Abstract:
A method and apparatus to measure overlay from images of metrology targets, images obtained using acoustic waves, for example images obtained using an acoustic microscope. The images of two targets are obtained, one image using acoustic waves and one image using optical waves, the edges of the images are determined and overlay between the two targets is obtained as the difference between the edges of the two images.
Abstract:
A sensor apparatus (300) for determining a position of a target (330) of a substrate (W) comprising, projection optics (315;321) configured to project a radiation beam (310) onto the substrate, collection optics (321) configured to collect measurement radiation (325) that has scattered from the target, a wavefront sensing system (335) configured to determine a pupil function variation of at least a portion (355) of the measurement radiation and output a signal (340) indicative thereof, and a measurement system (350) configured to receive the signal and to determine the position of the target in at least partial dependence on the collected measurement radiation and the determined pupil function variation of at least a portion of the measurement radiation.
Abstract:
An alignment system, method and lithographic apparatus are provided for determining the position of an alignment mark, the alignment system comprising a first system configured to produce two overlapping images of the alignment mark that are rotated by around 180 degrees with respect to one another, and a second system configured to determine the position of the alignment mark from a spatial distribution of an intensity of the two overlapping images.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a metrology apparatus comprising an optical element configured to receive at or near a pupil plane of the metrology apparatus, at least first radiation comprising a first higher diffracted order and second radiation comprising a zeroth order resulting from illumination of a metrology target with radiation; and to direct said first radiation and second radiation together in a first direction. The metrology apparatus is further configured to form at least a first image of a first interference pattern, the first interference pattern resulting from interference of said first radiation and second radiation at an image plane.
Abstract:
An apparatus for and method of determining the alignment of a substrate in which a multiple alignment marks are simultaneously illuminated with spatially coherent radiation and the light from the illuminated marks is collected in parallel to obtain information on the positions of the marks and distortions within the marks.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a metrology sensor apparatus and associated method. The metrology sensor apparatus comprises an illumination system operable to illuminate a metrology mark on a substrate with illumination radiation having a first polarization state and an optical collection system configured to collect scattered radiation, following scattering of the illumination radiation by the metrology mark. The metrology mark comprises a main structure and changes, relative to the first polarization state, at least one of a polarization state of a first portion of the scattered radiation predominately resultant from scattering by the main structure and a polarization state of a second portion of radiation predominately resultant from scattering by one or more features other than the main structure, such that the polarization state of the first portion of the scattered radiation is different to the polarization state of the second portion of the scattered radiation. The metrology sensor apparatus further comprises an optical filtering system which filters out the second portion of the scattered radiation based on its polarization state.
Abstract:
A sensor is disclosed, wherein a transducer generates acoustic waves, which are received by a lens assembly. The lens assembly transmits and directs at least a part of the acoustic waves to a target. The lens assembly then receives at least a part of acoustic waves, after interaction with the target. The sensor further comprises an optical detector that comprises at least one optically reflective member located at a surface of the lens assembly, which surface is arranged opposite to a surface of the lens assembly which faces a focal plane of the lens assembly, wherein the at least one optically reflective member is mechanically displaced in response to the acoustic waves, which are received and transmitted by the lens assembly.
Abstract:
A radiation receiving system for an inspection apparatus, used to perform measurements on target structures on lithographic substrates as part of a lithographic process, comprises a spectrometer with a number of inputs. The radiation receiving system comprises: a plurality of inputs, each input being arranged to provide radiation from a target structure; a first optical element operable to receive radiation from each of the plurality of inputs; a second optical element operable to receive radiation from the first optical element and to scatter the radiation; and a third optical element operable to direct the scattered radiation onto a detector. The second optical element may for example be a reflective diffraction grating that diffracts incoming radiation into an output radiation spectrum.
Abstract:
An alignment sensor in a lithographic apparatus comprises an optical system (500; 600) configured to deliver, collect and process radiation selectively in a first waveband (e.g. 500-900 nm) and/or in a second waveband (e.g. 1500-2500 nm). The radiation of the first and second wavebands share a common optical path (506-508; 606) in at least some portion of the optical system, while the radiation of the first waveband is processed by a first processing sub-system (552a) and the radiation of the second waveband (552b) is processed by a second processing sub-system. The processing subsystems in one example comprise self-referencing interferometers (556a/556b; 656a/656b). The radiation of the second waveband allow marks to be measure through an opaque layer (308) such as carbon hard mask. Optical coatings and other components of each processing sub-system can be tailored to the respective waveband, without completely duplicating the optical system.
Abstract:
In an alignment sensor (AS) of a lithographic apparatus (LA), position sensing radiation (222) is delivered to a target (P1). After reflection or diffraction from the target, position sensing radiation (226) is processed (228, 336, 338) to determine a position of the target. Reference radiation (362) interferes with the position sensing radiation (226) while a relative phase modulation is applied between the reference radiation and the position sensing radiation. The interfering radiation includes a time-varying component defined by the applied phase modulation. The interfering radiation is delivered to two photodetectors (338a, 338b) in such a way that each photodetector receives said time-varying component in anti-phase to that received at the other photodetector. A difference signal (i(t)) from said photodetectors contains an amplified, low noise version of said time-varying component. This is used in determining the position of the target. Mode matching enhances interference. Surface scattered radiation is rejected.