摘要 |
Alignment marks and methods using such marks are provided for use in charged-particle-beam (CPB, e.g., electron-beam) microlithography. The alignment marks are capable of being detected by both an optical-based alignment-mark sensor and a CPB-based alignment-mark sensor. A representative embodiment of such an alignment mark comprises multiple serially arrayed elements having a first period. At least one of the elements comprises multiple serially arrayed sub-elements having a second period that is shorter than the first period. When such a mark is sensed using an optical-based sensor, the period of the sub-elements is not resolvable and the resulting signal will be substantially the same as when none of the elements is subdivided into sub-elements. However, when such a mark is sensed using a CPB-based sensor and scanning the charged particle beam, then the period of the sub-elements is resolvable. Hence, a single alignment mark can be detected using either type of sensor. |