Patent ID: 8500950
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: G03F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A substrate processing apparatus comprising: a light exposure processing section configured to perform light exposure with a predetermined pattern on a resist film formed on an etching target layer disposed on a substrate; a pattern shape measuring section configured to measure a shape of a resist pattern and a shape of an etched pattern by means of a scatterometory technique; and a control section configured to control operations of the apparatus including those of the light exposure processing section and the pattern shape measuring section, the control section including a computer and a non-transitory storage portion storing a program to be executed on the computer, wherein the program, when executed, causes the computer to control the substrate processing apparatus to conduct a sequence for setting a light exposure condition, the sequence comprising: forming a test resist film on a test etching target layer disposed on a test substrate, and performing sequential light exposure with a predetermined test pattern on the test resist film sequentially at a plurality of areas, while respectively using different combinations of a light exposure amount and a focus value, along with subsequent development, thereby forming test resist patterns at the plurality of areas; measuring shapes of the test resist patterns at the plurality of areas by means of a scatterometry technique; etching the test etching target layer by use of the test resist film with the test resist patterns formed thereon as an etching mask, and removing the test resist film from the test substrate, thereby forming test etched patterns at the plurality of areas; measuring shapes of the test etched patterns at the plurality of areas by means of a scatterometry technique; and determining a management span of combinations of a light exposure amount and a focus value for performing light exposure on a resist film on a product substrate, admissible to obtain an etched pattern with a predetermined shape, with reference to the combinations of a light exposure amount and a focus value used in the sequential light exposure for the plurality of areas, measurement results of the shapes of the test resist patterns formed at the plurality of areas, and measurement results of the shapes of the test etched patterns formed at the plurality of areas, wherein said forming test resist patterns comprises arranging the plurality of areas in a matrix format, and performing a light exposure process respectively on the plurality of areas, each by one shot, while sequentially changing the light exposure amount at intervals within a range of from E said determining a management span comprises selecting areas within the plurality of areas arranged in the matrix format to define the management span.