Method for inspecting a reticle and apparatus for use therein
US6489627B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/95607
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Within each of: (1) a method for inspecting a reticle; (2) an apparatus for inspecting the reticle; and (3) a method for forming a microelectronic layer while employing the method for inspecting the reticle and the apparatus for inspecting the reticle, there is employed a pair of wedges whose inclined surfaces are counter-opposed and separated by a gap. The pair of wedges whose inclined surfaces are counter-opposed and separated by the gap is employed in conjunction with an inspection light source and detector for determining an optimizing an optical characteristic of the reticle, such as an optimized optical interference characteristic of the reticle, such that the reticle may be optimally aligned within a photoexposure apparatus and there may be formed with optimal registration while employing the reticle and the photoexposure apparatus a microelectronic layer within a microelectronic fabrication.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.