U.S. patent application number 17/378190 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-04 for apparatus and method for real-time sensing of properties in industrial manufacturing equipment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Tokyo Electron Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is Tokyo Electron Limited. Invention is credited to Sylvain Ballandras, Jacques Berg, Thierry Laroche, Kimihiro Matsuse, Tomohide Minami.
Application Number | 20210343560 17/378190 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005720386 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210343560 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ballandras; Sylvain ; et
al. |
November 4, 2021 |
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME SENSING OF PROPERTIES IN
INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT
Abstract
An apparatus and method for real-time sensing of properties in
industrial manufacturing equipment are described. The sensing
system includes first plural sensors mounted within a processing
environment of a semiconductor device manufacturing system, wherein
each sensor is assigned to a different region to monitor a physical
or chemical property of the assigned region of the manufacturing
system, and a reader system having componentry configured to
simultaneously and wirelessly interrogate the plural sensors. The
reader system uses a single high frequency interrogation sequence
that includes (1) transmitting a first request pulse signal to the
first plural sensors, the first request pulse signal being
associated with a first frequency band, and (2) receiving uniquely
identifiable response signals from the first plural sensors that
provide real-time monitoring of variations in the physical or
chemical property at each assigned region of the system.
Inventors: |
Ballandras; Sylvain;
(Besancon, FR) ; Laroche; Thierry; (Besancon,
FR) ; Matsuse; Kimihiro; (Tokyo, JP) ; Berg;
Jacques; (Meylan, FR) ; Minami; Tomohide;
(Kurokawa-gun, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tokyo Electron Limited |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
Tokyo Electron Limited
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005720386 |
Appl. No.: |
17/378190 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16104335 |
Aug 17, 2018 |
11114321 |
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17378190 |
|
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62546882 |
Aug 17, 2017 |
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62627614 |
Feb 7, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H03H 9/02637 20130101;
H03H 9/25 20130101; G01K 3/14 20130101; H03H 9/0259 20130101; H03H
9/02559 20130101; G01K 11/22 20130101; H03H 9/42 20130101; H03H
1/0007 20130101; H03H 3/08 20130101; H01L 21/67248 20130101; G01K
11/265 20130101; H01L 21/67253 20130101; H01J 2237/24585 20130101;
G01K 13/00 20130101; H01J 37/32935 20130101; G01K 1/026 20130101;
G01D 5/48 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01L 21/67 20060101
H01L021/67; G01K 11/22 20060101 G01K011/22; G01K 13/00 20060101
G01K013/00; G01K 3/14 20060101 G01K003/14; H03H 9/02 20060101
H03H009/02; H03H 9/25 20060101 H03H009/25; H03H 1/00 20060101
H03H001/00; H01J 37/32 20060101 H01J037/32; H03H 3/08 20060101
H03H003/08; H03H 9/42 20060101 H03H009/42; G01D 5/48 20060101
G01D005/48; G01K 1/02 20060101 G01K001/02; G01K 11/26 20060101
G01K011/26 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for real-time sensing of properties within
industrial manufacturing equipment, comprising: first plural
sensors mounted within a processing environment of a manufacturing
system, each sensor being assigned to a different region to monitor
at least one of a physical, chemical, or electrical property of the
assigned region of the system; and a reader system having
componentry configured to simultaneously and wirelessly interrogate
the first plural sensors using a single high frequency
interrogation sequence that includes (1) transmitting a first
request pulse signal to the first plural sensors, the first request
pulse signal being associated with a first frequency band, and (2)
receiving uniquely identifiable response signals from the first
plural sensors that provide real-time monitoring of variations in
the at least one of a physical, chemical, or electrical property at
each assigned region of the system, wherein the first plural
sensors are made operable in the first frequency band according to
design rules that permit the simultaneous interrogation without
collision between the response signals echoed from each sensor
operating in the first frequency band, wherein the processing
environment includes a gas-phase plasma environment, and wherein
the first frequency band is defined to exclude harmonic frequencies
of the plasma excitation frequency.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the manufacturing system
includes a semiconductor manufacturing system, or a
non-semiconductor manufacturing system.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the manufacturing system
facilitates manufacturing of semiconductor devices, photonic
devices, photo-emission devices, photo-absorption devices, or
photo-detection devices.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the manufacturing system
facilitates manufacturing of metallic, semi-metallic, non-metallic,
