Method for extracting process determinant conditions from a plurality of process signals
First Claim
1. A method for processing a sequence of sets of input data signals obtained from monitoring of a manufacturing process, each set of input data signals comprising m≧
- 2 data signals, the method comprising;
applying each set of input data signals as coefficients of an orthogonal polynomial transfer function; and
integrating within the defined limits of the polynomial transfer function for each data set to obtain a scalar value.
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Abstract
A system and method for identifying events in a manufacturing process from a sequence of m-dimensional input data signals, m≧2 obtained from monitoring of the manufacturing process utilizing a data processor for transforming each m-dimensional input data signal to a set of output data signals based on an orthogonal polynomial transform function, wherein the input data signals are used as coefficients in evaluating the polynomial transform functions. The data processor also integrates the transform function within the defined limits of the transform function to determine a scalar value as a function of time. A display system may be used to display a graph of the scalar values as a function of time for visually identifying events or the processor may identify events based on detected scalar values. The transform function may be Fourier, Chebyshev, Legendre or other polynomial type function.
29 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for processing a sequence of sets of input data signals obtained from monitoring of a manufacturing process, each set of input data signals comprising m≧
- 2 data signals, the method comprising;
applying each set of input data signals as coefficients of an orthogonal polynomial transfer function; and
integrating within the defined limits of the polynomial transfer function for each data set to obtain a scalar value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
- 2 data signals, the method comprising;
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18. A method for determining endpoints in a semiconductor plasma etch process comprising the steps of:
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obtaining in situ etch process data signals I1, I2, . . . Im that are representative of real time observations of respective state variables of an observed plasma etch process and forming sets of data input signals based on the observed in situ etch process data signals I1, I2, . . . Im;
transforming each set of input data signals to a set of output data signals based on an orthogonal polynomial transform function, wherein the in situ process data signals I1, I2, . . . Im are coefficients in evaluating the polynomial transform function thereby generating a sequence of sets of output data signals; and
integrating the resulting polynomial transform function to determine an area as a function of time; and
evaluating the determined area at selected time intervals to identify process endpoints.
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21. A method for determining endpoints in a semiconductor etch process comprising the steps of:
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obtaining in situ etch process data signals I1, I2, . . . Im that are representative of real time observations of respective state variables of an observed plasma etch process and forming sets of data input signals based on the observed in situ etch process data signals I1, I2, . . . Im;
transforming each set of input data signals to a set of output data signals based on an orthogonal polynomial transform function wherein the in situ etch process data signals are used as coefficients in evaluating polynomial transform functions, thereby generating a sequence of sets of output data signals;
integrating the resulting polynomial transform function to determine a scalar as a function of time; and
displaying a graph of scalar values as a function of time to determine a plasma etch endpoint in time. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A system for processing a sequence of m-dimensional input data signals, m≧
- 2, the system comprising;
a data processor for transforming each m-dimensional input data signal to a set of output data signals based on an orthogonal polynomial transform function, wherein the input data signals are used as coefficients in evaluating the polynomial transform functions, said data processor also integrating within the defined limits of the transform function to determine a scalar value as a function of time; and
a display system for displaying a graph of the scalar values as a function of time. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- 2, the system comprising;
Specification