Patent · US Active

Processing end point detection method, polishing method, and polishing apparatus

US8554356B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by
40References
9Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateOct 5, 2007
Grant dateOct 8, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 22, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A processing end point detection method detects a timing of a processing end point (e.g., polishing stop, changing of polishing conditions) by calculating a characteristic value of a surface of a workpiece (an object of polishing) such as a substrate. This method includes producing a spectral waveform indicating a relationship between reflection intensities and wavelengths at a processing end point, with use of a reference workpiece or simulation calculation, based on the spectral waveform, selecting wavelengths of a local maximum value and a local minimum value of the reflection intensities, calculating the characteristic value with respect to a surface, to be processed, from reflection intensities at the selected wavelengths, setting a distinctive point of time variation of the characteristic value at a processing end point of the workpiece as the processing end point, and detecting the processing end point of the workpiece by detecting the distinctive point during processing of the workpiece.

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