Methods of calibrating and controlling stepper exposure processes and tools, and system for accomplishing same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate;
measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of said photoresist features at a plurality of locations within said grating structure; and
determining if said measured characteristic of said photoresist features varies from a first edge of said grating structure to a second edge of said grating structure.
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Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to various methods of stepper exposure processes and tools, and system for accomplishing same. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate, measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of the photoresist features at a plurality of locations within the grating structure, and determining if the measured characteristic of the photoresist features varies across the grating structure.
24 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate; measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of said photoresist features at a plurality of locations within said grating structure; and determining if said measured characteristic of said photoresist features varies from a first edge of said grating structure to a second edge of said grating structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate; measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of said photoresist features at a plurality of locations within said grating structure; determining if said measured characteristic of said photoresist features varies from a first edge of said grating structure to a second edge of said grating structure; and indicating an error condition exists in a stepper exposure tool used in forming said plurality of photoresist features if said determined variance is not within acceptable limits. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method, comprising:
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forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate; measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of said photoresist features at a plurality of locations within said grating structure; determining if said measured characteristic of said photoresist features varies from a first edge of said grating structure to a second edge of said grating structure; and adjusting at least one parameter of a stepper exposure process to be performed on a subsequently processed substrate if said determined variance is not within acceptable limits. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method, comprising:
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forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate; measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of said photoresist features at a plurality of locations within said grating structure; determining if said measured characteristic of said photoresist features varies from a first edge of said grating structure to a second edge of said grating structure; and limiting use of a stepper exposure tool used to form said photoresist features if said determined variance exceeds a preselected allowable limit. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method, comprising:
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forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate; measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of said photoresist features at a plurality of locations within said grating structure; and determining if said measured characteristic of said photoresist features varies from an edge region of said grating structure to a center region of said grating structure.
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49. A method, comprising:
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forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate; measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of said photoresist features at a plurality of locations within said grating structure; determining if said measured characteristic of said photoresist features varies from an edge region of said grating structure to a center region of said grating structure; and indicating an error condition exists in a stepper exposure tool used in forming said plurality of photoresist features if said determined variance is not within acceptable limits.
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50. A method, comprising:
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forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate; measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of said photoresist features at a plurality of locations within said grating structure; determining if said measured characteristic of said photoresist features varies from an edge region of said grating structure to a center region of said grating structure; and adjusting at least one parameter of a stepper exposure process to be performed on a subsequently processed substrate if said determined variance is not within acceptable limits.
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51. A method, comprising:
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forming a grating structure comprised of a plurality of photoresist features above a semiconducting substrate; measuring at least one characteristic of at least one of said photoresist features at a plurality of locations within said grating structure; determining if said measured characteristic of said photoresist features varies from an edge region of said grating structure to a center region of said grating structure; and limiting use of a stepper exposure tool used to form said photoresist features if said determined variance exceeds a preselected allowable limit.
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Specification