Patent ID: 8780320

Claim:
An integrated monitoring system for monitoring properties of a semiconductor wafer structure, wherein the system has a footprint configured for installation inside or attaching to a predetermined wafer production unit, and is capable of performing on-line metrology and inspection on the wafer, the system comprising: a wafer support system comprising a supporting plate configured to support the wafer under measurements; a measurement device comprising a metrology unit and an inspection unit which are configured and operable to apply metrology and inspection measurements, respectively, to the wafer while on the supporting plate, the measurement device comprising an illumination system configured to direct light toward a surface of the wafer, and a detection system coupled to the illumination system and configured to detect light propagating from the surface of the wafer in response to the illumination, the measurement device being configured to generate one or more output signals corresponding to the detected light; and a control unit coupled to the measurement device and configured and operable to process measured data from the measurement device and determine a first property and a second property of the wafer from the one or more output signals, wherein the first property is indicative of parameters of at least a top layer of the wafer layer, and the second property is indicative of a presence of coarse defects on the wafer induced by process malfunctions of said production unit.