Patent · US Expired

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

US7181057B2 · kind B2 · utility

28Cited by
70References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 26, 2002
Grant dateFeb 20, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 28, 2024

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 working zones, which are used to calculate alignment between a first and a second layer of the substrate or between a first and a second pattern on a single layer of the substrate. Each of the working zones is positioned within the perimeter of the mark. Each of the working zones represents a different area of the mark. The working zones are configured to substantially fill the perimeter of the mark such that the combined area of the working zones is substantially equal to the total area of the mark.

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