Patent · US Active

Alignment sensor apparatus for process sensitivity compensation

US11175593B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
4References
38Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateApr 3, 2019
Grant dateNov 16, 2021
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2039

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F9/7088
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An alignment sensor apparatus includes an illumination system, a first optical system, a second optical system, a detector system, and a processor. The illumination system is configured to transmit an illumination beam along an illumination path. The first optical system is configured to transmit the illumination beam toward a diffraction target on a substrate. The second optical system includes a first polarizing optic configured to separate and transmit an irradiance distribution. The detector system is configured to measure a center of gravity of the diffraction target based on the irradiance distribution outputted from a first polarization branch and a second polarization branch. The processor is configured to measure a shift in the center of gravity of the diffraction target caused by an asymmetry variation in the diffraction target and determine a sensor response function of the alignment sensor apparatus based on the center of gravity shift.

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