Determining endpoint in a substrate process
First Claim
1. An endpoint detection system for detecting an endpoint of a process being performed in a substrate processing apparatus, the endpoint detection system comprising:
- (a) a polychromatic light source to emit polychromatic light that is reflected from a substrate in the apparatus, the polychromatic light having a plurality of wavelengths; and
(b) a light wavelength selector to receive the reflected polychromatic light and determine a wavelength of light at which a local intensity of the reflected light is maximized during the process, the light wavelength selector comprising;
(i) a diffraction grating to generate a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths from the reflected polychromatic light; and
(ii) a light detector to receive the light beams having different wavelengths and generate an intensity signal trace of the intensity of each wavelength of the polychromatic reflected light.
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Abstract
An endpoint detection system for detecting an endpoint of a process comprises a polychromatic light source which emits polychromatic light. The light is reflected from a substrate. A light wavelength selector receives the reflected polychromatic light and determines a wavelength of light at which a local intensity of the reflected light is maximized during the process. In one version, the wavelength selector comprises a diffraction grating to generate a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths from the reflected polychromatic light and a light detector to receive the light beams having different wavelengths and generate an intensity signal trace of the intensity of each wavelength of the polychromatic reflected light.
26 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An endpoint detection system for detecting an endpoint of a process being performed in a substrate processing apparatus, the endpoint detection system comprising:
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(a) a polychromatic light source to emit polychromatic light that is reflected from a substrate in the apparatus, the polychromatic light having a plurality of wavelengths; and (b) a light wavelength selector to receive the reflected polychromatic light and determine a wavelength of light at which a local intensity of the reflected light is maximized during the process, the light wavelength selector comprising; (i) a diffraction grating to generate a plurality of light beams having different wavelengths from the reflected polychromatic light; and (ii) a light detector to receive the light beams having different wavelengths and generate an intensity signal trace of the intensity of each wavelength of the polychromatic reflected light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An endpoint detection system for detecting an endpoint of a process being performed in a substrate processing apparatus, the endpoint detection system comprising:
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(a) a light beam source to emit polychromatic light that is reflected from a substrate in the apparatus, the polychromatic light having a plurality of wavelengths; and (b) a light wavelength selector to receive the reflected polychromatic light and determine a wavelength of light at which a local intensity of the reflected light is maximized during the etching process, the light wavelength selector comprising; (i) a prism to generate light beams having different wavelengths from the reflected polychromatic light; and (ii) a light detector to receive the light beams having different wavelengths and generate an intensity signal trace of the intensity of each wavelength of the polychromatic reflected light. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An endpoint detection system for detecting an endpoint of a process being performed in a substrate processing apparatus, the endpoint detection system comprising:
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(a) a light beam source to emit polychromatic light that is reflected from a substrate in the apparatus, the polychromatic light having a plurality of wavelengths; and (b) a light wavelength selector to receive the reflected polychromatic light and determine a wavelength of reflected light at which a local intensity of the reflected light is maximized during the etching process, the light wavelength selector comprising; (i) a wavelength filter to generate light beams having different wavelengths from the reflected polychromatic light; and (ii) a light detector to receive the light beams having different wavelengths and generate an intensity signal trace of the intensity of each wavelength of the polychromatic reflected light. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of processing a substrate in a process zone, the method comprising:
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(a) directing a broadband spectrum of light at a substrate in the process zone, the broadband spectrum of light having a plurality of wavelengths; (b) separating light beams having different wavelengths from a reflectance spectrum of light reflected from the substrate which arises from the broadband spectrum of light; and (c) determining a wavelength of light at which a local intensity of reflected light is maximized during the process. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification