Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for determining critical dimension variation in a line structure

US6773939B1 · kind B1 · utility

7Cited by
16References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 2, 2001
Grant dateAug 10, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 23, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/95607
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for determining critical dimension variation includes providing a wafer having a grating structure comprising a plurality of lines; illuminating at least a portion of the lines with a light source; measuring light reflected from the illuminated portion of the lines to generate a reflection profile; and determining a critical dimension variation measurement of the lines based on the reflection profile. A metrology tool adapted to receive a wafer having a grating structure comprising a plurality of lines includes a light source, a detector, and a data processing unit. The light source is adapted to illuminate at least a portion of the lines. The detector is adapted to measure light reflected from the illuminated portion of the lines to generate a reflection profile. The data processing unit is adapted to determine a critical dimension variation measurement of the lines based on the reflection profile.

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