METHOD FOR ASSESSING THE USABILITY OF AN EXPOSED AND DEVELOPED SEMICONDUCTOR WAFER
First Claim
1. A method for the processing of a further layer on a semiconductor wafer comprising:
- depositing at least one photoresist layer on a surface of a lower layer,exposing to radiation the at least one photoresist layer;
removing at least part of the exposed photoresist layer to leave a pattern;
measuring a plurality of items of processing data, some of the plurality of items of processing data being measured on the semiconductor wafer, the processing data further including lens errors and/or errors made in the use of the projection system;
applying at least one process model to the at least some of the plurality of items of processing data to derive a set of process results, the process results comprising an error in focus, an error in radiation dosage, and a change in a contact area between different ones of the structural elements of the semiconductor wafer;
comparing at least one of the derived set of process results or at least one of the plurality of items of processing data with a process window, the process window encompassing the at least one of the derived set of process results or the at least one of the plurality of items of processing data; and
at least one of accepting or reworking the further layer, based on the comparison.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for analysis of processing of a semiconductor wafer is disclosed which comprises gathering a plurality of items of processing data, applying at least one process model to the at least some of the plurality of items of processing data to derive at least one set of process results, comparing at least some of the derived sets of process results or at least some of the plurality of items of processing data with a process window, and outputting a set of comparison results based on the comparison of the derived sets of process results or the plurality of items of processing data with the process window.
14 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method for the processing of a further layer on a semiconductor wafer comprising:
-
depositing at least one photoresist layer on a surface of a lower layer, exposing to radiation the at least one photoresist layer; removing at least part of the exposed photoresist layer to leave a pattern; measuring a plurality of items of processing data, some of the plurality of items of processing data being measured on the semiconductor wafer, the processing data further including lens errors and/or errors made in the use of the projection system; applying at least one process model to the at least some of the plurality of items of processing data to derive a set of process results, the process results comprising an error in focus, an error in radiation dosage, and a change in a contact area between different ones of the structural elements of the semiconductor wafer; comparing at least one of the derived set of process results or at least one of the plurality of items of processing data with a process window, the process window encompassing the at least one of the derived set of process results or the at least one of the plurality of items of processing data; and at least one of accepting or reworking the further layer, based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for the processing of a further layer on a semiconductor wafer comprising:
-
depositing at least one photoresist layer on a surface of a lower layer, exposing to radiation the at least one photoresist layer; removing at least part of the exposed photoresist layer to leave a pattern; measuring a plurality of items of processing data, some of the plurality of items of processing data being measured on the semiconductor wafer; applying at least one process model to the at least some of the plurality of items of processing data to derive a set of process results, at least some of the process results relating to a three-dimensional structure of the semiconductor wafer; comparing at least one of the derived set of process results or at least one of the plurality of items of processing data with a process window, the process window encompassing the at least one of the derived set of process results or the at least one of the plurality of items of processing data; and at least one of accepting or reworking the further layer, based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification