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Stepper Filters

Glen Spectra offers a new generation, after-market i-line interference filter designed for litho tools in the photolithography process, such as LSI and LCD Steppers with high power Mercury Lamps. This high performance and environmentally stable bandpass filter resolves monochromatic wavelengths reaching the photomask substrate so that optimum resolution is achievable. We have designed a filter that efficiently transmits the five lines of the fine structure of the Mercury i-line with bandwidth, centre wavelength, and filter construction designed to allow maximum throughput and filter life. Significant improvements have been engineered into this after-market filter. We offer custom engineered filters as well as standard i-line filters.

Glen Spectra's new generation i-line filters feature greatly improved i-line intensity delivered to the resist, surpassing the standard OEM filters. We have refined our coating designs and developed a consistently reliable coating process, resulting in compressed delivery schedules. All filters are thoroughly characterised photometrically. In addition, all filters are qualified to the highest manufacturing standards and are packaged in a nitrogen-purged ESD bag.

Products

Stepper Filters

Features

Improvements

The filter is manufactured using durable oxide films, which are deposited via electron beam with ion-assist, to assure stability over time and varying environmental conditions.

Purified fused silica substrates, rather than borosilicate, are used to assure the highest optical quality and spectral stability.

Volatile epoxies, which are the source of out-gassing and resulting degradation of intensity and/or uniformity, have been eliminated in contrast with many OEM filters.

Photometric Performance

Omega's i-line filters are thoroughly characterized photometrically. The bandpass transmission is evaluated along 4 radii at ½ " intervals (125 & 165mm diameter product) using a research-grade spectrophotometer. A filter with uniform bandpass characteristics across the entire surface yields the greatest intensity delivered to the resist. Our filters typically exceed intensity levels offered by OEM replacement filters by 10-20%.

Product Uniformity

Omega Optical manufactures i-line filters in series, dedicating evaporators solely to the narrow-band coatings required for this product. This controls key process parameters in real-time and identifies and eliminates unexpected variables. The result is a product that is consistent on a lot-to-lot basis, as well as across the surface of the individual coated filter. This manufacturing strategy results in improved deliveries and cost savings for customers due to higher coating yields.

Additional Information

Download our photolithography brochure (pdf, 389k)

Photolithography Mask Aligner Filters

Omega Optical offers mask aligner optical filters which provide improved exposures and sharper, straighter feature walls of the SU-8 photoresist. This filter provides a nominal cut-on wavelength of 360nm, blocking shorter wavelengths and transmitting the longer wavelengths including the useful 365, 405 & 436nm mercury lines. It is 90% transparent to visible light (or provides 90% transmission), allowing for proper visualization of mask alignment through the filter glass.

MicroChem Corp recommends Omega Optical's PL-360LP optical filter for use with its SU-8 photoresist.

Products

Mask Aligner Filters