Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for detecting an end point of etching

US5118378A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
6References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 23, 1991
Grant dateJun 2, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 23, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/32963
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of detecting an end point of etching by emission spectroscopy. Using a constant ratio between emission intensities in the course of etching and after the termination thereof, a correction value is computed with data of a waveform already adjusted to be capable of detecting an end point of etching and the corresponding emission intensity in the course of etching treatment thereafter, and the waveform of corresponding emission intensity in the course of etching treatment is processed so that the detection can be conducted on the same level as in the end point detection already adjusted to be capable of detecting the end point of etching at the time of treatment. Thus, irrespective of the reduction of the quantity of emission for an emission detection at each time of treatment, a constant electric signal of the same detecting level can be obtained, making it possible to detect an end point of etching with the same accuracy as in the initial treatment.

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