Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for chemical monitoring

US7072028B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
23References
44Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 22, 2004
Grant dateJul 4, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 19, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/106664
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention relates to monitoring chemicals in a process chamber using a spectrometer having a plasma generator, based on patterns over time of chemical consumption. The relevant patterns may include a change in consumption, reaching a consumption plateau, absence of consumption, or presence of consumption. In some embodiments, advancing to a next step in forming structures on the workpiece depends on the pattern of consumption meeting a process criteria. In other embodiments, a processing time standard is established, based on analysis of the relevant patterns. Yet other embodiments relate to controlling work on a workpiece, based on analysis of the relevant patterns. The invention may be either a process or a device including logic and resources to carry out a process.

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