Advances in process overlay

Paul C. Hinnen; Henry J. L. Megens; Maurits van der Schaar; Richard J. F. van Haren; Evert C. Mos; Sanjay Lalbahadoersing; Frank Bornebroek; David W. Laidler

doi:10.1117/12.436734

22 August 2001 Advances in process overlay

Paul C. Hinnen, Henry J. L. Megens, Maurits van der Schaar, Richard J. F. van Haren, Evert C. Mos, Sanjay Lalbahadoersing, Frank Bornebroek, David W. Laidler

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4344, Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control for Microlithography XV; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.436734
Event: 26th Annual International Symposium on Microlithography, 2001, Santa Clara, CA, United States

Abstract

Advances in wafer processing techniques and the increase of wafer size to 300 mm present new challenges to overlay performance. This paper focuses on advances n the area of process-induced alignment accuracy using the ASML ATHENA alignment system. In the experiments, process variations were deliberately increased to characterize the influence of process-tool settings on wafer alignment performance. In the STI process flow, overlays of <32 nm on marks in silicon or marks in the STI layer have been achieved. In the back-end-of-line, aluminum layers exhibit a significant shift of alignment marks and off-line metrology targets. A geometrical model of the sputter tool is used to explain the origin of this effect. Possible improvements in process corrections are indicated. For the copper dual damascene process investigated here, the dielectrics are non-absorbing. Overlays of 25 nm on marks in silicon and 29 nm on marks in the metal layer are obtained. On 300 mm wafers, a new measurement method is capable of measuring process effects to an accuracy within 6.2 (3(sigma) ). This method is used to measure resist spin effects.

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Paul C. Hinnen, Henry J. L. Megens, Maurits van der Schaar, Richard J. F. van Haren, Evert C. Mos, Sanjay Lalbahadoersing, Frank Bornebroek, and David W. Laidler "Advances in process overlay", Proc. SPIE 4344, Metrology, Inspection, and Process Control for Microlithography XV, (22 August 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.436734

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