Patent · US Expired

Microlithographic calibration scheme

US4640619A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
2References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 13, 1985
Grant dateFeb 3, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 13, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F9/7015
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The calibration scheme disclosed herein is applicable to microlithographic systems of the type in which alignment between successive exposures is provided by means of a microscope mounted to one side of the optical projection column, there being a laser metered stage for transporting a semiconductor wafer between the microscope and an optical projection column. In accordance with the practice of the invention, a wafer with a light sensitive coating is placed on the stage and transported to the column using an approximate base line value. After exposure from a reticle which includes fiducial markings, the wafer is transported by the stage to the microscope. By observing the latent image on the coating, the precise stage movement required to align the latent image of the fiducial markings on the wafer with the microscope system reference reticle may be measured with the laser metered stage. The base line value is then corrected based on the actual measurement.

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