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:
Feb. 24, 2015

Filed:

Oct. 12, 2012
Applicant:

Michael N. Grimbergen, Redwood City, CA (US);

Inventor:

Michael N. Grimbergen, Redwood City, CA (US);

Assignee:

Applied Materials, Inc., Santa Clara, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01L 21/30 (2006.01); G01R 31/00 (2006.01); H01L 21/66 (2006.01); G03F 1/80 (2012.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 22/12 (2013.01); G03F 1/80 (2013.01);
Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for etching a photomask substrate with enhanced process monitoring, for example, by providing for optical monitoring at different regions of the photomask to obtain desired etch rate or thickness loss. In one embodiment, the method includes etching a first substrate through a patterned mask layer in a plasma etch chamber, the first substrate having a backside disposed on a substrate support and a front side facing away from the substrate support, directing a first radiation source from the backside of the first substrate to a first area covered by the patterned mask layer, directing a second radiation source from the backside of the first substrate to a second area uncovered by the patterned mask layer, collecting a first signal reflected from the first area covered by the patterned mask layer, collecting a second signal reflected from the second area uncovered by the patterned mask layer, and analyzing the combined first and the second signal.


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