Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Process-induced asymmetry detection, quantification, and control using patterned wafer geometry measurements
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Application No.: US14867226Application Date: 2015-09-28
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Publication No.: US09779202B2Publication Date: 2017-10-03
- Inventor: Pradeep Vukkadala , Jaydeep Sinha , Jong-Hoon Kim
- Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
- Applicant Address: US CA Milpitas
- Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
- Current Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Milpitas
- Agency: Suiter Swantz pc llo
- Main IPC: G06F17/50
- IPC: G06F17/50 ; G03F7/20 ; G03F1/44

Abstract:
Systems and methods to detect, quantify, and control process-induced asymmetric signatures using patterned wafer geometry measurements are disclosed. The system may include a geometry measurement tool configured to obtain a first set of wafer geometry measurements of the wafer prior to the wafer undergoing a fabrication process and to obtain a second set of wafer geometry measurements of the wafer after the fabrication process. The system may also include a processor in communication with the geometry measurement tool. The processor may be configured to: calculate a geometry-change map based on the first set of wafer geometry measurements and the second set of wafer geometry measurements; analyze the geometry-change map to detect an asymmetric component induced to wafer geometry by the fabrication process; and estimate an asymmetric overlay error induced by the fabrication process based on the asymmetric component detected in wafer geometry.
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