polymeric, plastic, ceramic, or glass or glass-like workpieces.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a workpiece to be
arranged within the processing environment of the manufacturing
system, wherein the first plural sensors are mounted on the
workpiece.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: multiple sensor
groupings assigned to plural, uniquely defined frequency bands, the
multiple sensor groupings including the first plural sensors
assigned to the first frequency band.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sensor includes a surface
acoustic wave (SAW) delay line device, and wherein the substrate
includes LiNbO.sub.3, LiTaO.sub.3, or
La.sub.3Ga.sub.5SiO.sub.14.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one of a physical
or chemical property includes temperature or differential
temperature.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each sensor includes an
inter-digitated transducer to excite and subsequently detect
surface waves, and one or more reflector groups to diffract and
reflect surface waves back towards the inter-digitated transducer,
and wherein the one or more reflector groups are spaced apart a
pre-determined distance along a wave propagation path from the
inter-digitated transducer.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inter-digitated
transducer is coupled to at least one antenna for receiving and
transmitting signals between each sensor and the reader system.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more reflectors of
each sensor are arranged to produce an impulse response signal in
the time domain exhibiting a train of two or more distinct echo
impulse responses.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more reflector
groups are located on the same side of the inter-digitated
transducer.
13. An apparatus for real-time sensing of properties within
industrial manufacturing equipment, comprising: first plural
sensors mounted within a processing environment of a manufacturing
system, each sensor being assigned to a different region to monitor
at least one of a physical, chemical, or electrical property of the
assigned region of the system; and a reader system having
componentry configured to simultaneously and wirelessly interrogate
the first plural sensors using a single high frequency
interrogation sequence that includes (1) transmitting a first
request pulse signal to the first plural sensors, the first request
pulse signal being associated with a first frequency band, and (2)
receiving uniquely identifiable response signals from the first
plural sensors that provide real-time monitoring of variations in
the at least one of a physical or chemical property at each
assigned region of the system, wherein the first plural sensors are
made operable in the first frequency band according to design rules
that permit the simultaneous interrogation without collision
between the response signals echoed from each sensor operating in
the first frequency band, and wherein each sensor of the first
plural sensors includes an inter-digitated transducer to excite and
subsequently detect surface waves, and one or more reflector groups
to diffract and reflect surface waves back towards the
inter-digitated transducer, and wherein the one or more reflector
groups are spaced apart a pre-determined distance along a wave
propagation path from the inter-digitated transducer.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the inter-digitated
transducer is coupled to at least one antenna for receiving and
transmitting signals between each sensor and the reader system.
15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more reflectors
of each sensor are arranged to produce an impulse response signal
in the time domain exhibiting a train of two or more distinct echo
impulse responses.
16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more reflector
groups are located on the same side of the inter-digitated
transducer.
17. An apparatus for real-time sensing of properties within
industrial manufacturing equipment, comprising: first plural
sensors mounted within a processing environment of a manufacturing
system, each sensor being assigned to a different region to monitor
at least one of a physical, chemical, or electrical property of the
assigned region of the system; and a reader system having
componentry configured to simultaneously and wirelessly interrogate
the first plural sensors using a single high frequency
interrogation sequence that includes (1) transmitting a first
request pulse signal to the first plural sensors, the first request
pulse signal being associated with a first frequency band, and (2)
receiving uniquely identifiable response signals from the first
plural sensors that provide real-time monitoring of variations in
the at least one of a physical or chemical property at each
assigned region of the system, wherein the first plural sensors are
made operable in the first frequency band according to design rules
that permit the simultaneous interrogation without collision
between the response signals echoed from each sensor operating in
the first frequency band, and wherein the single high frequency
interrogation sequence includes interrogating sensors with a
time-resolved excitation signal and processing received echo
signals in the time domain, or interrogating sensors with a
frequency modulated excitation signal and processing received echo
signals in the frequency domain.
