IP Library Patent Application 12775392
Patent Application
App. No. 12/775,392

DETERMINATION OF MATERIAL OPTICAL PROPERTIES FOR OPTICAL METROLOGY OF STRUCTURES

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Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/775,392
Abstract

Methods of determining a material optical property for optical metrology of a structure is described. One method includes simulating a set of diffraction orders for a grating structure based on two or more azimuth angles and on one or more angles of incidence. A simulated spectrum is provided based on the set of diffraction orders. Another method includes simulating a set of diffraction orders for a grating structure based on two or more angles of incidence. A simulated spectrum is provided based on the set of diffraction orders.

Claims (38)

1 . A method of determining a material optical property for optical metrology of a structure, the method comprising:

simulating a set of diffraction orders for a grating structure based on two or more azimuth angles and on one or more angles of incidence; and

providing a simulated spectrum based on the set of diffraction orders.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders for the grating structure comprises using a dense grating structure in combination with an isolated structure.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders for the grating structure comprises using a two-dimensional grating structure.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders for the grating structure comprises using a three-dimensional grating structure.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders is based on two or more angles of incidence.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

comparing the simulated spectrum to a sample spectrum.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the sample spectrum is generated from a structure comprising a plurality of material layers, at least one of the material layers blocking at least one other of the material layers during measurement of the structure in providing the sample spectrum.

8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the sample spectrum is generated from a structure comprising a plurality of material layers, and wherein measurement of the structure to provide the sample spectrum comprises measuring the structure at two different wavelengths.

9 . A method of determining a material optical property for optical metrology of a structure, the method comprising:

simulating a set of diffraction orders for a grating structure based on two or more angles of incidence; and

providing a simulated spectrum based on the set of diffraction orders.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders for the grating structure comprises using a dense grating structure in combination with an isolated structure.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders for the grating structure comprises using a two-dimensional grating structure.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders for the grating structure comprises using a three-dimensional grating structure.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders is further based on two or more azimuth angles.

14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

comparing the simulated spectrum to a sample spectrum.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the sample spectrum is generated from a structure comprising a plurality of material layers, at least one of the material layers blocking at least one other of the material layers during measurement of the structure in providing the sample spectrum.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the sample spectrum is generated from a structure comprising a plurality of material layers, and wherein measurement of the structure to provide the sample spectrum comprises measuring the structure at two different wavelengths.

17 . A machine-accessible storage medium having instructions stored thereon which cause a data processing system to perform a method of determining a material optical property for optical metrology of a structure, the method comprising:

simulating a set of diffraction orders for a grating structure based on two or more azimuth angles and on one or more angles of incidence;

providing a simulated spectrum based on the set of diffraction orders; and

comparing the simulated spectrum to a sample spectrum.

18 . The storage medium as in claim 17 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders for the grating structure comprises using a two-dimensional grating structure, using a three-dimensional grating structure, or using a dense grating structure in combination with an isolated structure.

19 . The storage medium as in claim 17 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders is based on two or more angles of incidence.

20 . The storage medium as in claim 17 , wherein the sample spectrum is generated from a structure comprising a plurality of material layers, at least one of the material layers blocking at least one other of the material layers during measurement of the structure in providing the sample spectrum.

21 . The storage medium as in claim 17 , wherein the sample spectrum is generated from a structure comprising a plurality of material layers, and wherein measurement of the structure to provide the sample spectrum comprises measuring the structure at two different wavelengths.

22 . A machine-accessible storage medium having instructions stored thereon which cause a data processing system to perform a method of determining a material optical property for optical metrology of a structure, the method comprising:

simulating a set of diffraction orders for a grating structure based on two or more angles of incidence;

providing a simulated spectrum based on the set of diffraction orders; and

comparing the simulated spectrum to a sample spectrum.

23 . The storage medium as in claim 22 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders for the grating structure comprises using a two-dimensional grating structure, using a three-dimensional grating structure, or using a dense grating structure in combination with an isolated structure.

24 . The storage medium as in claim 22 , wherein simulating the set of diffraction orders is further based on two or more azimuth angles.

25 . The storage medium as in claim 22 , wherein the sample spectrum is generated from a structure comprising a plurality of material layers, at least one of the material layers blocking at least one other of the material layers during measurement of the structure in providing the sample spectrum.

26 . The storage medium as in claim 22 , wherein the sample spectrum is generated from a structure comprising a plurality of material layers, and wherein measurement of the structure to provide the sample spectrum comprises measuring the structure at two different wavelengths.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2015
From: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
To: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035055/0683 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2010
From: MADSEN, JONATHAN MICHAEL; YANG, WEIDONG
To: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION; TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Reel/Frame 024511/0711 →