Patent · US Active

Method for monitoring epitaxial growth geometry shift

US9679822B1 · kind B1 · utility

0Cited by
1References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 22, 2016
Grant dateJun 13, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 22, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2223/54453
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method of monitoring an epitaxial growth geometry shift is disclosed. First, second and third trenches are formed on a semiconductor wafer. An epitaxial layer is grown. The epitaxial layer covers the first trenches and the second trenches but not the third trenches. First and second recesses on a top surface of the epitaxial layer are formed. First and second openings aligned with the first and the second recesses and a third openings aligned with the third trenches are formed in a photoresist layer. A corresponding first offset between a top center and a bottom center of each first recess is measured. An offset value of the top center from the bottom center of said each first recess is determined. A corresponding second offset between a top center of each second recess and a center of corresponding second opening is determined. A corresponding third offset between a center of each third trench and a center of corresponding third opening is measured. A corresponding offset value of each second recess from the difference between corresponding second offset and corresponding third offset is determined.

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