Patent ID: 6613593
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of:(a) detecting a secondary electron image of a partial area of a wafer which has been processed by a processing apparatus by irradiating and scanning an electron beam onto the partial area of the wafer and detecting secondary electrons emitted from the wafer by the irradiating and scanning; (b) estimating failure occurrence conditions in areas other than the partial area of the wafer by using the detected secondary electron image; (c) storing data regarding the estimated failure occurrence conditions associated with information regarding the processing apparatus and a date when the wafer was processed; (d) sequentially performing the steps (a) to (c); and (e) observing failure occurrence conditions of the processing apparatus by monitoring time-varying conditions of the data stored in the step (c).