Patent ID: 6794302
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
A method for compensating for CD variations across a semiconductor process wafer surface in a feed forward multi-step plasma etching process to achieve CD uniformity comprising the steps of:providing a semiconductor wafer having a process surface comprising patterned features for plasma etching; carrying out a first plasma etching process wherein the semiconductor wafer is heated to a first set of operating temperatures according to at least two selectively controllable temperature zones; determining a first dimensional variation of etched features with respect to reference dimensions over areas of the process surface comprising the at least two selectively controllable temperature zones; determining a second set of operating temperatures for the at least two selectively controllable temperature zones to achieve a targeted dimensional variation less than the first dimensional variation; plasma etching the process surface according to the second set of operating temperatures; and, determining and archiving a second dimensional variation correlated with the second set of operating temperatures for determining a third set of operating temperatures for carrying out a subsequent plasma etching process.