Asml Netherlands B.v.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Yue-Lin Peng

Arie Jeffrey Den Boef

Alexander Straaijer

Patrick Warnaar

Shou-Wen Kuo

Cheng-Yi Huang

Fu-Jen Li

Si-Han Zeng

Jen-Yu Fang

Ching-Yi Hung

Richard Johannes Franciscus Van Haren

Hendrik Jan Hidde Smilde

Hakki Ergün Cekli

Xing Lan Liu

Josselin Pello

A wafer includes a first face having a first center, and a second face having a second center. The first and second centers are each arranged on a central axis, which passes through the first face and the second face. The first face and the second face adjoin one another at a circumferential edge. An alignment notch is disposed along the circumferential edge, and extends inwardly from the circumferential edge by an alignment notch radial distance. The alignment notch radial distance is less than a wafer radius as measured from the first center to the circumferential edge. A die region includes an array of die arranged in rows and columns and is circumferentially bounded by a die-less region which is devoid of die. A first identification mark including a string of characters is disposed entirely in the die-less region to a first side of the alignment notch.

Methods for selectively forming identification mark on semiconductor wafer

Mini identification mark in die-less region of semiconductor wafer

Disclosed are a method, computer program and associated apparatuses for measuring a parameter of a lithographic process. The method comprising the steps of: obtaining first measurements comprising measurements of structural asymmetry relating to a plurality of first structures, each of said plurality of measurements of structural asymmetry corresponding to a different measurement combination of measurement radiation and a value for at least a first parameter; obtaining a plurality of second measurements of target asymmetry relating to a plurality of targets, each of said plurality of measurements of target asymmetry corresponding to one of said different measurement combinations, determining a relationship function describing the relationship between said first measurements and said second measurements, for each of said measurement combinations; determining, from said relationship function, a corrected overlay value, said corrected overlay value being corrected for structural contribution due to structural asymmetry in at least said first structure.

Metrology method and apparatus, computer program and lithographic system

Disclosed is a method of measuring a parameter of a lithographic process, and associated computer program and apparatuses. The method comprises providing a plurality of target structures on a substrate, each target structure comprising a first structure and a second structure on different layers of the substrate. Each target structure is measured with measurement radiation to obtain a measurement of target asymmetry in the target structure, the target asymmetry comprising an overlay contribution due to misalignment of the first and second structures, and a structural contribution due to structural asymmetry in at least the first structure. A structural asymmetry characteristic relating to the structural asymmetry in at least the first structure of each target structure is obtained, the structural asymmetry characteristic being independent of at least one selected characteristic of the measurement radiation. The measurement of target asymmetry and the structural asymmetry characteristic is then used to determine the overlay contribution of the target asymmetry of each target structure.

Growing community of inventors

Taoyuan, Taiwan

Yue-Lin Peng