Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithography device capable of predicting displacement of each point of a substrate more accurately.SOLUTION: There is provided a method of estimating a value representing a level of alignment mark deformation on a substrate using an alignment system including an alignment sensor system capable of emitting light of various measurement frequency so that the light is reflected by an alignment mark and detecting a diffraction pattern formed with reflected light so as to measure the alignment position of the alignment mark on a substrate having been processed. The method includes measuring an alignment position deviation from an expected predetermined alignment position of the alignment mark for each of alignment marks related to two or more measurement frequencies by using the two or more measurement frequencies, and finding a value representing a spread of the alignment position deviation for each alignment mark so as to estimate a level of alignment mark deformation.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an arrangement configuration and a method for automatically selecting a substrate alignment mark on a substrate in lithography equipment and an overlay metering target in an overlay metering device. SOLUTION: A memory stores locations of one or a plurality of sets of substrate alignment marks or overlay metering targets available for selection and selection rules to select suitable substrate alignment marks or overlay metering targets from this at least one set. The selection rules are based on experimental or theoretical knowledge about which substrate alignment mark or overlay metering targets locations are optimal based on one or a plurality of selection criteria. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lithographic apparatus and method capable of removing, or relaxing increase of overlay errors of patterns. SOLUTION: The lithographic method for providing an alignment mark onto a layer provided on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes providing the alignment mark to a region aligned within a specific angle range to a surface of the substrate having the layer provided thereon. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an arrangement configuration and a method for automatically selecting a substrate alignment mark on a substrate in lithography equipment and an overlay metering target in an overlay metering device. SOLUTION: A memory stores locations of one or a plurality of sets of substrate alignment marks or overlay metering targets available for selection and selection rules to select suitable substrate alignment marks or overlay metering targets from this at least one set. The selection rules are based on at least one of experimental and theoretical knowledge about which substrate alignment mark or overlay metering targets locations are optimal based on one or a plurality of selection criteria. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further reduce measurement overhead in a lithography process and, at the same time, to keep a performance advantage of higher-order correction.SOLUTION: A substrate is loaded on a substrate support of a lithography apparatus and thereafter, the apparatus measures positions of substrate alignment marks. These measurement values define first correction information, and the apparatus can give patterns to one or more desired positions on the substrate. In order to improve pattern positioning accuracy, in particular, in order to correct higher-order distortion of a nomina alignment grid, additional second correction information is used. The second correction information may also be information based on the position measurement of the alignment mark which is performed in giving the preceding pattern to the same substrate. Alternatively or additionally, the second correction information may also be information based on the measurement which is performed on a similar substrate patterned before the present substrate.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for aligning a substrate in a lithographic apparatus. SOLUTION: The substrate includes a plurality of alignment marks. The alignment marks have been defined by a second lithographic apparatus LM2 and are arranged to provide a substrate grid as a coordinate system that includes a first and a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The method includes steps of measuring a location and an orientation of the alignment marks to obtain alignment mark data, determining the substrate grid of the substrate from the alignment mark data by using a first substrate grid model with a first set of parameters, determining the substrate grid of the substrate from the alignment mark data by using a second substrate grid model with a second set of parameters including an ortho-scaling parameter in addition to the first set of parameters, and correcting machine-to-machine differences between the lithographic apparatus and the second lithographic apparatus LM2 with automated process control data based on the ortho-scaling parameter. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately measure the position of an alignment mark located at a lower surface of a substrate. SOLUTION: A lithography alignment apparatus includes a radiation source constructed to generate radiation of 1,000 nm or a plurality of wavelengths longer than 1,000 nm; a control system 11 constructed to select one or plural infrared ray wavelengths; and a plurality of non focusing detector 15 constructed such that after the radiation is reflected by an alignment mark, a diffraction grating is provided, at least part of the diffraction grating has different diffraction grating periods to detect the radiation. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an arrangement and a method that automatically select a substrate alignment mark on a substrate in lithography apparatus or overlay metering target in an overlay meter. SOLUTION: A memory stores at least one set of positions of substrate alignment marks or overlay metering targets can be used for selection, and a selection rule for selecting an appropriate substrate alignment mark or overlay metering target from the at least one set. The selection rule is based on at least one of experimental and theoretical pieces of knowledge for optimizing the position of the substrate alignment mark or the overlay metering target according to at least one selection standard. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI