Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7151366?dq=5,687,325
Timestamp: 2017-09-22 22:42:02
Document Index: 578644581

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60']

Patent US7151366 - Integrated process condition sensing wafer and data analysis system - Google Patents
A process condition measuring device and a handling system may be highly integrated with a production environment where the dimensions of the process condition measuring device are close to those of a production substrate and the handling system is similar to a substrate carrier used for production substrates....http://www.google.com/patents/US7151366?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7151366 - Integrated process condition sensing wafer and data analysis system
Publication number US7151366 B2
Application number US 10/718,269
Also published as US7149643, US20040154417, US20050246127, WO2004051713A2, WO2004051713A3
Publication number 10718269, 718269, US 7151366 B2, US 7151366B2, US-B2-7151366, US7151366 B2, US7151366B2
Inventors Wayne Glenn Renken, Earl Jensen, Roy Gordon
Patent Citations (52), Non-Patent Citations (12), Referenced by (42), Classifications (20), Legal Events (3)
US 7151366 B2
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/430,858 filed on Dec. 3, 2002; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/496,294 filed on Aug. 19, 2003; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/512,243 filed on Oct. 17, 2003.
Within the processing chamber a robot transports the test wafer or substrate. One example of a device incorporating a robot is manufactured by the TEL Corporation. For more information about the robot and processing chamber, please refer to U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,889 to Araki, entitled “Semiconductor Treatment System and Method for Exchanging and Treating Substrate,” which is hereby incorporated by this reference in its entirety. This application relates to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/430,858 filed on Dec. 3, 2002; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/496,294 filed on Aug. 19, 2003; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/512,243 entitled “Integrated Process Condition Sensing Wafer and Data Analysis System” by Wane Renken et al, filed on Oct. 17, 2003; and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/056,906 to Renken, which are hereby incorporated by this reference in their entirety.
FIG. 1A illustrates process condition measuring device (“PCMD”) 100, an embodiment of the present invention. PCMD 100 is part of a process measurement system, the other components of which will be described later with reference to FIG. 2. PCMD 100 comprises a substrate such as a silicon wafer, glass substrate, or other substrates well known in the art. Substrate 102 (not visible in plan view) is preferably a silicon wafer and may be of any diameter but is preferably an 8, 10, or 12 inch diameter wafer.
Biasing circuit 670 overcomes this problem by biasing the input of amplifier 662 in order to maintain a 50% duty cycle. Counter 67l uses the input from ring oscillator 672 to determine the duty cycle. Counter 671 counts the number of clock cycles of ring oscillator 672 during the “on” phase of the output of amplifier 662. It then counts the number of clock cycles of ring oscillator 672 during the “off” phase of the output of amplifier 662. The counts are sent to the bias control unit 673 where the duty cycle is. determined. If these counts are equal then the duty cycle is 50%. If the count for the “on” phase exceeds the count for the “off” phase, then the duty cycle is greater than 50%. The frequency of ring oscillator 672 is greater than the frequency of the output of conventional oscillator circuit 661. Typically, the conventional oscillator circuit has an output frequency of about 32 kHz while the ring oscillator has an output frequency of about 400 kHz–4 MHz. Ring oscillator 672 may suffer from a change in frequency at high temperature. However, because the output for two periods are compared, the absolute value of the output over a given period does not affect the determination of duty cycle.
In another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, four transmitters 728–731 are located around coil 708. This example also uses LEDs as transmitters 728–731. Using multiple LEDs allows a receiving unit 777 in an electronics module 778 receive a good signal even where receiving unit 777 is not aligned with the center of PCMD 700. Where one LED at the center of a PCMD is used (as in FIG. 1) but the receiving unit in the electronics module is offset from the center, a poor signal or no signal may be received because the LED directs light in a limited cone. The receiving unit 777 may be offset because the E-coil occupies a space covering the center of the PCMD. Thus, it is desirable to have one of LEDs 728–731 aligned with the offset position of the receiving unit 777. This requires more than one LED (four, in this example) so that one LED is below the receiving unit regardless of the rotational orientation of the PCMD 700. However, for energy efficiency it is desirable to transmit via only one LED. Therefore, a technique is provided for determining the optimum LED to transmit data.
The optimum LED is determined as part of a hand-shaking routine between the electronics module 708 and the PCMD 700. First, the electronics module 708 sends a signal to the PCMD 700 via the RF coil 708, telling PCMD 700 to begin transmission. The PCMD 700 begins transmitting using LED 728. If the electronics module 708 does not receive a signal after a predetermined time, another signal is sent to the PCMD 700 requesting a transmission. The PCMD 700 transmits using LED 729. If receiving unit 777 receives no signal, then LED 730 is used. If no signal is received from LED 730, then 731 is used. Because LED 731 is directly below receiving unit 777, the signal is received and LED 731 is identified as the optimum LED The PCMD then uses only the optimum LED 731 and may turn off the other LEDs 728–730 to conserve energy. More LEDs may be used depending on the configuration of the receiving unit or units. LEDs maybe arrayed in different locations and pointed in different directions depending on where the data is to be sent.
FIG. 8F–8H show alignment module 881 aligning PCMD 800. Each of FIGS. 8F–8H shows two perspectives. The left view is from above and to one side. The right view is a corresponding cross-sectional view. FIG. 8F shows PCMD 800 positioned above alignment module 881. PCMD 800 is held at its edges as in FIG. 8D. Arm 888 is retracted and is therefore not visible in this view. Rotation stage 883 is clear of PCMD 800. PCMD 800 may not be centered correctly at this point. This means that the center of PCMD 800 may not be directly under the center of an electronics module. Also, PCMD 800 may not have the desired rotational orientation. Either linear or rotational misalignment of PCMD 800 may be detected by greycode readers as described above. In order to obtain an accurate map of conditions measured by PCMD 800 the positions of the sensors on PCMD 800 must be known. Thus, any map generated assumes a certain rotational orientation. It is generally desirable that PCMD 800 be returned to this orientation if any change occurs.
FIGS. 10A and 10B show examples of lids 1010–1013 protecting components 1020–1022 of the PCMD from the environment. In FIG. 10A a single lid is used for three components. The number of components covered by a single lid depends on the sizes and locations of the components but may be anything from one component to all the components in the PCMD. FIG. 10A shows three components 1020–1022 and the attached wire bonds 1048 covered by a single lid 1010. In FIG. 10B separate lids 1011–1013 are used for each component 1020–1022. Various materials may be used to form lids such as lids 1010–1013. For example, a ceramic lid similar to that used for packaging integrated circuits may be adapted to cover a component or group of components in a PCMD. For particularly harsh chemical environments lids may be made from materials such as sapphire that resist chemical attack. Where protection from electromagnetic fields is required, lids may be made of conductive material such as metal or doped silicon. For some applications, plastic lids may be used. Lids 1010–1013 are bonded to the substrate 1002 in a conventional manner.
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U.S. Classification 324/750.02, 324/754.31, 324/762.05
International Classification H01L21/00, G01R31/28
Cooperative Classification H01L2924/12041, H01L2924/01087, H01L2924/3011, H01L2924/15157, H01L2924/19041, H01L2924/3025, H01L2924/15165, H01L2924/16152, H01L2924/16153, H01L21/67253, H01L2924/16195, H01L2224/48091, H01L2924/15153, H01L2924/10253
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:RENKEN, WAYNE GLENN;JENSEN, EARL;GORDON, ROY;REEL/FRAME:014509/0290