Patent · US Active

Endpoint method using peak location of modified spectra

US8202738B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
4References
20Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateApr 20, 2011
Grant dateJun 19, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 20, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L22/12
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of optically monitoring a substrate during polishing includes receiving an identification of a selected spectral feature and a characteristic of the selected spectral feature to monitor during polishing, measuring a first spectrum from the substrate during polishing, the first spectrum measured within an initial time following initiation of polishing, measuring a sequence of second spectra from the substrate during polishing, the sequence of second spectra measured after the initial time, for each second spectrum in the sequence of second spectra, removing the first spectrum from the second spectrum to generate a sequence of modified third spectra, determining a value of a characteristic of the selected spectral feature for each third spectrum in the sequence of third spectra to generate a sequence of values for the characteristic, and determining a polishing endpoint or an adjustment for a polishing rate based on the sequence of values.

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