Advanced Micro Devices Corporation

Gerald W Barnett

John G Zvonar

Yi Cheng

Qingsu Wang

Eric M Apelgren

R Michael Greig

A process run card encoded with bar-code information and providing controllers with scanners which can scan the bar-code information and configure the controller accordingly is disclosed. Such a system advantageously provides a semiconductor manufacturing system controller which minimizes or reduces the problems associated with having to reprogram controllers for various lots. Such a system also provides a mechanism for preventing the erroneous re-processing of semiconductor material which has already received a timed processing step.

Process timer monitor

A system and method for detecting faults in wafer fabrication process tools by acquiring real-time process parameter signal data samples used to model the process performed by the process tool. The system includes a computer system including a DAQ device, which acquires the data samples, and a fault detector program which employs a process model program to analyze the data samples for the purpose of detecting faults. The model uses data samples in a reference database acquired from previous known good runs of the process tool. The fault detector notifies a process tool operator of any faults which occur thus potentially avoiding wafer scrap and potentially improving mean time between failures. The fault detector also receives notification of the occurrence of process events from the process tool, such as the start or end of processing a wafer, which the fault detector uses to start and stop the data acquisition, respectively. The fault detector also receives notification of the occurrence of a new process recipe and uses the recipe information to select the appropriate model for modeling the data samples. The fault detector employs a standard data exchange interface, such as DDE, between the fault detector and the model, thus facilitating modular selection of models best suited to the particular fabrication process being modeled. Embodiments are contemplated which use a UPM model, a PCA model, or a neural network model.

System and method for performing real time data acquisition, process

A Visual Basic software program to automate the procedures required for energy dose verification and adjustment of the ASM photoaligner. The software program has the capability of manipulating the ASM photoaligner through a resident software routine of the photoaligner. In addition, the software program has a user interface which prompts the operator for inputs and instructs the operator on what is required to perform the energy dose calibration. This ensures a reproducible procedure regardless of the photoaligner being tested or the operator doing the testing. Automating this procedure allows changing the photoaligner energy dose through the ASM Machine Constants (values stored in the ASM photoaligner that control the operation of the photoaligner). If the input data is out of specification the program will either reference a trouble shooting guide or request that the specific procedure be repeated for verification. After collecting the data from the operator, the program makes the necessary calculations and compares the results to a predefined data base which contains the specification limits for each of the individual photoaligners. Besides saving time, automating these procedures ensures that all operators perform them the same way, thereby eliminating operator-to-operator variation. Furthermore, it will no longer be necessary to open the ASM electronics cabinet to adjust the shutter control board potentiometer for brining the dose back to specification and by making the changes through software it will be possible to track them over time.

Method for automated energy dose measurement and adjustment for a

Semiconductor manufacturing system having a bar-code interface

A barcode processing system for a semiconductor wafer, comprising a workstation controller, a bar code reader attached to the workstation controller for reading a bar code assigned to the wafer, a tool assigned to the workstation controller for processing the wafer, and a host computer assigned to the tool and the workstation controller for determining the appropriate process to be performed on the wafer. The bar code read by the bar code reader is sent to the workstation controller, and the workstation controller requests processing information from the host computer, wherein that request includes information obtained from the bar code read by the bar code reader and sent to the workstation controller. The host computer determines an appropriate process step, or recipe, to be applied to the wafer based upon the information received from the processing information request from the workstation controller, and sends this information to the workstation controller. The workstation controller determines an appropriate process associated with this process step. Once the workstation controller has the appropriate process to be applied to the wafer, the workstation controller determines if that process can be performed by the tool associated with the workstation controller. If the process can be performed by the tool, the recipe is sent to the tool so that the tool has the information it needs to process the wafer.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Gerald W Barnett