US5953128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optically measurable serpentine edge tone reversed targets
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1997-08-28
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Granted: 1999-09-14
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Expires: 2017-08-28
Abstract
Abstract Focus and exposure parameters may be controlled in a lithographic process for manufacturing microelectronics by creating a complementary tone pattern of shapes and spaces in a resist film on a substrate. Corresponding dimensions of the resist shape and space are measured and the adequacy of focus or exposure dose are determined as a function of the measured dimensions. Etching parameters may also be controlled by creating a complementary tone pattern of etched shapes and spaces on a substrate. Corresponding dimensions of the etched shape and space are measured and the adequacy of etching parameters are determined as a function of the measured dimensions.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher P. Ausschnitt
- 👤 Timothy A. Brunner
- 👤 Alan C. Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:24
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/70; G03F7/70483; G03F7/70605; G03F7/70616; G03F7/70641; G03F7/004; G03F7/027; G03F7/028; G03F7/031; G03F7/032; G03F7/033; G03F7/04; G03F7/20; G03F7/26; G03F7/30; G03F7/32; G03F7/7055; G03F7/70558
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A target for measurement of parameters on a substrate formed by a lithographic process comprising: a contrasting area on said substrate having a linear edge; and a contrasting array of elements on said substrate, said array comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with said substrate and extending from a first element to a last element, each of said elements having length and width, ends of the contrasting elements being aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, the length of the contrasting elements comprising the array width and the distance between opposite far edges of the first and last elements comprising the array length, the linear edge of said contrasting area contacting each of said contrasting elements along one edge of said array, whereby the array width is measurable by microscopy without resolution of individual elements of the array to determine a parameter of said substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
A target for measurement of parameters on a substrate formed by a lithographic process comprising: a contrasting area on said substrate having a linear edge; and a contrasting array of elements on said substrate, said array comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with said substrate and extending from a first element to a last element, each of said elements having length and width, ends of the contrasting elements being aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, the length of the contrasting elements comprising the array width and the distance between opposite far edges of the first and last elements comprising the array length, the linear edge of said contrasting area contacting each of said contrasting elements along one edge of said array, whereby the array width is measurable by microscopy without resolution of individual elements of the array to determine a parameter of said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The target of claim 1 wherein the linear edge of said contrasting area extends beyond at least one of said first or last elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The target of claim 2 wherein the linear edge of said contrasting area extends beyond said first element and said contrasting area further includes a portion contacting said last element along the opposite far edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The target of claim 1 wherein the width of each element is constant over the element length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The target of claim 1 wherein the width of each element tapers down from the contrasting area linear edge over the element length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
The target of claim 1: wherein said contrasting array comprises a first contrasting array and further including a second contrasting array of elements on said substrate, said second array comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with said substrate and extending from a first element to a last element, each of said elements having length and width, ends of the contrasting elements being aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, the length of the contrasting elements comprising the second array width and the distance between opposite far edges of the first and last elements comprising the second array length, and wherein said second contrasting array is spaced from the first array edge opposite the linear edge of said contrasting area, whereby the second array width is measurable by microscopy without resolution of individual elements of the second array to determine a parameter of said substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The target of claim 6 wherein the first and second array edges are parallel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The target of claim 7 wherein the lengths of said first and second arrays are substantially equal, and wherein said first and second arrays are spaced from each other by a distance equal to the width of said arrays.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
186 words
The target of claim 1: wherein said contrasting array comprises a first contrasting array and said contrasting area linear edge comprises a first contrasting area linear edge, and further including a second linear edge on said contrasting area parallel to and spaced from said first linear edge on a side opposite said first contrasting array, and a second contrasting array of elements on said substrate, said second array comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with said substrate and extending from a first element to a last element, each of said elements having length and width, ends of the contrasting elements being aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, the length of the contrasting elements comprising the second array width and the distance between opposite far edges of the first and last elements comprising the second array length, the second linear edge of said contrasting area contacting each of said contrasting elements along one edge of said second array, whereby the second array width is measurable by microscopy without resolution of individual elements of the second array to determine a parameter of said substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The target of claim 9 wherein the first and second array edges are parallel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The target of claim 10 wherein the lengths of said first and second arrays are substantially equal, and wherein said first and second arrays are spaced from each other by a distance equal to the width of said arrays.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
