Patent ID: 6972848
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A semiconductor fabricating apparatus for etching a semiconductor wafer having a film thereon and placed inside of a chamber using plasma generated inside of the chamber, the semiconductor fabricating apparatus comprising: a detector that detects a quantity of interference lights for each of at least two wavelengths obtained from a surface of the wafer for a predetermined time during the etching processing of the wafer; and a determination unit that compares a predetermined value with an interval between a first time at which the detected quantity of the interference lights for one of the two wavelengths becomes one of a maximum and minimum and a second time at which the detected quantity of the interference lights for the other of the two wavelengths becomes one of a maximum and minimum, to determine a state of the etching, wherein both the first and second times are detected by using outputs of the detector.