Patent · US Active

Method of optimizing a metrology process

US10585354B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
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20Claims
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Key dates

Filing dateJan 24, 2019
Grant dateMar 10, 2020
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 24, 2039

Classification

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

Abstract

Methods of optimizing a metrology process are disclosed. In one arrangement, measurement data from a plurality of applications of the metrology process to a first target on a substrate are obtained. Each application of the metrology process includes illuminating the first target with a radiation spot and detecting radiation redirected by the first target. The applications of the metrology process include applications at a) plural positions of the radiation spot relative to the first target, and/or b) plural focus heights of the radiation spot. The measurement data includes, for each application of the metrology process, a detected pupil representation of an optical characteristic of the redirected radiation in a pupil plane. The method includes determining an optimal alignment and/or an optimal focus height based on comparisons between the detected pupil representations in the measurement data and a reference pupil representation.

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