摘要:
One aspect of the present invention relates to an in-line system for monitoring and optimizing an on-going CMP process in order to determine a CMP process endpoint comprising a wafer, wherein the wafer is subjected to the CMP process; a CMP process monitoring system for generating a signature related to wafer dimensions for the wafer subjected to the CMP process; and a signature library to which the generated signature is compared to determine a state of the wafer. Another aspect relates to an in-line method for monitoring and optimizing an on-going CMP process involving providing a wafer, wherein the wafer is subjected to a CMP process; generating a signature associated with the wafer; comparing the generated signature to a signature library to determine a state of the wafer; and using a closed-loop feedback control system for modifying the on-going CMP process according to the determined state of the wafer.
摘要:
A system and/or method are disclosed for measuring and/or controlling refractive index (n) and/or lithographic constant (k) of an immersion medium utilized in connection with immersion lithography. A known grating structure is built upon a substrate. A refractive index monitoring component facilitates measuring and/or controlling the immersion medium by utilizing detected light scattered from the known grating structure.
摘要:
A system and method are disclosed which enable temperature of a substrate, such as mask or reticle, to be monitored and/or regulated. One or more temperature sensors are associated with the substrate to sense substrate temperature during exposure by an exposing source. The sensed temperature is used to control one or more process parameters of the exposure to help maintain the substrate at or below a desired temperature.
摘要:
One aspect of the present invention elates to a method of reducing electrostatic charges on a patterned photoresist to improve evaluation of the developed photoresist, involving the steps of evaluating the patterned photoresist to determine if electrostatic charges exist thereon; positioning an ionizer near the patterned photoresist, the ionizer generating ions thereby reducing the electrostatic charges on the patterned photoresist; and evaluating the patterned photoresist with an electron beam. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a system for reducing electrostatic charges on a patterned photoresist, containing a charge sensor for determining if electrostatic charges exist on the patterned photoresist and measuring the electrostatic charges; an ionizer positioned near the patterned photoresist having electrostatic charges thereon for reducing the electrostatic charges on the patterned photoresist; a controller for setting at least one of time of ion generation and amount of ion generation by the ionizer, the controller coupled to the charge sensor and the ionizer; and a scanning electron microscope or an atomic force microscope for evaluating the patterned photoresist having reduced electrostatic charges thereon with an electron beam.
摘要:
The present invention relates to a system and method of modifying mask layout data to improve the fidelity of mask manufacture. The system and method include determining the difference between the mask layout design and the mask features as written, and generating sizing corrections. The sizing corrections can be used to modify the mask layout data, and/or stored in a database.
摘要:
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of processing a lithography mask, involving the steps of exposing a lithography substrate with actinic radiation through the lithography mask in a chamber; removing the lithography mask from the chamber, wherein the lithography mask contains carbon contaminants; and contacting the lithography mask with sulfur trioxide thereby reducing the carbon contaminants thereon.
摘要:
In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of processing a semiconductor structure, involving the steps of providing the semiconductor structure having a patterned resist thereon; stripping the patterned resist from the semiconductor structure, wherein an amount of carbon containing resist debris remain on the semiconductor structure; and contacting the semiconductor structure with ozone thereby reducing the amount of carbon containing resist debris thereon.
摘要:
Systems and/or methods are disclosed for measuring and/or controlling an amount of impurity that is dissolved within an immersion medium employed with immersion lithography. The impurity can be photoresist from a photoresist layer coated upon a substrate surface. A known grating structure is built upon the substrate. A real time immersion medium monitoring component facilitates measuring and/or controlling the amount of impurities dissolved within the immersion medium by utilizing light scattered from the known grating structure.
摘要:
A system and methodology is provided for monitoring and controlling static charge during wafer and mask fabrication. The static charge on a target device is monitored. If the static charge becomes too high, corrective actions are taken to reduce the static charge. An antistatic solution is dispensed on the target device. The system and methodology provided reduce damage resulting from electrostatic discharge during fabrication. The system and methodology also reduce delays during fabrication by automatically controlling static charge without the need for manual intervention.
摘要:
One aspect of the invention relates to a metal fill process and systems therefor involving providing a standard calibration wafer having a plurality of fill features of known dimensions in a metalization tool; depositing a metal material over the standard calibration wafer; monitoring the deposition of metal material using a sensor system, the sensor system operable to measure one or more fill process parameters and to generate fill process data; controlling the deposition of metal material to minimize void formation using a control system wherein the control system receives fill process data from the sensor system and analyzes the fill process data to generate a feed-forward control data operative to control the metalization tool; and depositing metal material over a production wafer in the metalization tool using the fill process data generated by the sensor system and the control system. The invention further relates to tool characterization processes and systems therefor.