Patent · US Active

Method for determining a process window for a lithographic process, associated apparatuses and a computer program

US10133191B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJul 15, 2015
Grant dateNov 20, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 15, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70641
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of determining a process window for a lithographic process, the process window describing a degree of acceptable variation in at least one processing parameter during the lithographic process. The method includes obtaining a set of output parameter values derived from measurements performed at a plurality of locations on a substrate, following pattern transfer to the substrate using a lithographic process, and obtaining a corresponding set of actual processing parameter values that includes an actual value of a processing parameter of the lithographic process during the pattern transfer at each of the plurality of locations. The process window is determined from the output parameter values and the actual processing parameter values. This process window may be used to improve the selection of the processing parameter at which a subsequent lithographic process is performed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.