Method of inspecting semiconductor wafer
US7531462B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 12, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/9501
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of inspecting a semiconductor wafer, comprises removing a device structure film on the semiconductor wafer with a chemical solution to expose a crystal surface of the semiconductor wafer; coating a protected area, which is a part of the crystal surface of the semiconductor wafer, with a mask material for protecting the crystal surface of the semiconductor wafer; etching the semiconductor wafer selectively, thereby making a crystal defect in a non-protected area, which is a part of the crystal surface of the semiconductor wafer that is not coated with the mask material, appear after the crystal surface is coated with the mask material; removing the mask material after the selective etching; carrying out quantitative measurement of the protected area and the non-protected area using an optical defect inspection apparatus or a beam-type defect inspection apparatus; and calculating the number of crystal defects of the semiconductor wafer base on the result of the measurement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.