IP Library Granted Patent US 10,648,793
Granted Patent B2
US 10,648,793 · App. 14/710,462 · Granted May 12, 2020

Library expansion system, method, and computer program product for metrology

Inventors: Leonid Poslavsky (Belmont, CA); Liequan Lee (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
G01B11/02G01B11/00G01B21/04G01N21/211G01N21/9501G01N21/95607G03F7/70625G01N2021/213G01N2021/95615
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,648,793
App. No.
14/710,462
Granted
May 12, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A library expansion system, method, and computer program product for metrology are provided. In use, processing within a first multi-dimensional library is performed by a metrology system. During the processing within the first multi-dimensional library, a second multi-dimensional library is identified. The processing is then transitioned to the second multi-dimensional library. Further, processing within the second multi-dimensional library is performed by the metrology system.

Claims (62)

1. A method, comprising:

storing, in memory of a metrology system:

a first multi-dimensional library that represents a first portion of a parametric model of a fabricated device, the first multi-dimensional library having a first set of values for each parameter of a plurality of parameters of the fabricated device where each first set of values is of a first range,

a second multi-dimensional library having a second set of values for a first one of the parameters of the fabricated device, the second set of values being of a second range that is within the first range and the second set of values having a higher accuracy than the first set of values, and

a third multi-dimensional library having a third set of values for a second one of the parameters of the fabricated device, the third set of values being of a third range that is within the first range and the third set of values having a higher accuracy than the first set of values;

illuminating, by a light source of the metrology system, the fabricated device;

receiving, by a detector of the metrology system, light reflected from the fabricated device as a result of the illuminating;

generating, by the detector of the metrology system, output responsive to the received light, the output including a plurality of parameter values measured for the parameters of the fabricated device; and

providing, by the detector of the metrology system, the output to a computer system of the metrology system for processing thereof including a spectra evaluation of the output to measure critical dimensions of the fabricated device;

in response to the computer system receiving the output from the detector, identifying, by the computer system of the metrology system, the first multi-dimensional library;

performing, by the computer system of the metrology system, the processing of a first parameter value of the plurality of parameter values that is within the first multi-dimensional library to produce a spectra for the first parameter value using the first multi-dimensional library;

during the processing within the first multi-dimensional library, identifying, by the computer system of the metrology system, a second parameter value of the plurality of parameter values that is within the second multi-dimensional library;

transitioning, by the computer system of the metrology system, the processing to the second multi-dimensional library;

performing, by the computer system of the metrology system, the processing of the second parameter value within the second multi-dimensional library to produce a spectra for the second parameter value using the second multi-dimensional library;

during the processing within the second multi-dimensional library, identifying, by the computer system of the metrology system, a third parameter value of the plurality of parameter values that is within the third multi-dimensional library;

transitioning, by the computer system of the metrology system, the processing to the third multi-dimensional library; and

performing, by the computer system of the metrology system, the processing of the third parameter value within the third multi-dimensional library to produce a spectra for the third parameter value using the third multi-dimensional library.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the first multi-dimensional library and the second multi-dimensional library are constructed using one of finite element methods (FEM) and rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the first multi-dimensional library and the second multi-dimensional library are constructed with method parameters including one of a truncation order in RCWA and a polynomial order in FEM.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein transitioning the processing to the second multi-dimensional library is performed using a predefined transition function.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second multi-dimensional library is created as a supplement to the first multi-dimensional library.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metrology system is a semiconductor metrology system.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program product including computer code adapted to be executed by a processor of a metrology system to cause the processor to perform a method, comprising:

storing, in memory of a metrology system:

a first multi-dimensional library that represents a first portion of a parametric model of a fabricated device, the first multi-dimensional library having a first set of values for each parameter of a plurality of parameters of the fabricated device where each first set of values is of a first range,

a second multi-dimensional library having a second set of values for a first one of the parameters of the fabricated device, the second set of values being of a second range that is within the first range and the second set of values having a higher accuracy than the first set of values, and

a third multi-dimensional library having a third set of values for a second one of the parameters of the fabricated device, the third set of values being of a third range that is within the first range and the third set of values having a higher accuracy than the first set of values;

