Patent · US Active

Silicon etching control method and system

US8666530B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
9References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 16, 2010
Grant dateMar 4, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 25, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L22/26
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An etching control system controls exposure of a silicon workpiece to a spontaneous etchant. The system determines an amount of material to be removed from the silicon workpiece, based on metrology information corresponding to the silicon workpiece. An estimated etch time duration is determined for removing the amount of the material upon exposing the silicon workpiece to the spontaneous etchant for the estimated etch time duration. In some embodiments, the system monitors a change in mass of the silicon workpiece caused by exposure of the silicon workpiece to the spontaneous etchant to determine when the amount of the material has been removed from the silicon workpiece. Exposure of the silicon workpiece to the spontaneous etchant is stopped when the change in the mass of the silicon workpiece indicates that the amount of the material has been removed.

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