IP Library Granted Patent US 10,359,706
Granted Patent B1
US 10,359,706 · App. 16/103,386 · Granted Jul 23, 2019

Integrated scanning electron microscopy and optical analysis techniques for advanced process control

Inventors: Hari Pathangi Sriraman (Chennai, IN); Sivaprrasath Meenakshisundaram (Lawspet, IN); Arun Lobo (Mangalore, IN)
Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
G03F7/70625G03F7/70141G03F7/70633
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,359,706
App. No.
16/103,386
Granted
Jul 23, 2019
Kind
B1
Abstract

A sample analysis system includes a scanning electron microscope, an optical and/or eBeam inspection system, and an optical metrology system. The system further includes at least one controller. The controller is configured to receive a first plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample; generate a first critical dimension uniformity map based on a first inspection performed by the scanning electron microscope at the first selected regions of interest; determine a second plurality of selected regions of interest based on the first critical dimension uniformity map; generate a second critical dimension uniformity map based on a second inspection performed by the optical and/or eBeam inspection system at the second selected regions of interest; and determine one or more process tool control parameters based on inspection results and on overlay measurements performed on the sample by the optical metrology system.

Claims (83)

1. A system for analyzing a sample, comprising:

a scanning electron microscope;

an optical inspection system;

an optical metrology system; and

at least one controller communicatively coupled to the scanning electron microscope, the optical inspection system, and the optical metrology system, the at least one controller configured to:

receive a first plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample;

generate a first critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on a first inspection performed by the scanning electron microscope at the first plurality of selected regions of interest;

determine a second plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample based on the first critical dimension uniformity map;

generate a second critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on a second inspection performed by the optical inspection system at the second plurality of selected regions of interest; and

determine one or more process tool control parameters at least partially based on the second critical dimension uniformity map and on overlay measurements performed on the sample by the optical metrology system.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to transmit the one or more process tool control parameters to a process tool.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the first plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample from the process tool.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the process tool comprises a lithography tool.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical inspection system comprises a broadband plasma inspection system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical metrology system comprises an optical overlay metrology system.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to generate an overlay vector map based on the overlay measurements performed on the sample by the optical metrology system.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to:

generate a third critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on a voltage contrast scan performed by the scanning electron microscope at the first plurality of selected regions of interest;

determine a third plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample based on the third critical dimension uniformity map; and

generate a fourth critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on overlay measurements performed on the sample by the scanning electron microscope at the third plurality of selected regions of interest.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to determine the one or more process tool control parameters at least partially based on the fourth critical dimension uniformity map.

10. A system for analyzing a sample, comprising:

a scanning electron microscope;

an electron beam inspection system;

an optical metrology system; and

at least one controller communicatively coupled to the scanning electron microscope and the optical metrology system, the at least one controller configured to:

receive a first plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample;

generate a first critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on a first inspection performed by the scanning electron microscope at the first plurality of selected regions of interest;

determine a second plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample based on the first critical dimension uniformity map;

generate a second critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on a second inspection performed by the electron beam inspection system at the second plurality of selected regions of interest; and

determine one or more process tool control parameters at least partially based on the second critical dimension uniformity map and on overlay measurements performed on the sample by the optical metrology system.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to transmit the one or more process tool control parameters to a process tool.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to receive the first plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample from the process tool.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the process tool comprises a lithography tool.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the optical metrology system comprises an optical overlay metrology system.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to generate an overlay vector map based on the overlay measurements performed on the sample by the optical metrology system.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to:

generate a third critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on a voltage contrast scan performed by the scanning electron microscope at the first plurality of selected regions of interest;

determine a third plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample based on the third critical dimension uniformity map; and

generate a fourth critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on overlay measurements performed on the sample by the scanning electron microscope at the third plurality of selected regions of interest.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the at least one controller is further configured to determine the one or more process tool control parameters at least partially based on the fourth critical dimension uniformity map.

18. A method of analyzing a sample, comprising:

receiving a first plurality of selected regions of interest of a sample;

performing a first inspection at the first plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample with a scanning electron microscope;

generating a first critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on the first inspection;

determining a second plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample based on the first critical dimension uniformity map;

performing a second inspection at the second plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample with at least one of an optical inspection system or an electron beam inspection system;

generating a second critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on the second inspection;

performing overlay measurements on the sample with an optical metrology system; and

determining one or more process tool control parameters at least partially based on the second critical dimension uniformity map and the overlay measurements.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

transmitting the one or more process tool control parameters to a process tool.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample are received from the process tool.

21. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

generating an overlay vector map based on the overlay measurements performed on the sample by the optical metrology system.

22. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

performing a voltage contrast scan at the first plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample with the scanning electron microscope;

generating a third critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on the voltage contrast scan;

determining a third plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample based on the third critical dimension uniformity map;

performing overlay measurements at the third plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample with the scanning electron microscope; and

generating a fourth critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on the overlay measurements performed by the scanning electron microscope.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

determining the one or more process tool control parameters at least partially based on the fourth critical dimension uniformity map.

24. A controller for a sample analysis system, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory medium communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory medium including program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor and configured to cause the processor to:

receive a first plurality of selected regions of interest of a sample;

generate a first critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on a first inspection performed by a scanning electron microscope at the first plurality of selected regions of interest;

determine a second plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample based on the first critical dimension uniformity map;

generate a second critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on a second inspection performed at the second plurality of selected regions of interest by at least one of an optical inspection system or an electron beam inspection system; and

determine one or more process tool control parameters at least partially based on the second critical dimension uniformity map and on overlay measurements performed on the sample by an optical metrology system.

25. The controller of claim 24 , wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

transmit the one or more process tool control parameters to a process tool.

26. The controller of claim 25 , wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

receive the first plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample from the process tool.

27. The controller of claim 24 , wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

generate an overlay vector map based on the overlay measurements performed on the sample by the optical metrology system.

28. The controller of claim 24 , wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

generate a third critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on a voltage contrast scan performed by the scanning electron microscope at the first plurality of selected regions of interest;

determine a third plurality of selected regions of interest of the sample based on the third critical dimension uniformity map; and

generate a fourth critical dimension uniformity map for the sample based on overlay measurements performed on the sample by the scanning electron microscope at the third plurality of selected regions of interest.

29. The controller of claim 28 , wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the processor to:

determine the one or more process tool control parameters at least partially based on the fourth critical dimension uniformity map.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2018
From: SRIRAMAN, HARI PATHANGI; MEENAKSHISUNDARAM, SIVAPRRASATH; LOBO, ARUN
To: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 046633/0286 →
Priority Claims (2)
IN 201841021710 · Jun 11, 2018 · national
IN 201841023172 · Jun 21, 2018 · national
Cited By (2)
US 12,341,070 US 12,553,834