causing a light source of a metrology system to illuminate the fabricated device such that a detector of the metrology system receives light reflected from the fabricated device as a result of the illuminating;

generating, by the detector of the metrology system, output responsive to the received light, the output including a plurality of parameter values measured for the parameters of the fabricated device; and

providing, by the detector of the metrology system, the output to the processor of the metrology system for processing thereof including a spectra evaluation of the output to measure critical dimensions of the fabricated device;

in response to the processor receiving the output from the detector, identifying, by the processor of the metrology system, the first multi-dimensional library;

performing, by the processor of the metrology system, the processing of a first parameter value of the plurality of parameter values that is within the first multi-dimensional library to produce a spectra for the first parameter value using the first multi-dimensional library;

during the processing within the first multi-dimensional library, identifying, by the processor of the metrology system, a second parameter value of the plurality of parameter values that is within the second multi-dimensional library;

transitioning, by the processor of the metrology system, the processing to the second multi-dimensional library;

performing, by the processor of the metrology system, the processing of the second parameter value within the second multi-dimensional library to produce a spectra for the second parameter value using the second multi-dimensional library;

during the processing within the second multi-dimensional library, identifying, by the processor of the metrology system, a third parameter value of the plurality of parameter values that is within the third multi-dimensional library;

transitioning, by the processor of the metrology system, the processing to the third multi-dimensional library; and

performing, by the processor of the metrology system, the processing of the third parameter value within the third multi-dimensional library to produce a spectra for the third parameter value using the third multi-dimensional library.

8. A metrology system, comprising:

memory storing:

a first multi-dimensional library that represents a first portion of a parametric model of a fabricated device, the first multi-dimensional library having a first set of values for each parameter of a plurality of parameters of the fabricated device where each first set of values is of a first range,

a second multi-dimensional library having a second set of values for a first one of the parameters of the fabricated device, the second set of values being of a second range that is within the first range and the second set of values having a higher accuracy than the first set of values, and

a third multi-dimensional library having a third set of values for a second one of the parameters of the fabricated device, the third set of values being of a third range that is within the first range and the third set of values having a higher accuracy than the first set of values;

a light source for illuminating the fabricated device;

a detector for:

receiving light reflected from the fabricated device as a result of the illuminating,

generating output responsive to the received light, the output including a plurality of parameter values measured for the parameters of the fabricated device, and

providing the output to a computer system of the metrology system for processing thereof including a spectra evaluation of the output to measure critical dimensions of the fabricated device; and

the computer system for:

in response to the computer system receiving the output from the detector, identifying the first multi-dimensional library;

performing the processing of a first parameter value of the plurality of parameter values that is within the first multi-dimensional library to produce a spectra for the first parameter value using the first multi-dimensional library;

during the processing within the first multi-dimensional library, identifying a second parameter value of the plurality of parameter values that is within the second multi-dimensional library;

transitioning the processing to the second multi-dimensional library;

performing the processing of the second parameter value within the second multi-dimensional library to produce a spectra for the second parameter value using the second multi-dimensional library;

during the processing within the second multi-dimensional library, identifying a third parameter value of the plurality of parameter values that is within the third multi-dimensional library;

transitioning the processing to the third multi-dimensional library; and

performing the processing of the third parameter value within the third multi-dimensional library to produce a spectra for the third parameter value using the third multi-dimensional library.

9. The metrology system of claim 8 , wherein the metrology system is a semiconductor metrology system.

10. The metrology system of claim 8 , wherein each of the first multi-dimensional library and the second multi-dimensional library are constructed using one of finite element methods (FEM) and rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA).

11. The metrology system of claim 10 , wherein each of the first multi-dimensional library and the second multi-dimensional library are constructed with method parameters including one of a truncation order in RCWA and a polynomial order in FEM.

12. The metrology system of claim 8 , wherein transitioning the processing to the second multi-dimensional library is performed using a predefined transition function.

13. The metrology system of claim 8 , wherein the second multi-dimensional library is created as a supplement to the first multi-dimensional library.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2015
From: POSLAVSKY, LEONID; LEE, LIEQUAN
To: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 035674/0643 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61993571 · May 15, 2014
Related Publication 20150330770A1 · Nov 19, 2015