Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for monitoring processes using multiple parameters of a semiconductor wafer processing system

US5910011A · kind A · utility

126Cited by
15References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 12, 1997
Grant dateJun 8, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 12, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method and apparatus that provides process monitoring within a semiconductor wafer processing system using multiple process parameters. Specifically, the apparatus analyzes multiple process parameters and statistically correlates these parameters to detect a change in process characteristics such that the endpoint of an etch process may be accurately detected, as well as detecting other characteristics within the chamber. The multiple parameters may include optical emissia, environmental parameters such as pressure and temperature within the reaction chamber, RF power parameters such as reflected power or tuning voltage, and system parameters such as particular system configurations and control voltages.

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