The target of claim 9: further including a third contrasting array of elements on said substrate, said third array comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with said substrate and extending from a first element to a last element, each of said elements having length and width, ends of the contrasting elements being aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, the length of the contrasting elements comprising the third array width and the distance between opposite far edges of the first and last elements comprising the third array length, and wherein said third contrasting array is spaced from the first array edge opposite the first linear edge of said contrasting area whereby the third array width is measurable by microscopy without resolution of individual elements of the third array to determine a parameter of said substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The target of claim 12 wherein the first and third array edges are parallel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The target of claim 13 wherein the lengths of said first and third arrays are substantially equal, and wherein said first and third arrays are spaced from each other by a distance equal to the width of said arrays.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
77 words
The target of claim 12: wherein said contrasting area comprises a first contrasting area, and further including a second contrasting area having a third linear edge on said second contrasting area parallel to and spaced from said first and second linear edges of said first contrasting area, said third linear edge contacting each of the contrasting elements of said third contrasting array along an edge of said third array on a side opposite said first contrasting array.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The target of claim 15 wherein the first and third array edges are parallel, the width of said first and third arrays are substantially equal, and said first and third arrays are spaced from each other by a distance equal to the width of said arrays.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The target of claim 16 wherein the width of said first and contrasting second areas is normal to the linear edges of said areas and wherein said first and second contrasting areas have lengths equal to the lengths of said arrays.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of measuring parameters on a substrate formed by a lithographic process comprising the steps of: a) providing a target comprising a contrasting area formed on a substrate by a lithographic process, said contrasting area having a linear edge; and a contrasting array of elements on said substrate, said array comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with said substrate and extending from a first element to a last element, each of said elements having length and width, ends of the contrasting elements being aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, the length of the contrasting elements comprising the array width and the distance between opposite far edges of the first and last elements comprising the array length, the linear edge of said contrasting area contacting each of said contrasting elements along one edge of said array; b) resolving said array edges without resolving individual elements of the array; and c) measuring the position of said array edges to determine a desired parameter of said substrate.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of measuring parameters on a substrate formed by a lithographic process comprising the steps of: a) providing a target comprising a contrasting area formed on a substrate by a lithographic process, said contrasting area having a linear edge; and a contrasting array of elements on said substrate, said array comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with said substrate and extending from a first element to a last element, each of said elements having length and width, ends of the contrasting elements being aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, the length of the contrasting elements comprising the array width and the distance between opposite far edges of the first and last elements comprising the array length, the linear edge of said contrasting area contacting each of said contrasting elements along one edge of said array; b) resolving said array edges without resolving individual elements of the array; and c) measuring the position of said array edges to determine a desired parameter of said substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said step (c) comprises determining the position of a centerline between two of said array edges.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
162 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said contrasting array comprises a first contrasting array and further including the steps of: i) providing a second contrasting array of elements on said substrate, said second array comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with said substrate and extending from a first element to a last element, each of said elements having length and width, ends of the contrasting elements being aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, the length of the contrasting elements comprising the second array width and the distance between opposite far edges of the first and last elements comprising the second array length, and wherein said second contrasting array is spaced from the first array edge opposite the linear edge of said contrasting area; ii) resolving said first and second array edges without resolving individual elements of the arrays; and iii) measuring the position of said first and second array edges to determine a desired parameter of said substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said step (iii) comprises determining the position of a centerline between two of said array edges.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
202 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said contrasting array comprises a first contrasting array and said contrasting area linear edge comprises a first contrasting area linear edge and further including the steps of: i) further including a second linear edge on said contrasting area parallel to and spaced from said first linear edge on a side opposite said first contrasting array, and a second contrasting array of elements on said substrate, said second array comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements contrasting with said substrate and extending from a first element to a last element, each of said elements having length and width, ends of the contrasting elements being aligned along parallel lines forming opposite array edges, the length of the contrasting elements comprising the second array width and the distance between opposite far edges of the first and last elements comprising the second array length, the second linear edge of said contrasting area contacting each of said contrasting elements along one edge of said second array; ii) resolving said first and second array edges without resolving individual elements of the arrays; and iii) measuring the position of said first and second array edges to determine a desired parameter of said substrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said step (iii) comprises determining the position of a centerline between two of said array edges.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-13 | 2003-03-15 | 2003-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-13 | 2007-03-15 | 2007-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-13 | 2011-03-15 | 2011-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |