AUTOMATED SUB-FIELD BLADING FOR LEVELING OPTIMIZATION IN LITHOGRAPHY EXPOSURE TOOL

摘要

A method of exposing images on a wafer having varying topography during lithographic production of microelectronic devices. The method initially includes determining topography of a wafer, dividing the wafer into two or more separate regions based on the wafer topography, and determining desired focus distance for exposing a desired image on each of the separate regions of the wafer. The method then includes exposing a desired image on one of the regions of the wafer at the desired focus distance while blocking remaining regions and exposing a desired image on another of the regions of the wafer at the desired focus distance while blocking remaining regions. The desired focus distance may be different for each of the separate wafer regions.