets under the illumination conditions; a processor arranged to calculate from said detected portions of diffracted radiation a measurement of asymmetry for a specific target; and a controller for causing the optical system and processor to measure asymmetry in at least two of said targets which have different known components of positional offset between structures and smaller sub-structures within a layer on the substrate and calculate from the results of said asymmetry measurements a measurement of a performance parameter of the lithographic process for structures of said smaller size. Also disclosed are substrates provided with a plurality of novel metrology targets formed by a lithographic process.

An exposure method, a substrate and an exposure apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, an exposure method includes: forming a mask combination from at least two masks; and exposing, by using the mask combination, a film layer to be exposed on a base substrate, until a complete exposed pattern is formed on the film layer to be exposed.