Patent ID: 7502709
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of monitoring a dual damascene procedure comprising: receiving a wafer and/or wafer data, wherein the wafer comprises a plurality of dies and a number of measurement sites, each die having a patterned damascene layer on top of at least one other layer, and at least one measurement site having a periodic structure therein; calculating a pre-processing confidence map for a damascene process, the pre-processing confidence map including confidence data for a set of dies on the wafer; establishing an expanded pre-processing measurement recipe for the damascene process when one or more values in the pre-processing confidence map are not within confidence limits established for the damascene process, wherein the number of measurement sites is increased for the damascene process by establishing a new prioritized pre-processing measurement site for the damascene process; and establishing a reduced pre-processing measurement recipe for the damascene process when one or more values in the pre-processing confidence map are within confidence limits established for the damascene process, wherein the number of measurement sites is decreased for the damascene process by eliminating at least one de-prioritized pre-processing measurement site for the damascene process.