Patent · US Active

Operation stage for wafer edge inspection and review

US7919760B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
49References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 9, 2008
Grant dateApr 5, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 22, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/6831
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention relates to an operation stage of a charged particle beam apparatus which is employed in a scanning electron microscope for substrate (wafer) edge and backside defect inspection or defect review. However, it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability. A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides an operation stage for substrate edge inspection or review. The inspection region includes top near edge, to bevel, apex, and bottom bevel. The operation stage includes a supporting stand, a z-stage, an X-Y stage, an electrostatic chuck, a pendulum stage and a rotation track. The pendulum stage mount with the electrostatic chuck has the ability to swing from 0° to 180° while performing substrate top bevel, apex and bottom bevel inspection or review. In order to keep the substrate in focus and avoid a large position shift during altering the substrate observation angle by rotation the pendulum stage, one embodiment of the present invention discloses a method such that the rotation axis of the pendulum stage consist of the tangent of upper edge of the substrate to be inspected. The electrostatic chuck of the p…

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