Applied Materials Israel Limited

Assaf Shamir

Roman Kris

Sharon Duvdevani-Bar

Elad Sommer

Vadim Vereschagin

Einat Frishman

Grigory Klebanov

Dhananjay Singh Rathore

Jannelle Anna Geva

Daniel Alan Rogers

Ido Friedler

Avi Aviad Ben Simhon

Meng Li Cecilia Lim

A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and an evaluation system for evaluating an intermediate product related to a three dimensional NAND memory unit. The evaluation system may include an imager and a processing circuit. The imager may be configured to obtain, via an open gap, an electron image of a portion of a structural element that belongs to an intermediate product. The structural element may include a sequence of layers that include a top layer that is followed by alternating nonconductive layers and recessed conductive layers. The imager may include electron optics configured to scan the portion of the structural element with an electron beam that is oblique to a longitudinal axis of the open gap. The processing circuit is configured to evaluate the intermediate product based on the electron image. The open gap (a) exhibits a high aspect ratio, (b) has a width of nanometric scale, and (c) is formed between structural elements of the intermediate product.

Evaluating an intermediate product related to a three-dimensional NAND memory unit

An evaluation system that may include an imager; and a processing circuit. The imager may be configured to obtain an electron image of a hole that is formed by an etch process, the hole exposes at least one layer of a one or more sets of layers, each set of layers comprises layers that differ from each other by their electron yield and belong to an intermediate product. The processing circuit may be configured to evaluate, based on the electron image, whether the hole ended at a target layer of the intermediate product. The intermediate product is manufactured by one or more manufacturing stages of a manufacturing process of a three dimensional NAND memory unit. The hole may exhibit a high aspect ratio, and has a width of a nanometric scale.

Evaluating a hole formed in an intermediate product

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Tel Aviv, Israel

Assaf Shamir