IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,710,228
Granted Patent B2
US 11,710,228 · App. 17/678,939 · Granted Jul 25, 2023

Detecting an excursion of a CMP component using time-based sequence of images and machine learning

Inventors: Sidney P. Huey (Fremont, CA); Thomas Li (Santa Clara, CA); Benjamin Cherian (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
G06T7/001B24B37/005G06T7/20H04N5/272H04N7/18G06T2207/10016G06T2207/20081G06T2207/20084G06T2207/30148G06T2207/30232H01L21/30625H01L21/31053H01L22/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,710,228
App. No.
17/678,939
Granted
Jul 25, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Monitoring operations of a polishing system includes obtaining a time-based sequence of reference images of a component of the polishing system performing operations during a test operation of the polishing system, receiving from a camera a time-based sequence of monitoring images of an equivalent component of an equivalent polishing system performing operations during polishing of a substrate, determining a difference value for the time-based sequence of monitoring images by comparing the time-based sequence of reference images to the time-based sequence of monitoring image using an image processing algorithm, determining whether the difference value exceeds a threshold, and in response to determining the difference value exceeds the threshold, indicating an excursion.

Claims (36)

1. A polishing system, comprising:

a platen to support a polishing pad;

a carrier head to hold a substrate against the polishing pad;

a component selected from a group of components including the platen, the carrier head, a conditioner arm, a load cup, or a robot arm;

a camera positioned to capture a time-based sequence of monitoring images of the component; and

a controller configured to

receive from the camera a time-based sequence of monitoring images of the component performing operations during polishing of a substrate, and

analyze the time-based sequence of monitoring images with a machine learning model trained by training examples to detect and indicate excursions of the component from expected operations, wherein the training examples comprise a time-based sequence of reference images of a reference component of a reference polishing system performing operations during a test operation, and

indicate an excursion based on the analysis.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine learning model is configured to, using an object tracking algorithm, determine motions of the component based on input of the time-based sequence of monitoring images.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine learning model is configured to predict a physical field profile of the component based on input of the time-based sequence of monitoring images.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the physical field profile of the component comprises: a temperature field of a rotating polishing pad, or a pressure field applied on a wafer.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the excursion comprises departure of the component from an expected path of motion.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate an alarm in response to an indication of an excursion.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a display, and wherein the controller is configured to generating a user presentation on the display, wherein the user presentation comprises the time-based sequence of monitoring images and one or more overlays each representing a respective characteristic of the time-based sequence of monitoring images.

8. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in computer-readable media, comprising instructions to cause one or more computers to:

receive from a camera a time-based sequence of monitoring images of a component of a polishing system performing operations during polishing of a substrate; and

analyze the time-based sequence of monitoring images with a machine learning model trained by training examples to detect and indicate excursions of the component from expected operations, wherein the training examples comprise a time-based sequence of reference images of a reference component of a reference polishing system performing operations during a test operation.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the machine learning model is configured to, using an object tracking algorithm, determine motions of the component based on input of the time-based sequence of monitoring images.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the machine learning model is configured to predict a physical field profile of the component based on input of the time-based sequence of monitoring images.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein the physical field profile of the component comprises: a temperature field of a rotating polishing pad, or a pressure field applied on a wafer.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising instructions to:

receive from a camera a time-based sequence of monitoring images encompassing a plurality of components of the polishing system performing operations during polishing of a substrate;

input the time-based sequence of monitoring images analyzing into a machine learning model trained by training examples to detect excursions of the plurality of components from expected operations; wherein the training examples comprise a time-based sequence of reference images of a plurality of reference components of a reference polishing system performing operations during a test operation, wherein the plurality of reference components include at least components equivalent to the plurality of components; and

receive from the machine learning model an indication of an excursion of the component from expected operation.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the excursion comprises departure of the component from an expected path of motion.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the excursion comprises an overspray of fluid from a fluid dispenser.

15. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the excursion comprises a wafer slippage when undergoing polishing.

16. The computer program product of claim 8 , comprising instructions to generate an alarm in response to an indication of an excursion.

17. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising instructions to generate a user presentation on a user interface component, wherein the user presentation comprises the time-based sequence of monitoring images and one or more overlays each representing a respective characteristic of the time-based sequence of monitoring images.

18. A method for monitoring operation of a polishing system, the method comprising:

receiving from a camera a time-based sequence of monitoring images of a component of a polishing system performing operations during polishing of a substrate;

inputting the time-based sequence of monitoring images analyzing into a machine learning model trained by training examples to detect excursions of the component from expected operations, wherein the training examples comprise a time-based sequence of reference images of a reference component of a reference polishing system performing operations during a test operation and

receiving from the machine learning model an indication of an excursion of the component from expected operations.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the excursion comprises departure of the component from an expected path of motion.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the component comprises one of a carrier head, a conditioner arm, a load cup, a platen or a robot arm.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2022
From: HUEY, SIDNEY P.; LI, THOMAS; CHERIAN, BENJAMIN
To: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059210/0252 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63157616 · Mar 5, 2021
Related Publication 20220284561A1 · Sep 8, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,548,146