Method of detecting, identifying and correcting process performance
First Claim
1. A method of characterizing a material processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) varying a controllable process parameter associated with a process performed by said material processing system;
b) measuring a scan of data, said scan of data comprising a measurement of a process performance parameter when said process is performed using the varied controllable process parameter;
c) transforming said scan of data into a number of spatial components; and
d) characterizing said material processing system by identifying a process signature, said process signature comprising at least one of said spatial components.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for material processing utilizing a material processing system (1) to perform a process. The method a process, measures a scan of data, and transforms the data scan into a signature including at least one spatial component. The scan of data can include a process performance parameter (14) such as an etch rate, an etch selectivity, a deposition rate, a film property, etc. A relationship can be determined between the measured signature and a set of at least one controllable process parameter (12) using multivariate analysis, and this relationship can be utilized to improve the scan of data corresponding to a process performance parameter. For example, utilizing this relationship to minimize the spatial components of the scan of data can affect an improvement in the process uniformity.
33 Citations
61 Claims
-
1. A method of characterizing a material processing system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) varying a controllable process parameter associated with a process performed by said material processing system;
b) measuring a scan of data, said scan of data comprising a measurement of a process performance parameter when said process is performed using the varied controllable process parameter;
c) transforming said scan of data into a number of spatial components; and
d) characterizing said material processing system by identifying a process signature, said process signature comprising at least one of said spatial components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of improving a process, the method comprising the steps of
measuring a scan of data, said scan of data comprising a measurement of at least one process performance parameter, transforming said scan of data into a number of spatial components, identifying a process signature, said signature comprising at least one spatial component, determining a relationship between said signature and at least one controllable process parameter, said at least one controllable process parameter being measurable during said process, and adjusting said at least one controllable process parameter, wherein said adjusting comprises utilizing said relationship between said signature and said at least one controllable process parameter to affect an improvement to said scan of data.
-
31. A method of material processing, the method comprising the steps of
performing a process, measuring a scan of data, said scan of data comprising a measurement of at least one process performance parameter, transforming said scan of data into a number of spatial components, identifying a signature of said process, said signature comprising at least one spatial component, determining a relationship between said signature and at least one controllable process parameter, said at least one controllable process parameter being measurable during said process, and adjusting said at least one controllable process parameter, wherein said adjusting comprises utilizing said relationship between said signature and said at least one controllable process parameter to affect an improvement to said scan of data.
-
44. A system for material processing, the system comprising
process chamber, device for measuring and adjusting at least one controllable process parameter, device for measuring at least one process performance parameter, and controller, said controller capable of performing a process, measuring a scan of data using said device for measuring at least one controllable process parameter, said scan of data comprising a measurement of a process performance parameter, transforming said scan of data into a number of spatial components, identifying a signature of said process, said signature comprising at least one spatial component, determining a relationship between said signature and at least one controllable process parameter, said at least one controllable process parameter being measurable during said process, and adjusting said at least one controllable process parameter, wherein said adjusting comprises utilizing said relationship between said signature and said at least one controllable process parameter to affect an improvement to said scan of data.
-
53. A system for material processing, the system comprising process chamber,
device for measuring and adjusting at least one controllable process parameter, device for measuring at least one process performance parameter, and controller, said controller capable of performing a process, measuring a scan of data, said scan of data comprising a measurement of at least one process performance parameter, transforming said scan of data into a number of spatial components, determining a signature of said process, said signature comprising at least one spatial component, determining a relationship between said signature and at least one controllable process parameter, said at least one controllable process parameter measurable during said process, comparing said signature of said process with an ideal signature for said process, wherein said comparing comprises determining a difference signature, and adjusting said at least one controllable process parameter, wherein said adjusting comprises utilizing said relationship between said signature and said set of controllable process parameters to affect a minimization of said difference signature.
Specification