Patent ID: 6684124
Filing Date: 2004-01-27
Classification: G03F,H01L

Abstract:
A method of controlling a process appliance for sequentially processing semiconductor wafers using at least one microscope measuring instrument to determine a quality of a process carried out in the process appliance with at least one process parameter, the method which comprises:defining a target value and a limiting value for at least one structural parameter relating to structures formed on the wafers; processing a first wafer in the process appliance; determining a value for the process parameter while performing the step of processing the first wafer, the process parameter being one of a group consisting of temperature, chemical composition, process duration, intensity, and pressure; obtaining a result by comparing the value of the process parameter that has been determined with the process limiting value; generating a warning signal as a function of the result; transferring the first wafer to the microscope measuring instrument as a function of the warning signal; in the microscope measuring instrument, obtaining a measured value by measuring a structural parameter of structures on the first wafer, the structures being selected from a group consisting of structures formed during the step of processing the first wafer and structures modified during the step of processing the first wafer; processing at least a second wafer in the process appliance at a time selected from a group consisting of a time before performing the step of measuring the structural parameter of the structures on the first wafer, and a time while performing the step of measuring the structural parameter of the structures on the first wafer; obtaining a comparison result by comparing the measured value of the structural parameter of the structures on the first wafer with the target value and the limiting value; and generating a result signal as a function of the comparison result.