IP Library Granted Patent US 7,442,474
Granted Patent B2
US 7,442,474 · App. 11/118,132 · Granted Oct 28, 2008

Reticle for determining rotational error

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,442,474
App. No.
11/118,132
Granted
Oct 28, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for determining rotational error portion of total misalignment error in a stepper. In one embodiment, the method comprises a series of steps in a stepper, starting with the step of receiving a wafer, having a first pattern and an error-free fine alignment target, in the stepper. In another step, the wafer is aligned in the stepper using the error-free fine alignment target. Then a second pattern is created on the wafer overlaying said first pattern. In another step, the rotational error portion of the total misalignment error is determined by measuring the circumferential misalignment between the first pattern and the second pattern.

Claims (20)

1. A reticle adaptable for determining a rotational error portion of a total misalignment error, said reticle comprising:

a first pattern, said first pattern located in a center region of said reticle, said first pattern including a fine alignment target; and

a second pattern, said second pattern located in an outer region of said reticle, said second pattern and said first pattern adaptable to form overlaying images in a wafer for measuring said rotational error portion of a total misalignment error.

2. The reticle recited in claim 1 wherein said first pattern is an overlay.

3. The reticle recited in claim 1 wherein said first pattern is a duplicate fine alignment target.

4. The reticle recited in claim 1 wherein said second pattern is a mating overlay.

5. The reticle recited in claim 1 wherein said mating overlay is adapted to overlay a fine alignment target.

6. The reticle recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of second patterns, said second patterns arranged in a matrix.

7. An arrangement for determining a rotational error portion of a total misalignment error on a wafer, the arrangement comprising:

a stepper that includes a light source, masking blades, a lens and a stage; and

a reticle having

a first pattern located in a center region of the reticle, the first pattern including a fine alignment target, and

a second pattern located in an outer region of the reticle, wherein the second pattern and the first pattern form overlaying images in the wafer for measuring the rotational error portion of the total misalignment error.

8. The arrangement recited in claim 7 , wherein the first pattern is an overlay.

9. The arrangement recited in claim 7 , wherein the first pattern is a duplicate fine alignment target.

10. The arrangement recited in claim 7 , wherein the second pattern is a mating overlay.

11. The arrangement recited in claim 10 , wherein the mating overlay is adapted to overlay a fine alignment target.

12. The arrangement recited in claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of the second patterns, the plurality of second patterns arranged in a matrix.

13. The arrangement recited in claim 7 , wherein the fine alignment target is projected through a center region of the stepper lens onto the wafer.

14. The arrangement recited in claim 7 , wherein the second pattern is projected through an outer region of the stepper lens onto the wafer.

Assignments (16)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 042985 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051029/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 042762 FRAME 0145. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051145/0184 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051030/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12298143 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039361 FRAME 0212. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Oct 22, 2019
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051029/0387 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 050745/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2017
From: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
To: PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS INTERNATIONAL B.V.
Reel/Frame 043951/0127 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 22, 2017
From: PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS INTERNATIONAL B.V.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 043951/0611 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12681366 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 039361 FRAME 0212. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded May 9, 2017
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 042762/0145 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12681366 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded May 9, 2017
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 042985/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVE APPLICATION 12092129 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038017 FRAME 0058. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT. Recorded Jul 14, 2016
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 039361/0212 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Mar 7, 2016
From: NXP B.V.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 038017/0058 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2011
From: LEROUX, PIERRE
To: VLSI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 027143/0325 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2011
From: PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS, INC.
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Reel/Frame 027143/0366 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 28, 2011
From: PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS VLSI INC.
To: PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS INC.
Reel/Frame 027143/0359 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 28, 2011
From: VLSI TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: PHILIPS SEMICONDUCTORS VLSI INC.
Reel/Frame 027143/0345 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2008
From: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
To: NXP B.V.
Reel/Frame 021085/0959 →