Patent ID: 8498731
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A method of using a semiconductor fabrication apparatus having a process-parameter prognostic system, the method comprising: (a1) reacting semiconductor structures with a process gas and sequentially generating plasmas in a process chamber; (a2) obtaining sensor parameters from the plasmas using a sensor and obtaining measured parameters from the semiconductor structures detached from the process chamber using a measuring machine; (a3) determining a process-predicting model and a boundary condition based on linearity between selected sensor parameters and selected measured parameters corresponding to selected semiconductor structures using a process prediction unit; and (a4) comparing sensor parameters of a previously fabricated one of the remaining semiconductor structures with the boundary condition using the process prediction unit, wherein the semiconductor structures are differentiated from one another according to the order in which the semiconductor structures are formed in a semiconductor fabrication process, and the selected semiconductor structures are formed before remaining ones of the semiconductor structures, wherein each of the sensor parameters comprises an average radio frequency of a waveform obtained between specific points in time during the semiconductor fabrication process.