Method and apparatus for process endpoint prediction based on actual thickness measurements

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for predicting the endpoint time of a semiconductor process for a layer of a wafer (14). The endpoint time is the time at which a predetermined thickness of the layer occurs. A layer thickness, calculated for a first sample...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser:	HENCK, STEVEN A, MAUNG, SONNY, BUTLER, STEPHANIE W
Format:	Patent
Sprache:	eng
Schlagworte:	BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT CHEMISTRY COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATIONOR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY IONIMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL COATING METALLIC MATERIAL DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS ELECTRICITY INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION INGENERAL MEASURING MEASURING ANGLES MEASURING AREAS MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEARDIMENSIONS METALLURGY PHYSICS SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THESURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION TESTING
Online-Zugang:	Volltext bestellen
Tags:	Tag hinzufügen Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!

Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:	In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for predicting the endpoint time of a semiconductor process for a layer of a wafer (14). The endpoint time is the time at which a predetermined thickness of the layer occurs. A layer thickness, calculated for a first sample time, is received. It is then determined whether or not the layer thickness lies within a predetermined range. If the layer thickness does lie within the predetermined range, it is used to update a forecasted process rate. The forecasted process rate is used to predict the endpoint time. The endpoint time is used to control the semiconductor process so that the layer of wafer (14) is formed having the predetermined thickness.