Patent ID: 6448097
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G01N,H01L

Abstract:
A semiconductor processing system, comprising:a processing chamber operable to provide a trimming compound to a patterned photoresist material layer disposed on a substrate located in the chamber, the trimming compound diffusing into top and side portions of the patterned photoresist material layer to formed diffused regions; a developer system operable to provide a developer on the patterned photoresist material layer to remove the diffused regions to facilitate creating smaller features in the patterned photoresist; a fluorescence spectroscopy system having a light source operable to provide a light beam over a predetermined wavelength range at the photoresist material layer and a photodetector operable to receive an emitted light beam that provides a measurement signal indicative of the proportion of photoresist material remaining on the substrate due to the fluorescence of the photoresist material layer; and a control system operable to determine a critical dimension relating to resist structures formed on the photoresist material layer utilizing the measurement signal and compare the critical dimension to a desired critical dimension.