Position detecting method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A method of detecting the relative position of first and second objects, comprising the steps of:
- providing the first object with an alignment pattern having an optical power and a reference pattern;
providing the second object with an alignment mark having an optical power;
illuminating the first and second objects with light whereby a first beam is produced as a result of passage of light through the alignment pattern of the first object and reflection of the light by the alignment mark of the second object and under the influence of the optical powers of both of the alignment pattern and the alignment mark, and a second beam is produced as a result of the reflection of light by the reference pattern of the first object, wherein the first and second beams travel along different light paths; and
detecting the position of the second object relative to the first object, on the basis of the position of incidence of each of the first and second beams upon a predetermined plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for detecting a positional relationship between a mask and a wafer, includes a light source for projecting light toward the mask, a first photodetecting system for detecting the position, on a predetermined plane, of first light deflected by the mask and the wafer, wherein the position of incidence on the first photodetecting system of the first light is changeable with the positional relationship between the mask and the wafer, a second photodetecting system for detecting the position, on a predetermined plane, of incidence of second light deflected by the mask, wherein the position of incidence on the second photodetecting system, of the second light being changeable with relative inclination between the mask and the light source, and a position detecting system for detecting the relative position of the mask and the wafer on the basis of the detection by the first and second photodetecting systems, wherein the detection by the position detecting system can be free from the relative inclination between the mask and the light source.
24 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of detecting the relative position of first and second objects, comprising the steps of:
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providing the first object with an alignment pattern having an optical power and a reference pattern; providing the second object with an alignment mark having an optical power; illuminating the first and second objects with light whereby a first beam is produced as a result of passage of light through the alignment pattern of the first object and reflection of the light by the alignment mark of the second object and under the influence of the optical powers of both of the alignment pattern and the alignment mark, and a second beam is produced as a result of the reflection of light by the reference pattern of the first object, wherein the first and second beams travel along different light paths; and detecting the position of the second object relative to the first object, on the basis of the position of incidence of each of the first and second beams upon a predetermined plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of detecting a gap between first and second objects, comprising the steps of:
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providing the first object with an input pattern, an output pattern having an optical power, and a reference pattern; illuminating the first and second objects with light whereby a first beam is produced as a result of reception of light by the input pattern, oblique incidence and subsequent reflection of the light from the input pattern upon and by the surface of the second object, and deflection of the reflected light by the output pattern, while a second beam is produced as a result of the reflection of light by the reference pattern of the first object, wherein the first and second light beams travel along different light paths; and detecting the gap between the first and second objects on the basis of the position of incidence of each of the first and second beams upon a predetermined plane. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of aligning first and second objects, comprising the steps of:
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providing the first object with an alignment pattern having an optical power and a reference pattern; providing the second object with an alignment mark having an optical power; illuminating the first and second objects with light whereby a first beam is produced as a result of passage of light through the alignment pattern of the first object and the reflection of the light by the alignment mark of the second object and under the influence of the optical powers of both of the alignment pattern and the alignment mark, and a second beam is produced as a result of reflection of light by the reference pattern of the first object, wherein the first and second beams travel along different light paths; detecting the position of the second object relative to the first object, on the basis of the position of incidence of each of the first and second beams upon a predetermined plane; and adjusting the positional relationship between the first and second objects. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of adjusting a gap between first and second objects, comprising the steps of:
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providing the first object with an input pattern, an output pattern having an optical power, and a reference pattern; illuminating the first and second objects with light whereby a first beam is produced as a result of reception of light by the input pattern, oblique incidence and subsequent reflection of the light from the input pattern upon and by the surface of the second object, and deflection of the reflected light by the output pattern, while a second beam is produced as a result of reflection of light by the reference pattern of the first object, wherein the first and second light beams travel along different light paths; detecting the gap between the first and second objects on the basis of the position of incidence of each of the first and second beams upon a predetermined plane; and adjusting the gap between the first and second objects. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An aligner for aligning a mask and a wafer, wherein the mask is provided with an alignment pattern having an optical power and a reference pattern, while the wafer is provided with an alignment mark having an optical power, said aligner comprising:
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illuminating means for illuminating the mask and the wafer with light whereby a first beam is produced as a result of passage of light through the alignment pattern of the mask and reflection of the light by the alignment mark of the wafer and under the influence of the optical powers of both of the alignment pattern and the alignment mark, and a second beam is produced as a result of reflection of light by the reference pattern of the mask, wherein the first and second light beams travel along different light paths; signal forming means for detecting the position of incidence of each of the first and second beams upon a predetermined plane and for producing, on the basis of the detection, a signal for correction of a positional deviation between the mask and the wafer; and adjusting means for adjusting the positional relationship between the mask and the wafer in accordance with the correction signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An aligner for aligning a mask and a wafer, wherein the mask has an input pattern, an output pattern having an optical power, and a reference pattern, said aligner comprising:
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illuminating means for illuminating the mask and the wafer with light, whereby a first beam is produced as a result of reception of light by the input pattern, oblique incidence and subsequent reflection of the light from the input pattern upon and by the surface of the wafer, and deflection of the reflected light by the output pattern, while a second beam is produced as a result of reflection of light by the reference pattern of the mask, wherein the first and second light beams travel along different light paths; signal forming means for detecting the position of incidence of each of the first and second beams upon a predetermined plane and for producing, on the basis of the detection, a signal for correction of an error in a gap between the mask and the wafer; and adjusting means for adjusting the gap between the mask and the wafer, in accordance with the produced signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of:
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providing a mask having a circuit pattern, an alignment pattern with an optical power, and a reference pattern; providing a wafer having an alignment mark with an optical power; illuminating the mask and the wafer with light whereby a first beam is produced as a result of the passage of light through the alignment pattern of the mask and the reflection of the light by the alignment mark of the wafer and under the influence of the optical powers of both of the alignment pattern and the alignment mark, and a second beam is produced as a result of the reflection of light by the reference pattern of the mask, wherein the first and second beams travel along different light paths; detecting the position of the wafer relative to the mask, on the basis of the position of incidence of each of the first and second beams upon a predetermined plane; adjusting the positional relationship between the mask and the wafer; and transferring the circuit pattern of the mask onto the wafer.
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32. A semiconductor device manufactured by a method which comprises the steps of:
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providing a mask having a circuit pattern, an alignment pattern with an optical power, and a reference pattern; providing a wafer having an alignment mark with an optical power; illuminating the mask and the wafer with light whereby a first beam is produced as a result of the passage of light through the alignment pattern of the mask and the reflection of the light by the alignment mark of the wafer and under the influence of the optical pwoers of both of the alignment pattern and the alignment mark, and a second beam is produced as a result of the reflection of light by the reference pattern of the mask, wherein the first and second beams travel along different light paths; detecting the position of the wafer relative to the mask, on the basis of the position of incidence of each of the first and second beams upon a predetermined plane; adjusting the positional relationship between the mask and the wafer; and transferring the circuit pattern of the mask onto the wafer.
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Specification