Patent ID: 7763403

Claim:
An automated process control loop comprising an automated process control computer system, a lithographic apparatus that is coupled to the automated process control computer system, and an overlay metrology tool that is coupled to the automated process control computer system and the lithographic apparatus, wherein the automated process control loop is configured to determine overlay alignment and stitching alignment associated with a first layer layout and a second layer layout that are manufactured on a target portion a substrate by lithographic processing, wherein the substrate includes a plurality of adjacent target portions, the process comprises: identifying a product layer and the corresponding lithographic apparatus that is used to create the product layer; enabling the overlay metrology tool to determine the overlay alignment and the stitching alignment for the product layer and the corresponding lithographic apparatus; enabling the overlay metrology tool to separately provide overlay alignment data and stitching alignment data to the automated process control computer system; transmitting at least one of the overlay alignment data and the stitching alignment data to the corresponding lithographic apparatus that processes the corresponding product layer; and adjusting at least one of the overlay alignment and the stitching alignment for the product layer.