Patent · US Active

Synchronized integrated metrology for overlay-shift reduction

US9841687B2 · kind B2 · utility

27Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 14, 2015
Grant dateDec 12, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 1, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70633
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method of semiconductor processing. The method includes, receiving a first wafer having a photoresist coating on a face of the first wafer. An exposure unit is used to perform a first number of radiation exposures on the photoresist coating, thereby forming an exposed photoresist coating. The exposed photoresist coating is developed, thereby forming a developed photoresist coating. An OVL measurement zone pattern is selected from a number of different, pre-determined OVL measurement zone patterns based on at least one of: the first number of radiation exposures performed on the first wafer or a previous number of radiation exposures performed on a previously processed wafer, which was processed before the first wafer. A number of OVL measurements are performed on the developed photoresist coating within the selected OVL measurement zone pattern.

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