US5317141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for high-accuracy alignment
Assignee: National Semiconductor Corp
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Filing: 1992-08-14
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2012-08-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of alignment of a first object with a second object includes the steps of determining the location of a feature on a surface of the second object using a probe of a scanned probe microscope, and positioning the first object in preselected spatial relationship with respect to the located feature. In an apparatus for performing lithography on a substrate, having a mask and a mask holder supporting the mask, an improvement includes an apparatus having a probe of a scanned probe microscope, for determining the location of a feature on a surface of the substrate. A method of forming a probe of a scanned probe microscope on a substrate includes the steps of providing a conductive base, having a tungsten surface layer, on the substrate, providing a dielectric layer and a high-temperature polymeric layer on the conductive base; opening a hole through the dielectric layer and the organic compound layer to the tungsten surface layer of the base, and selectively depositing tungsten by chemical vapor deposition on the tungsten surface in the hole to form a substantially conical tungsten tip in the hole.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael E. Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:53
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01Q; G01Q40/00; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/30; G01B7/31; G01Q30/00; G01Q30/04; G01Q30/06; G01Q40/02; G01Q70/00; G01Q70/06; G01Q70/16; G03; G03F; G03F9/00; G03F9/70; G03F9/7003; G03F9/7038; G03F9/7049; G03F9/7053; G03F9/7061; G01Q80/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S977/00; Y10S977/84; Y10S977/849; Y10S977/85; Y10S977/851
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for alignment of a first object with a second object, comprising the steps of: (a) determining the location of a feature on a surface of said second object using a probe of a scanned probe microscope, said scanned probe microscope being distinct from said first object; (b) positioning said first object in preselected spatial relationship with respect to said located feature.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for alignment of a first object with a second object, comprising the steps of: (a) determining the location of a feature on a surface of said second object using a probe of a scanned probe microscope, said scanned probe microscope being distinct from said first object; (b) positioning said first object in preselected spatial relationship with respect to said located feature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step of positioning comprises maintaining said first object in fixed spatial relationship with respect to said probe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said probe is rigidly mounted on a forward side of said first object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as recited in claim 3, wherein said probe comprises a probe of a scanning tunneling microscope, said location determining means further comprising a conductor in electrical contact with said probe and extending substantially to an edge of said forward side of said first object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of, prior to said step (a), performing metrology on the forward side of said first object to determine the relative location of a reference feature on said first object and the probe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said step of performing metrology comprises scanning the forward side of said first object with a scanning electron microscope.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: (a) using a probe of a second scanned probe microscope in determining the location of a second feature on the surface of said second object; and (b) positioning said first object in preselected spatial relationship with respect to the second located feature, simultaneously with said step of positioning said first object with respect to the first located feature, thereby obtaining rotational and translational alignment of said first object to said second object.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said first probe and said second probe are rigidly attached to a forward face of said first object.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 8, wherein said first and second probes comprise probes of scanning tunneling microscopes.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for alignment of a first object with a second object, comprising the steps of: (a) determining the location of a first feature on a surface of said second object using a probe of a scanned probe microscope; and (b) determining the location of a first feature on the surface of said first object, and (c) positioning said first object in preselected spatial relationship with respect to said located first feature on said second object.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for alignment of a first object with a second object, comprising the steps of: (a) determining the location of a first feature on a surface of said second object using a probe of a scanned probe microscope; and (b) determining the location of a first feature on the surface of said first object, and (c) positioning said first object in preselected spatial relationship with respect to said located first feature on said second object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said step of determining the location of a feature on a surface of said first object comprises employing a probe of a scanned probe microscope.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 11, wherein said probe comprises a probe of an atomic force microscope.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the steps of: (a) determining the location of a second feature on the surface of said second object using a probe of a scanned probe microscope; and (b) positioning said first object in preselected spatial relationship with respect to the second located feature, simultaneously with said step of positioning said first object, thereby obtaining rotational and translational alignment of said first object to said second object.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said step of positioning further comprises using a probe of a third scanned probe microscope in determining the location of a second feature on a surface of said first object.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
83 words
In the apparatus for performing optical lithography on a substrate, having an optical mask and a mask holder supporting the optical mask, the improvement comprising means, comprising a probe of a first scanned probe microscope, for determining the location of a feature on a surface of the substrate, further comprising a probe of a second scanned probe microscope, in known spatial relationship with respect to said probe of said first scanned probe microscope, for determining the location of a feature on said mask.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
