Abstract:
Disclosed is a patterning device for patterning product structures onto a substrate and an associated substrate patterned using such a patterning device. The patterning device comprises target patterning elements for patterning at least one target from which a parameter of interest can be inferred. The target patterning elements and product patterning elements for patterning the product structures. The target patterning elements and product patterning elements are configured such that said at least one target has at least one boundary which is neither parallel nor perpendicular with respect to said product structures on said substrate.
Abstract:
A method for applying a deposition model in a semiconductor manufacturing process is described. The method comprises predicting a deposition profile of a substrate using the deposition model; and using the predicted deposition profile to enhance a metrology target design. The deposition model is calibrated using experimental cross-section profile information from a layer of a physical wafer. In some embodiments, the deposition model is a machine-learning model, and calibrating the deposition model comprises training the machine-learning model. The metrology target design may comprise an alignment metrology target design or an overlay metrology target design, for example.
Abstract:
A method of patterning of at least a layer in a semiconductor device, comprising a patterning step by patterning means wherein the patterned layer comprises sensing-light transmissive portions (702x) and sensing-light blocking portions (702).
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:
There is disclosed a method of measuring a process parameter for a manufacturing process involving lithography. In a disclosed arrangement the method comprises performing first and second measurements of overlay error in a region on a substrate, and obtaining a measure of the process parameter based on the first and second measurements of overlay error. The first measurement of overlay error is designed to be more sensitive to a perturbation in the process parameter than the second measurement of overlay error by a known amount.
Abstract:
A pattern from a patterning device is applied to a substrate by a lithographic apparatus. The applied pattern includes product features and metrology targets. The metrology targets include large targets and small targets which are for measuring overlay. Some of the smaller targets are distributed at locations between the larger targets, while other small targets are placed at the same locations as a large target. By comparing values measured using a small target and large target at the same location, parameter values measured using all the small targets can be corrected for better accuracy. The large targets can be located primarily within scribe lanes while the small targets are distributed within product areas.
Abstract:
A pattern from a patterning device is applied to a substrate. The applied pattern includes device functional areas and metrology target areas. Each metrology target area comprises a plurality of individual grating portions, which are used for diffraction based overlay measurements or other diffraction based measurements. The gratings are of the small target type, which is small than an illumination spot used in the metrology. Each grating has an aspect ratio substantially greater than 1, meaning that a length in a direction perpendicular to the grating lines which is substantially greater than a width of the grating. Total target area can be reduced without loss of performance in the diffraction based metrology. A composite target can comprise a plurality of individual grating portions of different overlay biases. Using integer aspect ratios such as 2:1 or 4:1, grating portions of different directions can be packed efficiently into rectangular composite target areas.
Abstract:
A first target population and a second target population are etched into a substrate. The second target population has an asymmetry with respect to the first target population. This can allow the different target populations to be distinguished and characteristics of the different target populations determined.
Abstract:
Disclosed are methods, apparatuses, and lithographic systems for calibrating an inspection apparatus. Radiation is projected onto a pattern in a target position of a substrate. By making a plurality of measurements of the pattern and comparing the measured first or higher diffraction orders of radiation reflected from the pattern of different measurements, a residual error indicative of the error in a scatterometer may be calculated. This error is an error in measurements of substrate parameters caused by irregularities of the scatterometer. The residual error may manifest itself as an asymmetry in the diffraction spectra.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a patterning device, a metrology target and a metrology method which have a top grating, formed in a resist layer, comprised of resist layer surface variations and topology, without having resist gratings trenches formed, after the photolithography step, all the way to the underlying layer in the device stack.