Defect classification utilizing data from a non-vibrating contact potential difference sensor
First Claim
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1. A method of classifying a non-uniformity of a semiconductor wafer, comprising the steps of:
- providing a semiconductor comprising a wafer having a wafer surface;
providing a contact potential difference sensor having a probe tip;
scanning the wafer surface laterally relative to the contact potential difference sensor;
generating sensor data representative of changes in contact potential difference between the sensor probe tip and the wafer surface as the sensor probe tip scans laterally relative to the wafer surface;
using the contact potential difference sensor data to detect wafer non-uniformities;
processing the contact potential difference sensor data at the location of a non-uniformity by performing the steps of integrating the potential difference sensor data wherein integrated sensor data is indicative of relative surface potential, testing the integrated sensor data by performing a threshold test to identify regions of the integrated sensor data which lie within at least one of (1) in a specific range, (2) above a specified value and (3) below a specified value, thereby determining polarity at the non-uniformity and detecting a direction of change to one of lower or higher surface potential of the wafer surface; and
using the direction of change to one of lower or higher of surface potential as one feature to classify the wafer non-uniformity.
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Abstract
A method and system for identifying and classifying non-uniformities on the surface of a semiconductor or in a semiconductor. The method and system involves scanning the wafer surface with a non-vibrating contact potential difference sensor to detect the locations of non-uniformities, extracting features characteristic of the non-uniformities, and applying a set of rules to these features to classify the type of each non-uniformity.
82 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of classifying a non-uniformity of a semiconductor wafer, comprising the steps of:
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providing a semiconductor comprising a wafer having a wafer surface; providing a contact potential difference sensor having a probe tip; scanning the wafer surface laterally relative to the contact potential difference sensor; generating sensor data representative of changes in contact potential difference between the sensor probe tip and the wafer surface as the sensor probe tip scans laterally relative to the wafer surface; using the contact potential difference sensor data to detect wafer non-uniformities; processing the contact potential difference sensor data at the location of a non-uniformity by performing the steps of integrating the potential difference sensor data wherein integrated sensor data is indicative of relative surface potential, testing the integrated sensor data by performing a threshold test to identify regions of the integrated sensor data which lie within at least one of (1) in a specific range, (2) above a specified value and (3) below a specified value, thereby determining polarity at the non-uniformity and detecting a direction of change to one of lower or higher surface potential of the wafer surface; and using the direction of change to one of lower or higher of surface potential as one feature to classify the wafer non-uniformity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for classifying non-uniformity type of a semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a potential difference sensor to produce a sensor signal; a wafer fixture to hold a semiconductor wafer and a mechanism to scan the wafer relative to the potential difference sensor and to rotate a spindle coupled to the wafer fixture, thereby enabling relative motion between the wafer and the sensor; and a source of independent data indicative of whether a non-uniformity type is a metallic contaminant or nonmetallic contaminant based on a direction of change of the sensor signal to a positive or negative change of surface potential, thereby enabling determination of the non-uniformity type on the wafer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for classifying non-uniformity type of a semiconductor wafer comprising:
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a potential difference sensor to produce a sensor signal; a wafer fixture to hold a semiconductor wafer and a mechanism to scan the wafer relative to the potential difference sensor and to rotate a spindle coupled to the wafer fixture, thereby enabling relative motion between the wafer and the sensor; and a source of data indicative of whether a non-uniformity type is one of a metallic contaminant, nonmetallic contaminant and excess electronic charge based on the type of sensor signal, thereby enabling determination of the non-uniformity type on the wafer.
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Specification