Patent · US Expired

Overlay marks, methods of overlay mark design and methods of overlay measurements

US6921916B2 · kind B2 · utility

70Cited by
70References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 26, 2002
Grant dateJul 26, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 26, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/975
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An overlay mark for determining the relative position between two or more successive layers of a substrate or between two or more separately generated patterns on a single layer of a substrate is disclosed. The overlay mark includes a plurality of coarsely segmented lines that are formed by a plurality of finely segmented bars. In some cases, the coarsely segmented lines also include at least one dark field while being separated by a plurality of finely segmented bars and at least one clear field. In other cases, the coarsely segmented lines are positioned into at least two groups. The first group of coarsely segmented lines, which are separated by clear fields, are formed by a plurality of finely segmented bars. The second group of coarsely segmented lines, which are separated by dark fields, are also formed by a plurality of finely segmented bars.

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