Patent · US Expired

Methods and systems for determining at least four properties of a specimen

US6694284B1 · kind B1 · utility

120Cited by
267References
61Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 20, 2001
Grant dateFeb 17, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 21, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/31701
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and systems for monitoring semiconductor fabrication processes are provided. A system may include a stage configured to support a specimen and coupled to a measurement device. The measurement device may include an illumination system and a detection system. The illumination system and the detection system may be configured such that the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of the specimen. For example, the system may be configured to determine multiple properties of a specimen including, but not limited to, at least four properties of a specimen such as critical dimension, overlay, a presence of macro defects, and thin film characteristics. In this manner, a measurement device may perform multiple optical and/or non-optical metrology and/or inspection techniques.

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