Mask defect analysis system
First Claim
1. A method for evaluating the effect of defects on masks in a semiconductor manufacturing process, said method comprising the steps of:
- identifying critical portions of a mask;
inspecting the mask for defects;
analyzing locations of the defects to classify said defects into critical defects and non-critical defects;
performing dimension measurements restrictedly on the critical portions and routing the masks with the critical portions for repair or scrapping to speed up the dimension measurements;
determining a final disposition of the mask by applying different acceptance rules to the critical defects and the non-critical defects; and
incorporating feedback from the final disposition into a macro, which is applicable to other masks.
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Abstract
An automated system for analyzing mask defects in a semiconductor manufacturing process is presented. This system combines results from an inspection tool and design layout data from a design data repository corresponding to each mask layer being inspected with a computer program and a predetermined rule set to determine when a defect on a given mask layer has occurred. Mask inspection results include the presence, location and type (clear or opaque) of defects. Ultimately, a determination is made as to whether to scrap, repair or accept a given mask based on whether the defect would be likely to cause product failure. Application of the defect inspection data to the design layout data for each mask layer being inspected prevents otherwise acceptable wafer masks from being scrapped when the identified defects are not in critical areas of the mask.
22 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for evaluating the effect of defects on masks in a semiconductor manufacturing process, said method comprising the steps of:
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identifying critical portions of a mask; inspecting the mask for defects; analyzing locations of the defects to classify said defects into critical defects and non-critical defects; performing dimension measurements restrictedly on the critical portions and routing the masks with the critical portions for repair or scrapping to speed up the dimension measurements; determining a final disposition of the mask by applying different acceptance rules to the critical defects and the non-critical defects; and incorporating feedback from the final disposition into a macro, which is applicable to other masks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 21)
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6. The system for evaluating the effect of defects in masks in a semiconductor manufacturing process, said system comprising:
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an inspection tool for locating defects in a mask; and a computer system for performing dimension measurements restrictedly on critical portions of the mask and routing the masks with the critical portions to be repaired or scrapped to speed up the dimension measurements, incorporating feedback from the final disposition into a macro, which is applicable to other masks, and classifying said defects into critical defects and non-critical defects based on locations of said defects and critical portions of said mask, wherein the computer systems determines the final disposition of the mask by applying different acceptance rules to the critical defects and the non-critical defects. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to implement steps of a method for evaluating the effect of defects in masks, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying critical portions of a mask; inspecting the mask for defects; analyzing locations of the defects to classify said defects into critical defects and non-critical defects; performing dimension measurements restrictedly on the critical portions and routing the masks with the critical portions for repair or scrapping to speed up the dimension measurements; determining a final disposition of the mask by applying different acceptance rules to the critical defects and the non-critical and incorporating feedback from the final disposition into a macro, which is applicable to other masks. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of evaluating the effect of defects on masks in a semiconductor manufacturing process, said method comprising:
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inspecting a mask for defects using an inspection tool; generating shapes representing the defects; performing an analysis using design data, the generated shapes, and a pre-determined rule set to determine whether the defects are critical defects and non-critical defects, performing dimension measurements restrictedly on critical portions of the mask and routing the masks with the critical portions for repair or scrapping to speed up the dimension measurements; applying different acceptance rules to the critical defects and the non-critical defects to provide a final disposition of the mask; and incorporating feedback from the final disposition into a macro, which is applicable to other masks. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23)
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Specification