Apparatus and methods for detecting overlay errors using scatterometry
First Claim
1. A method for determining overlay between a plurality of first structures in a first layer of a sample and a plurality of second structures in a second layer of the sample, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of targets that each include a portion of the first and second structures and each is designed to have an offset between its first and second structure portions;
illuminating the targets with electromagnetic radiation to thereby obtain detected output radiation from each target at a −
1st diffraction order and a +1st diffraction order; and
determining any overlay error between the first structures and the second structures using a scatterometry technique based on the detected output radiation by;
for each target, determining a first differential intensity between the −
1st diffraction order and the +1st diffraction order,for a plurality of pairs of targets each having a first target and a second target, determining a second differential intensity between the first differential intensity of the first target and the first differential intensity of the second target, anddetermining any overlay error between the first structures and the second structures using a scatterometry technique based on the second differential intensities determined from each target pair.
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Abstract
Disclosed are techniques, apparatus, and targets for determining overlay error between two layers of a sample. A plurality of targets is provided. Each target includes a portion of the first and second structures and each is designed to have an offset between its first and second structure portions. The targets are illuminated with electromagnetic radiation to thereby obtain spectra from each target at a −1st diffraction order and a +1st diffraction order. It is determined whether there are any overlay error between the first structures and the second structures using a scatterometry technique based on the detected spectra by (i) for each target, determining a first differential intensity between the −1st diffraction order and a +1st diffraction order, (ii) for a plurality of pairs of targets each having a first target and a second target, determining a second differential intensity between the first differential intensity of the first target and the first differential intensity of the second target, and (iii) determining any overlay error between the first structures and the second structures using a scatterometry technique based on the second differential intensities determined from each target pair.
161 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining overlay between a plurality of first structures in a first layer of a sample and a plurality of second structures in a second layer of the sample, the method comprising:
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providing a plurality of targets that each include a portion of the first and second structures and each is designed to have an offset between its first and second structure portions; illuminating the targets with electromagnetic radiation to thereby obtain detected output radiation from each target at a −
1st diffraction order and a +1st diffraction order; anddetermining any overlay error between the first structures and the second structures using a scatterometry technique based on the detected output radiation by; for each target, determining a first differential intensity between the −
1st diffraction order and the +1st diffraction order,for a plurality of pairs of targets each having a first target and a second target, determining a second differential intensity between the first differential intensity of the first target and the first differential intensity of the second target, and determining any overlay error between the first structures and the second structures using a scatterometry technique based on the second differential intensities determined from each target pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for determining overlay between a plurality of first structures in a first layer of a sample and a plurality of second structures in a second layer of the sample, comprising:
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a scatterometry module for illuminating a plurality of targets, which each include a portion of the first and second structures and each is designed to have an offset between its first and second structure portions, with electromagnetic radiation to obtain detected output radiation from each target at a −
1st diffraction order and a +1st diffraction order; anda processor operable for determining any overlay error between the first structures and the second structures using a scatterometry technique based on the detected output radiation by; for each target, determining a first differential intensity between the −
1st diffraction order and the +1st diffraction order,for a plurality of pairs of targets each having a first target and a second target, determining a second differential intensity between the first differential intensity of the first target and the first differential intensity of the second target, and determining any overlay error between the first structures and the second structures using a scatterometry technique based on the second differential intensities determined from each target pair. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification