Patent Abstract:
A recipe management system is provided including a processor configured to receive a first job file for a processing tool through a network, said first job file including a master job file for said processing tool. The processor also receives a second job file through the network from a host processor associated with the processing tool. The processor compares the first and second job files, wherein the processor determines whether the first and second job files differ. A semiconductor manufacturing method is also provided. A first job file including a master job file for a processing tool is received through a network. A second job file is also received through the network from a host processor associate with the processing tool The job files are then compared to determine whether the first and second job files differ.

Full Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to recipe management systems for semiconductor fabrication processes, and more particularly to recipe management systems for comparing recipe versions for semiconductor processing tools utilized in the semiconductor fabrication process. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Recipe management systems are used in a semiconductor fabrication process to manage recipe correction and to prevent process engineers from running incorrect and non-approved recipes. A prior art recipe management system is described hereafter in connection with the fabrication system diagram of FIG.  1 . The fabrication system  10  includes a database  12  connected to a Recipe Management System (RMS) server  14 . The database includes a plurality of master recipe bodies for select tools used in the semiconductor process, including etch tools, deposition tools such as the Applied Material P5000 Mark II tool, and photolithography tools, such as a track tool  18 . As should be known to those familiar with manufacturing integrated circuits, track tools have three main purposes in the process: (1) coating photoresist on a wafer; (2) baking the wafer; and (3) developing a circuit pattern on the wafer. Recipes for scanner and stepper photolithography tools are typically not stored in database  12 . 
     RMS server  14  is shown connected to Industrial PC (IPC)  16 . IPC  16  includes a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) software package including a Tool Control System (TCS) for implementing task flow control for operating a tool such as track  18 . Track  18  is shown as part of an inline tool physically combining at least two pieces of equipment, such as track  18  and stepper  20 . IPC  16  communicates with track  18  using the Semiconductor Equipment Communications Standard (SECS) via low speed RS-232 serial lines. IPC  16  receives a recipe from the database  12  through RMS server  14 . IPC  16  then uses the recipe to directly control the track  18  by issuing SECS commands. RMS server  14  is connected to database  12  and IPC  16  via an Ethernet connection. 
     A process recipe is sometimes modified by a process engineer at the IPC  16  for, for example, experimental test runs of processing tools. During actual process runs, however, it should be confirmed that the recipe that is being used by the IPC  16  to control the track tool  18  conforms to a master recipe in the database  12 , which has been approved for use in a specific fabrication process. In order to accomplish this, the recipe currently resident at the IPC  16  is uploaded to the RMS server  14 . The corresponding master recipe is also retrieved by the RMS sever  14  from the database  12 . The bodies, i.e., the contents, of these recipes are then compared by the RMS server  14 . If a match occurs, a message is sent to the IPC  16  indicating that the recipe is approved for use and the track tool is operated in the fabrication process. If a match does not occur, a mismatch message is sent to the IPC  16  indicating the need to retrieve an approved recipe from the database  12 . 
     The RMS server  14  also handles recipe version management. A new version of a recipe stored in database  12  may be created at IPC  16 , uploaded to RMS server  14  and stored as a new version of the corresponding recipe in database  12 , thereby becoming an approved recipe. 
     Also shown in system  10  of FIG. 1 is Unix server  24 . Unix server  24  includes a plurality of recipes for semiconductor exposure tools such as steppers and scanners. These recipes are also called job files. As one of ordinary skill will recognize, a stepper is an optical-based system that projects the pattern of a reticle onto a small area on the surface of the wafer. The projected image forms the processing pattern for one chip. The wafer is stepped in the X and Y directions to repeat the imaging for other chips. A scanner is also an exposure tool, only with a larger lens that the stepper. 
     Although shown connected to only one host  22 , Unix server  24  is typically connected to a plurality of hosts. Each host  22  is connected to and associated with a single stepper  20  or scanner. Unix server  24  and host  22  are both industrial workstations, but the Unix server  24  stores master recipe files for steppers  20  and scanners, which are communicate with hosts  22 . A typical recipe for a scanner or stepper will include X and Y coordinate information as well as other process parameters, such as light energy and focus information. 
     The host  22  provides a job file to the stepper  20  or scanner during a fabrication process for control of the stepper  20  or scanner. The host  22  and stepper  20  communicate through an Ethernet connection. Unix server  24  downloads an approved scanner or stepper recipe to host  22  for use in the process over a TCP/IP network using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). Communications of job files between the Unix server  24  and host  22  are one way as indicated in FIG. 1. A process engineer can use host  22  to modify recipes if desired, such as for testing purposes. 
     Several problems exist with the system  10  of FIG. 1, particularly with respect to steppers  20  and scanners. The stepper and scanner tools typically become the bottle neck of the fabrication process when recipe file corruption occurs or mismatches occur between recipes in the Unix server  24  and the host  22 . Despite this concern, the system  10  as shown in FIG. 1 does not have the ability to compare the recipe resident at host  22  and the recipe at Unix server  24  to determine whether a recipe file has been modified at the host  22 . For one reason, recipe body communication between the Unix server  24  and the host  22  is not two way, i.e., the host software does not support exporting the recipe body back to the Unix server  24 . 
     One solution available for ASML brand steppers and scanners available from ASML Co. of Tempe. Ariz. is a software utility installed on the host  22 . The utility supports the SECS protocol and allows the Unix server.  24  to respond to a SECS command issued by the host  22 . The host  22  issues a SECS command to the Unix sever  24  requesting modification time information for a selected recipe. The host  22  then compares the time information provided by the Unix server  24  for the recipe with the time information associated with the corresponding recipe resident at the host  22 . If the time information does not match, the host  22  knows that it does not have the recipe that is resident at the Unix server  24 , which must then be downloaded to the host  22 . This add-on solution is not very attractive for several reasons. First, the software utility is very expensive, as much as $6,700 per host installation. Second, RS232 serial interface hardware must be added to and between host  22  and server  24 . Further, the solution only compares modification times associated with a reipe and not recipe bodies or contents. The solution, therefore, lacks the ability to identify for a process engineer the specific changes that have been made to the recipe. 
     Therefore, there remains a need for a new, cost effective and robust method of ensuring that recipes being processed by scanners and steppers conform to released master recipes. To that end, there remains a need for a new method and system for comparing recipes for scanner and stepper tools utilized in the semiconductor manufacturing process. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A recipe management system is provided including a processor configured to receive a first job file for a processing tool through a network, said first job file including a master job file for said processing tool. The processor also receives a second job file through the network from a host processor associated with the processing tool. The processor compares the first and second job files, wherein the processor determines whether the first and second job files differ. 
     A semiconductor manufacturing method is also provided. A first job file including a master job file for a processing tool is received through a network. A second job file is also received through the network from a host processor associated with the processing tool The job files are then compared to determine whether the first and second job files differ. 
     The system and method described above provide a cost effective means of comparing job files, particularly for exposure tools, to ensure that only approved job files are used in the fabrication process. File transfer is accomplished via network communications rather than using lower speed SECS RS-232 serial communications. When comparing exposure unit job files, no separate database of master job files is needed as with comparing track tools in prior art system  10 , because the exposure unit job files are already resident at the master job file processor. Further, exposure unit login information can be collected and used for maintenance purposes. Still further, expensive software and hardware solutions are avoided because application tools available with standard operating systems may be utilized to facilitate file transfer. Also, when upgrading a prior art system  10 , modifications need only be made to the IPC  16 , rather than each host processor  22 . 
    
    
     The above and other features of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention that is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, as well as other information pertinent to the disclosure, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art semiconductor manufacturing system including a recipe management system; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a semiconductor manufacturing system including a recipe management system; and 
     FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary semiconductor manufacturing method utilizing recipe comparison. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An exemplary recipe management system for semiconductor processing tools, such as photolithography exposure tools, and a fabrication process are described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3. The recipe management system is shown incorporated within fabrication or processing system  100 , which shares several elements with prior art system  10  described above. It should be understood that the recipe management system described herein can operate apart from such a system, but can also be conveniently implemented simultaneously with prior art system  10  described above for a cost effective upgrade to the prior system. Various components from system  100  of FIG. 2 are described hereafter in connection with the flow diagram of FIG.  3 . 
     At step  202  of FIG. 3, the track recipe for track  18  resident at IPC  16 A and a corresponding master recipe for the track processing tool from database  12  are compared to determine if they differ. This may be accomplished as described in the “Background of the Invention” section. In summary, the RMS server  14  receives a copy of the track recipe from the IPC  16 A and a copy of the master recipe from database  12  and compares the two files. If the comparison indicates a mismatch (step  204 ) the RMS server  14  indicates the mismatch for the process engineer (step  205 ). If the recipe comparison indicates that the recipes match (step  204 ), then the process flow moves to the comparison of the stepper recipes. As described, the track recipes are preferably compared before the stepper recipes because the track operates in the fabrication process before the stepper  20 . As shown, the track  18  and stepper  20  may form part of the same inline tool. 
     In the system  100 , a processor, such as IPC  16 A, is connected to a master job file processor, such as Unix server  24 , through a network  30 . The IPC  16 A is also connected to at least one host processor  22  associated with an exposure tool (such as a stepper  20  or scanner) through network  30 . As with system  10 , Unix server  24  is connected to host  22  via a network  30  (not shown in FIG. 1) such as an Ethernet network. In one exemplary embodiment of the system  100 , the network  30  operates under the TCP/IP protocol, and files are exchanged between IPC  16 A and Unix server  24  and host  22 , and between Unix server  24  and host  22 , using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). 
     As with system  10 , the master processor, shown as Unix server  24 , stores a plurality of master job files for exposure units such as steppers and scanners. When directed by a process engineer, the Unix server  24  provides one or more master recipes to host processor  22  for controlling stepper  20 . The process parameters of these master job files, such as energy and focus information, are often modified at the host processor by a process engineer, such as for testing purposes. Before an expensive and time consuming fabrication process is begun, the job file that is to be used in the process should be compared with a master job file to ensure that it is approved for use in the process. In the system  100 , job files are only ideally downloaded to the host processor  22  from Unix server  24  when a new job file is created or modified at Unix server  24 , unless a mismatch is detected. 
     At step  206 , the IPC  16 A receives a job file that is to be used in the fabrication process from the host processor  22  through TCP/IP network  30  using the FTP. Similarly, the IPC  16 A receives a corresponding master job file from the master processor  24  through network  30  (step  208 ). 
     In one exemplary embodiment, IPC  16 A operates with a MICROSOFT WINDOWS operating system. The Win32 internet function of the operating system can then be used as the FTP application programming interface (API). In order to authenticate the host  22  and Unix server  24  for FTP services, the TCS of the IPC  16 A maintains a table of login names (such as serial numbers) and passwords for the host processors  22  and the Unix server  24 , as well as the IP addresses for the host processors and Unix server. If any information changes, such as an IP address, a login name or password, the table is simply updated. Each time a FTP session is opened between a host processor  22  and the IPC  16 A or between the Unix server  24  and the IPC  16 A, the host processor  22  or the Unix server  24 , as the case may be, is logged into the IPC  16 A, assuming a correct handle is provided to IPC  16 A. The IPC  16 A maintains a record of the logins, which can then be used for maintenance purposes. 
     The stepper job files received at steps  206  and  208  are then compared at step  210 . If the host processor  22  supports parsing of the job file such that its content (e.g., individual process parameters) can be discerned, the comparison step preferably compares the content of the job file received from the host processor  22  and the content of the master job file retrieved from Unix server  24 . This provides for the ability to identify specific differences between the contents of the files, e.g., process parameters such as exposure and energy. Current ASML host processors for ASML steppers  20  do not have this parsing ability because the job files are encoded, but a simple software upgrade or modification by a vendor can achieve this functionality. There is currently an edit tool for UNIX operating systems for ASML steppers that can decode a job file into a readable format for modification. The Microsoft WINDOWS operating system is not currently supported. At the very minimum, the binary content of the two stepper job files may be compared to determined whether the two files match. 
     At step  212 , the results of the comparison are displayed to the process engineer, such as in a graphical user interface on an operator interface, e.g., monitor, of the industrial PC  16 A. If the comparison indicates a match at  214 , a wafer is loaded into the inline tool which is then operated in the fabrication process according to the track job files at the IPC  16 A and the stepper job file at host processor  22  (step  216 ). If the comparison indicates a mismatch, the process engineer directs the Unix server  24  to provide an approved master job file to the host processor  22  (step  218 ) for use in the fabrication process and the inline tool is operated (step  216 ). 
     Any mismatches between the job files are reported by the IPC  16 A to an event or report database  32  (step  220 ). If available, the details of the mismatch, e.g., the particular process parameters that did not match, are reported to the event database. At a minimum, the name of the files that mismatched are reported. This information may then be used by a report processor  34  in order to generate a report (step  222 ) detailing the mismatch. A report may including information identifying the process date and time, the work area, the equipment identifier, the job file name, an error message (e.g., “Job file did not match”). Such a report may be requested and/or accessed by a process engineer via the Internet or a local or wide area network, thereby providing the ability to gain remote access to mismatch information. 
     The system and method described above provide a cost effective means of comparing job files for exposure tools to ensure that only approved job files are used in the fabrication process. File transfer can be accomplished via network communications rather than using lower speed SECS RS-232 serial communications. Preferably, the actual recipe contents are compared and any mismatches are reported to an event database, allowing for report generation and remote access to comparison results. When comparing exposure unit job files, no separate database of master job files is needed, as with comparing track tools in prior art system  10 , because the exposure unit job files are already resident at the master processor. Further, exposure unit login information can be collected and used for maintenance purposes. Still further, expensive software and hardware solutions are avoided because application tools available with standard operating systems may be utilized to facilitate file transfer. Also, when upgrading a prior art system  10 , modifications need only be made to the IPC  16 , rather than each host processor  22 . 
     Although described in connection with stepper and scanner tools, it is contemplated that this system and method may be applicable to other tools including hardware and software that support TCP/IP protocol communications and FTP. 
     Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claims should be construed broadly to include other variants and embodiments of the invention that may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention

Technology Classification (CPC): 8