The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
May. 28, 2019

Filed:

May. 12, 2015
Applicant:

Kla-tencor Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);

Inventors:

Eran Amit, Haifa, IL;

Raviv Yohanan, Qiryat Motzkin, IL;

Tal Itzkovich, Kfar Yriya, IL;

Nuriel Amir, St. Yokne'am, IL;

Roie Volkovich, Hadera, IL;

Dongsub Choi, Yongin, KR;

Assignee:

KLA-Tencor Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B32B 3/10 (2006.01); G06F 17/50 (2006.01); G01N 21/93 (2006.01); G01N 21/956 (2006.01); H01L 21/3105 (2006.01); H01L 21/311 (2006.01); G03F 7/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 17/5072 (2013.01); G01N 21/93 (2013.01); G01N 21/956 (2013.01); G03F 7/0002 (2013.01); H01L 21/3105 (2013.01); H01L 21/31058 (2013.01); H01L 21/31138 (2013.01); Y10T 428/24802 (2015.01);
Abstract

Target designs methods and targets are provided, in which at least some of the differentiation between target elements and their background is carried out by segmenting either of them. Directed self-assembly (DSA) processes are used to generate fine segmentation, and various characteristics of the polymer lines and their guiding lines are used to differentiate target elements from their background. Target designs and design principles are disclosed in relation to the DSA process, as well as optimization of the DSA process to yield high metrology measurement accuracy in face of production inaccuracies. Furthermore, designs and methods are provided for enhancing and using ordered regions of a DSA-produced polymer surface as target elements and as hard masks for production processes. The targets and methods may be configured to enable metrology measurements using polarized light to distinguish target elements or DSA features.


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