IP Library Granted Patent US 7,817,265
Granted Patent B2
US 7,817,265 · App. 12/237,404 · Granted Oct 19, 2010

Alignment mark and defect inspection method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,817,265
App. No.
12/237,404
Granted
Oct 19, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

A defect inspection method is disclosed. A first type defect inspection system is used to perform a first defect inspection by aligning to an alignment mark on a wafer as a reference point for the first defect inspection. A fabrication process is performed on the wafer thereafter, and a second defect inspection is performed by using a second type defect inspection system to align the alignment mark on the wafer as the reference point for the second defect inspection.

Claims (13)

1. A defect inspection method, comprising:

performing a first defect inspection by a first type defect inspection system by aligning to an alignment mark on a wafer as a reference point for the first defect inspection;

performing at least one fabrication process to the wafer; and

performing a second defect inspection by a second type defect inspection system by aligning to the alignment mark on the wafer as a reference point for the second defect inspection.

2. The defect inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the first inspection is optical and the second inspection is electrical.

3. The defect inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the fabrication process is selected from etching process, lithography, CMP process, implantation process, cleaning process, material forming process or combination thereof.

4. The defect inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the alignment mark comprises at least one right angle.

5. The defect inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the alignment mark is a T-shaped alignment mark.

6. The defect inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the alignment mark is a L-shaped alignment mark.

7. The defect inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the alignment mark is a cross-shaped alignment mark.

8. The defect inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the first defect inspection further comprises obtaining a first defect map.

9. The defect inspection method of claim 8 , wherein the second defect inspection further comprises obtaining a second defect map.

10. The defect inspection method of claim 9 , further comprising comparing the first defect map and the second defect map.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 26, 2021
From: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORPORATION
To: MARLIN SEMICONDUCTOR LIMITED
Reel/Frame 056991/0292 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2008
From: CHOU, LING-CHUN; CHEN, MING-TSUNG; LIU, HSI-HUA; LEI, SHUEN-CHENG; TSAO, PO-CHAO
To: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
Reel/Frame 021582/0394 →