Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for detecting a relative positional relation and rotational error between a predetermined coordinate system of a semiconductor device and a coordinate system of an energy beam apparatus when an energy beam is radiated onto a desired portion of said semiconductor device, said method comprising the steps of: scanning a single substantially cross-shaped semiconductive layer, having a second semiconductor type and preformed on the top of a semiconductor device having a substrate of a first conductivity type, with said energy beam spotted on said semiconductor device once along a rectangular closed scanning loop, said semiconductive layer having first and second layer portions substantially overlapping each other to define the coordinate system of said substrate and an intersection thereof corresponding to a reference point of said substrate; detecting a change in a current generated when said energy beam crosses said semiconductive layer of said semiconductor device; detecting four points at which the current abruptly changes and which correspond to four beam crossing points produced two each at said first and second layer portions of said semiconductive layer; and calculating said reference point of said semiconductor device and an angular displacement of the coordinate system of said semiconductor substrate from the coordinate system of said energy beam apparatus, based on data including said four points.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for detecting a relative positional relation and rotational error between a predetermined coordinate system of a semiconductor device and a coordinate system of an energy beam apparatus when an energy beam is radiated onto a desired portion of said semiconductor device, said method comprising the steps of: scanning a single substantially cross-shaped semiconductive layer, having a second semiconductor type and preformed on the top of a semiconductor device having a substrate of a first conductivity type, with said energy beam spotted on said semiconductor device once along a rectangular closed scanning loop, said semiconductive layer having first and second layer portions substantially overlapping each other to define the coordinate system of said substrate and an intersection thereof corresponding to a reference point of said substrate; detecting a change in a current generated when said energy beam crosses said semiconductive layer of said semiconductor device; detecting four points at which the current abruptly changes and which correspond to four beam crossing points produced two each at said first and second layer portions of said semiconductive layer; and calculating said reference point of said semiconductor device and an angular displacement of the coordinate system of said semiconductor substrate from the coordinate system of said energy beam apparatus, based on data including said four points.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said reference point of said substrate is calculated by an intersection of a virtual line connecting said two points at which the current changes on said first layer portion and a virtual line connecting said two points at which the current changes on said second layer portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of forming said first and second layer portions in first and second directions substantially perpendicular to each other which correspond to the X- and Y-axes of the orthogonal coordinate system of said substrate, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 3, further comprising the step of setting said semiconductor device having said substrate and said layer mens in a reverse-biased state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of forming said semiconductor layer as a cross-shaped diffusion layer having a first portion extending in said first direction and a second portion extending in the second direction, and forming said second portion integrally with said first portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of forming said semiconductor layer to include at least two diffusion layers which are substantially equally spaced apart from said reference point aong said first direction, and at least two diffusion layers which are substantially equally spaced apart from said reference point along said second direction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of forming said semiconductor layer as a diffusion layer formed in the surface portion of said substrate, and providing a layer on the surface portion of said substrate to cover said diffusion layer, which has a cross-shaped opening extending in said first and second directions, and which is made of a material which prevents transmission of the energy beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the change in the current is detected on an increase in a current generated between said substrate and said semiconductor layer upon radiation of the energy beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said energy beam radiation is performed by scanning said substrate with a laser beam, the laser beam being moved along a square track which is so set as to include the reference point therein and crosses said semiconductor layer at four points thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said energy radiation is performed by a laser beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said point detecting step comprises the step of scanning said semiconductive layer only once with said energy beam spot along said rectangular closed scanning loop, which surrounds said intersection and the length of each side of said rectangular loop is shorter than the lengths of said first and second layer portions, in order to detect both said relative positional relation and rotational error.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said calculating step comprises the step of detecting, as said rotational error, an angle between one side of said closed scanning loop, which intersects one of said first and second layer portions of said semiconductive layer, and a line substantially perpendicular to said one of said first and second layer portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said step of scanning said semiconductive layer only once comprises the steps of: irradiating said energy beam so as to form on said substrate said beam spot having a diameter substantially equal to the width of said semiconductive layer; and moving a beam generator included in said energy beam apparatus so as to allow said beam spot to move along a substantially square closed scanning loop.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said step of scanning said semiconductive layer only once comprises the steps of: irradiating said energy beam so as to form on said substrate said beam spot having a diameter smaller than the width of said semiconductive layer; and moving a beam generator included in said energy beam apparatus so as to allow said beam spot to move along a substantially square closed scanning loop.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein said step of scanning said semiconductive layer only once comprises the steps of: irradiating said energy beam so as to form on said substrate said beam spot having a diameter greater than the width of said semiconductive layer; and moving a beam generator included in said energy beam apparatus so as to allow said beam spot to move along a substantially square closed scanning loop.