83 words
In the apparatus for performing optical lithography on a substrate, having an optical mask and a mask holder supporting the optical mask, the improvement comprising means, comprising a probe of a first scanned probe microscope, for determining the location of a feature on a surface of the substrate, further comprising a probe of a second scanned probe microscope, in known spatial relationship with respect to said probe of said first scanned probe microscope, for determining the location of a feature on said mask.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 15, wherein said probe of said first scanned probe microscope and said probe of said second scanned probe microscope each depends from said holder.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for rotational and translational alignment of a first object with a second object, comprising the steps of: (a) determining, employing one and only one probe of a scanned probe microscope, the position and orientation on the surface of the second object of an alignment mark having a shape such that its position and orientation can be determined; (b) comparing the determined position and orientation of the alignment mark with a stored position and orientation of the alignment mark; and (c) translating and rotating said second object relative to said first object to align said first object with said second object.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for rotational and translational alignment of a first object with a second object, comprising the steps of: (a) determining, employing one and only one probe of a scanned probe microscope, the position and orientation on the surface of the second object of an alignment mark having a shape such that its position and orientation can be determined; (b) comparing the determined position and orientation of the alignment mark with a stored position and orientation of the alignment mark; and (c) translating and rotating said second object relative to said first object to align said first object with said second object.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said probe is mounted on a surface of said first object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said first object is a mask.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 17, wherein said second object is a wafer.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for rotational and translational alignment of a first object with a second object, comprising: (a) means, comprising one and only one probe of a scanned probe microscope, for determining the position and orientation on the surface of the second object of an alignment mark having a shape such that its orientation can be determined; (b) data processing apparatus adapted to compare the determined position and orientation of the alignment mark with a stored position and orientation of the alignment mark; and (c) means for translating and rotating said second object relative to said first object to align said first object with said second object.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparatus for rotational and translational alignment of a first object with a second object, comprising: (a) means, comprising one and only one probe of a scanned probe microscope, for determining the position and orientation on the surface of the second object of an alignment mark having a shape such that its orientation can be determined; (b) data processing apparatus adapted to compare the determined position and orientation of the alignment mark with a stored position and orientation of the alignment mark; and (c) means for translating and rotating said second object relative to said first object to align said first object with said second object.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said probe is mounted on a surface of said first object.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first object is a mask.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said second object is a wafer.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for detecting misalignment between a first object and a second object, comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the surface of the second object using a probe of a scanned probe microscope until sufficient information is obtained regarding the scanned portion of the surface such that the scanned portion can be identified on a stored reference image of the surface whereby the position of said probe can be determined; and (b) comparing the determined position of the probe on the surface to a predetermined home position for the probe on the reference image.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for detecting misalignment between a first object and a second object, comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the surface of the second object using a probe of a scanned probe microscope until sufficient information is obtained regarding the scanned portion of the surface such that the scanned portion can be identified on a stored reference image of the surface whereby the position of said probe can be determined; and (b) comparing the determined position of the probe on the surface to a predetermined home position for the probe on the reference image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the second object is a mask, and the first object is a mask holder.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for detecting misalignment between a first object and a second object, comprising: (a) means, comprising a probe of a scanned probe microscope, for obtaining an image of a portion of the surface of the second object; and (b) means for comparing the obtained image of the surface of the second object with a stored reference image, in order to determine the location of the probe on the surface relative to a predetermined home position for said probe.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
79 words
An apparatus for detecting misalignment between a first object and a second object, comprising: (a) means, comprising a probe of a scanned probe microscope, for obtaining an image of a portion of the surface of the second object; and (b) means for comparing the obtained image of the surface of the second object with a stored reference image, in order to determine the location of the probe on the surface relative to a predetermined home position for said probe.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said second object is a mask, and said first object is a mask holder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-11-29 | 1998-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-30 | 2001-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-30 | 2005-11-29 | 2006-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |