Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of devising a target arrangement, and associated target and reticle. The target comprises a plurality of gratings, each grating comprising a plurality of substructures. The method comprises the steps of: defining a target area; locating the substructures within the target area so as to form the gratings; and locating assist features at the periphery of the gratings, the assist features being configured to reduce measured intensity peaks at the periphery of the gratings. The method may comprise an optimization process comprising modelling a resultant image obtained by inspection of the target using a metrology process; and evaluating whether the target arrangement is optimized for detection using a metrology process.
Abstract:
A method of measuring a parameter of a patterning process, the method including obtaining a measurement of a substrate processed by a patterning process, with a first metrology target measurement recipe; obtaining a measurement of the substrate with a second, different metrology target measurement recipe, wherein measurements using the first and second metrology target measurement recipes have their own distinct sensitivity to a metrology target structural asymmetry of the patterning process; and determining a value of the parameter by a weighted combination of the measurements of the substrate using the first and second metrology target measurement recipes, wherein the weighting reduces or eliminates the effect of the metrology target structural geometric asymmetry on the parameter of the patterning process determined from the measurements using the first and second metrology target measurement recipes.
Abstract:
A method, involving determining a first distribution of a first parameter associated with an error or residual in performing a device manufacturing process; determining a second distribution of a second parameter associated with an error or residual in performing the device manufacturing process; and determining a distribution of a parameter of interest associated with the device manufacturing process using a function operating on the first and second distributions. The function may comprise a correlation.
Abstract:
A method of characterizing a deformation of a plurality of substrates is described. The method comprising the steps of: - measuring, for a plurality of n different alignment measurement parameters λ and for a plurality of substrates, a position of the alignment marks; - determining a positional deviation as the difference between the n alignment mark position measurements and a nominal alignment mark position; - grouping the positional deviations into data sets; - determining an average data set; - subtracting the average data set from the data sets to obtain a plurality of variable data sets; - performing a blind source separation method on the variable data sets, thereby decomposing the variable data sets into a set of eigenwafers representing principal components of the variable data sets; - subdividing the set of eigenwafers into a set of mark deformation eigenwafers and a set of substrate deformation eigenwafers.
Abstract:
A lithographic process includes clamping (CL) a substrate (W) onto a substrate support (WT), measuring (AS) positions of marks across the clamped substrate, and applying a pattern to the clamped using the positions measured. A correction (WCOR) is applied to the positioning of the applied pattern in localized regions of the substrate, based on recognition of a warp-induced characteristic (402, 404, 406) in the positions measured across the substrate. In one embodiment the correction is generated by firstly inferring one or more shape characteristics of the warped substrate (FFW) using the measured positions and other information (CDAT). Then, based on the inferred shape characteristics, a clamping model is applied (WCM) to simulate deformation of the warped substrate in response to clamping. Thirdly said correction (LCOR) is calculated based on the simulated deformation. Some or all of these steps may be integrated and/or implemented by a look-up table.
Abstract:
A lithographic method comprises exposing number of fields on a substrate, obtaining data about a field (1001) and correcting exposure of the field in subsequent exposures. The method includes defining one or more sub-fields (408, 1011a, 1011b) of the field based on the obtained data. Data relating to each sub-field is processed to produce sub- field correction information. The subsequent exposures of the sub-fields are corrected using the sub-field correction information. By controlling a lithographic apparatus by reference to data of a particular sub-field (408) within a field, overlay error can be minimized for critical features, rather than being averaged over the whole field. By controlling a lithographic apparatus with reference to sub-fields rather than only the whole field, residual errors (1103) can be reduced in each sub-field.