IP Library Granted Patent US 10,679,948
Granted Patent B2
US 10,679,948 · App. 16/194,553 · Granted Jun 9, 2020

Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same

Inventors: Takahisa Ogawa (Toyama, JP); Mitsunori Fukura (Kyoto, JP); Nobuyoshi Takahashi (Toyama, JP)
Assignee: TowerJazz Panasonic Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
H01L23/544G03F1/42G03F7/70466G03F7/70475G03F7/70633G03F9/7076G03F9/7084H01L21/0337H01L2223/54426
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,679,948
App. No.
16/194,553
Granted
Jun 9, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A semiconductor device includes first and second inspection mark regions having the same pattern including a plurality of overlay inspection marks, a first element region having a portion overlapping with the first inspection mark region, and a second element region having a portion overlapping with the second inspection mark region. The first and second element regions are adjacent to each other and have different areas. The first element region includes a first pattern aligned with a plurality of first overlay inspection marks. The second element region includes a second pattern aligned with a plurality of second overlay inspection marks.

Claims (68)

1. A semiconductor device, comprising:

a first inspection mark region and a second inspection mark region having a same pattern including a plurality of overlay inspection marks;

a first element region having a portion overlapping with the first inspection mark region; and

a second element region having a portion overlapping with the second inspection mark region, wherein

the first element region and the second element region are adjacent to each other and have different areas,

the first element region includes a first pattern aligned with a plurality of first overlay inspection marks that are some of the overlay inspection marks, and

the second element region includes a second pattern aligned with a plurality of second overlay inspection marks that are some of the overlay inspection marks.

2. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein

the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region are adjacent to each other,

the first overlay inspection marks are all disposed in the first inspection mark region, and

the second overlay inspection marks are all disposed in the second inspection mark region.

3. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , wherein

a total area of the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region is equal to a total area of the first element region and the second element region.

4. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , wherein

four corners of each of the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region each include at least two of the overlay inspection marks that are arranged side by side in an adjacent direction in which the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region are adjacent to each other; and a distance between centers of the two overlay inspection marks is about half of a difference between a size of the first element region or the second element region and a size of the first inspection mark region in the adjacent direction.

5. The semiconductor device of claim 2 , further comprising:

a third inspection mark region having a same pattern as that of the first inspection mark region, and being adjacent to the second inspection mark region on a side of the second inspection mark region remote from the first inspection mark region; and

a third element region having a portion overlapping with the third inspection mark region, and being adjacent to the second element region on a side of the second element region remote from the first element region, wherein

the third element region has a third pattern aligned with the overlay inspection marks disposed in the third inspection mark region.

6. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein

the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region are spaced apart from each other,

the first overlay inspection marks are all disposed in the first inspection mark region, and

the second overlay inspection marks are disposed on both of the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region.

7. The semiconductor device of claim 6 , wherein

four corners of each of the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region each include at least two of the overlay inspection marks arranged side by side in a direction in which the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region are arranged side by side.

8. The semiconductor device of claim 6 , further comprising:

a fourth element region having a portion overlapping with the second inspection mark region and being adjacent to the second element region on a side of the second element region remote from the first element region, wherein

the fourth element region includes a fourth pattern aligned with the overlay inspection marks disposed in at least the second inspection mark region.

9. The semiconductor device of claim 1 , wherein

the first element region includes a third overlay inspection mark, and

the second element region includes a fourth overlay inspection mark, wherein

the semiconductor device further includes:

a fifth element region having a fifth pattern aligned with the third overlay inspection mark and having a portion overlapping with the first element region; and

a sixth element region having a sixth pattern aligned with the fourth overlay inspection mark, and having a portion overlapping with the second element region.

10. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising:

exposing an inspection mark mask to form a first inspection mark region and a second inspection mark region having a same pattern including a plurality of overlay inspection marks;

exposing a first mask to form a first pattern, thereby forming a first element region having a portion overlapping with the first inspection mark region; and

exposing a second mask to form a second pattern, thereby forming a second element region having a portion overlapping with the second inspection mark region, wherein

the first element region and the second element region are adjacent to each other and have different areas,

in the forming of the first element region, the first mask is aligned with a plurality of first overlay inspection marks that are some of the overlay inspection marks, and

in the forming of the second element region, the second mask is aligned with a plurality of second overlay inspection marks that are some of the overlay inspection marks.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein

the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region are adjacent to each other,

the first overlay inspection marks are disposed in the first inspection mark region, and

the second overlay inspection marks are disposed in the second inspection mark region.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein

a total area of the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region is equal to a total area of the first element region and the second element region.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein

four corners of each of the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region each include at least two of the overlay inspection marks that are arranged side by side in an adjacent direction in which the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region are adjacent to each other; and a distance between centers of the two overlay inspection marks is about half of a difference between a size of the first element region or the second element region and a size of the first inspection mark region, in the adjacent direction.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

exposing the inspection mark mask to form a third inspection mark region that is adjacent to the second inspection mark region on a side of the second inspection mark region remote from the first inspection mark region; and

exposing a third mask to form a third element region that has a portion overlapping with the third inspection mark region, wherein

in the forming of the third element region, the third mask is aligned with the overlay inspection marks disposed in the third inspection mark region.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein

the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region are spaced apart from each other,

the first overlay inspection marks are disposed in the first inspection mark region, and

the second overlay inspection marks are disposed on both of the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein

four corners of each of the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region each include at least two of the overlay inspection marks, which are arranged side by side in a direction in which the first inspection mark region and the second inspection mark region are arranged side by side.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

exposing a fourth mask to form a fourth pattern, thereby forming a fourth element region having a portion overlapping with the second inspection mark region and being adjacent to the second element region on a side of the second element region remote from the first element region, wherein

in the forming of the fourth element region, the fourth mask is aligned with the overlay inspection marks disposed in the second inspection mark region.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein

the first pattern formed in the first element region includes a third overlay inspection mark, and

the second pattern formed in the second element region includes a fourth overlay inspection mark,

the method further includes:

aligning a fifth mask with the third overlay inspection mark and exposing the fifth mask to form a fifth pattern, thereby forming a fifth element region having a portion overlapping with the first element region: and

aligning a sixth mask with the fourth overlay inspection mark and exposing the sixth mask to form a sixth pattern, thereby forming a sixth element region having a portion overlapping with the first element region.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 27, 2020
From: TOWERJAZZ PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
To: TOWER PARTNERS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 053615/0518 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2018
From: OGAWA, TAKAHISA; FUKURA, MITSUNORI; TAKAHASHI, NOBUYOSHI
To: TOWERJAZZ PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 047537/0072 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2016-099218 · May 18, 2016 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2017016834 · Apr 27, 2017
Related Publication 20190088602A1 · Mar 21, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,374,007