Method and apparatus for monitoring integrated circuit fabrication
First Claim
1. A sensor unit for sensing an illumination parameter of photolithographic processing equipment that includes a mask stage and an illumination subsystem, the sensor unit comprising:
- a substrate adapted to be disposed on or in the mask stage of the photolithographic processing equipment; and
a plurality of sensors including;
a first sensor, disposed on or in the substrate, to sample a light intensity of the illumination subsystem when the substrate is disposed on or in the mask stage; and
a second sensor, disposed on or in the substrate, to sample a light intensity of the illumination subsystem when the substrate is disposed on or in the mask stage.
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Abstract
In one aspect, the present invention is a sensor unit for sensing process parameters of a process to manufacture an integrated circuit using integrated circuit processing equipment. In one embodiment, the sensor unit includes a substrate having a wafer-shaped profile and a first sensor, disposed on or in the substrate, to sample a first process parameter. The sensor unit of this embodiment also includes a second sensor, disposed on or in the substrate, to sample a second process parameter wherein the second process parameter is different from the first process parameter. In one embodiment, the sensor unit includes a first source, disposed on or in the substrate, wherein first source generates an interrogation signal and wherein the first sensor uses the interrogation signal from the first source to sample the first process parameter. The sensor unit may also include a second source, disposed on or in the substrate, wherein second source generates an interrogation signal and wherein the second sensor uses the interrogation signal from the second source to sample the second process parameter. The first sensor and the first source may operate in an end-point mode or in a real-time mode. In this regard, the first sensor samples the first parameter periodically or continuously while the sensor unit is disposed in the integrated circuit processing equipment and undergoing processing. In one embodiment, the first sensor is a temperature sensor and the second sensor is a pressure sensor, a chemical sensor, a surface tension sensor or a surface stress sensor.
125 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A sensor unit for sensing an illumination parameter of photolithographic processing equipment that includes a mask stage and an illumination subsystem, the sensor unit comprising:
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a substrate adapted to be disposed on or in the mask stage of the photolithographic processing equipment; and a plurality of sensors including; a first sensor, disposed on or in the substrate, to sample a light intensity of the illumination subsystem when the substrate is disposed on or in the mask stage; and a second sensor, disposed on or in the substrate, to sample a light intensity of the illumination subsystem when the substrate is disposed on or in the mask stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A sensor unit for sensing an illumination parameter of photolithographic processing equipment that includes a mask stage and an illumination subsystem, the sensor unit comprising:
- a substrate adapted to be disposed on or in the mask stage of the photolithographic processing equipment;
an array of light sensors, disposed on or in the substrate, to sample a light intensity of the illumination subsystem when the substrate is disposed on or in the mask stage;
a controller to generate control signals to change the light intensity of the illumination subsystem of the photolithographic processing equipment in response to the light intensity of the illumination subsystem sampled by the array of light sensors;
communication circuitry, coupled to the controller, to provide the control signals that change the light intensity of the illumination subsystem to external circuitry; and
a power source, coupled to the array of light sensors, the controller and the communication circuitry, to provide electrical power to the array of light sensors, the controller and the communication circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- a substrate adapted to be disposed on or in the mask stage of the photolithographic processing equipment;
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15. A sensor unit for sensing an illumination parameter of photolithographic processing equipment that includes a mask stage and an illumination subsystem, the sensor unit comprising:
- a substrate adapted to be disposed on or in the mask stage of the photolithographic processing equipment;
an array of light sensors, disposed on or in the substrate, to sample a light intensity of the illumination subsystem when the substrate is disposed on or in the mask stage;
a controller to control when the array of light sensors sample the light intensity of the illumination subsystem; and
a power source, coupled to the array of light sensors and the controller, to provide electrical power to the array of light sensors and the controller. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a substrate adapted to be disposed on or in the mask stage of the photolithographic processing equipment;
Specification