18. An apparatus for real-time sensing of properties within
industrial manufacturing equipment, comprising: first plural
sensors mounted within a processing environment of a manufacturing
system, each sensor being assigned to a different region to monitor
at least one of a physical or chemical property of the assigned
region of the system; and a reader system having componentry
configured to simultaneously and wirelessly interrogate the first
plural sensors using a single high frequency interrogation sequence
that includes (1) transmitting a first request pulse signal to the
first plural sensors, the first request pulse signal being
associated with a first frequency band, and (2) receiving uniquely
identifiable response signals from the first plural sensors that
provide real-time monitoring of variations in the at least one of a
physical or chemical property at each assigned region of the
system, wherein the first plural sensors are made operable in the
first frequency band according to design rules that permit the
simultaneous interrogation without collision between the response
signals echoed from each sensor operating in the first frequency
band, and wherein a protective material covers the first plural
sensors to insulate each sensor from the environment present in the
industrial manufacturing system.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processing environment
includes a gas-phase plasma environment.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first frequency band is
defined to exclude harmonic frequencies of the plasma excitation
frequency.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 16/104,335, filed Aug. 17, 2018, which is based up and claims
the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No. 62/546,882, filed on Aug. 17, 2017, entitled "APPARATUS AND
METHOD FOR REAL-TIME SENSING OF PROPERTIES IN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT", and U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No. 62/627,614, filed on Feb. 7, 2018, entitled "APPARATUS AND
METHOD FOR REAL-TIME SENSING OF PROPERTIES IN INDUSTRIAL
MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT"; the entire contents of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for
monitoring a process in a processing system and, more particularly,
to monitoring a process using a monitoring device having an
integral sensing and transceiving device. More specifically, the
invention relates to real-time sensing of properties in industrial
manufacturing, such as semiconductor device manufacturing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The fabrication of integrated circuits (IC) in the
semiconductor industry typically employs plasma to create and
assist surface chemistry within a plasma reactor necessary to
remove material from and deposit material to a substrate. In
general, plasma is formed within the plasma reactor under vacuum
conditions by heating electrons to energies sufficient to sustain
ionizing collisions with a supplied process gas. Moreover, the
heated electrons can have energy sufficient to sustain dissociative
collisions and, therefore, a specific set of gases under
predetermined conditions (e.g., chamber pressure, gas flow rate,
etc.) are chosen to produce a population of charged species and
chemically reactive species suitable to the particular process
being performed within the chamber (e.g., etching processes where
materials are removed from the substrate or deposition processes
where materials are added to the substrate).
[0004] During, for example, an etch process, monitoring the plasma
processing system can be very important when determining the state
of a plasma processing system and determining the quality of
devices being produced. Additional process data can be used to
prevent erroneous conclusions regarding the state of the system and
the state of the products being produced. For example, the
continuous use of a plasma processing system can lead to a gradual
degradation of the plasma processing performance and ultimately to
complete failure of the system. Additional process related data and
tool related data will improve the management of a material
processing system and the quality of the products being
produced.
SUMMARY
[0005] Techniques described herein pertain to an apparatus and
method for monitoring a process in a processing system and, more
particularly, to monitoring a process using a monitoring device
having an integral sensing and transceiving device. More
specifically, the invention relates to real-time sensing of
properties in industrial manufacturing, such as semiconductor
device manufacturing.
[0006] According to various embodiments, an apparatus and method
for real-time sensing of properties in industrial manufacturing
equipment are described. The sensing system includes first plural
sensors mounted within a processing environment of a semiconductor
device manufacturing system, wherein each sensor is assigned to a
different region to monitor a physical or chemical property of the
assigned region of the manufacturing system, and a reader system
having componentry configured to simultaneously and wirelessly
interrogate the plural sensors. The reader system uses a single
high frequency interrogation sequence that includes (1)
transmitting a first request pulse signal to the first plural
sensors, the first request pulse signal being associated with a
first frequency band, and (2) receiving uniquely identifiable
response signals from the first plural sensors that provide
real-time monitoring of variations in the physical or chemical
property at each assigned region of the system.
[0007] According to an embodiment, an apparatus for real-time
sensing of properties in industrial manufacturing equipment is
described. The apparatus includes: first plural sensors mounted
within a processing environment of a semiconductor device
manufacturing system, wherein each sensor is assigned to a
different region to monitor a physical or chemical property of the
assigned region of the system; and a reader system having
componentry configured to simultaneously and wirelessly interrogate
the first plural sensors using a single high frequency
interrogation sequence that includes (1) transmitting a first
request pulse signal to the first plural sensors, the first request
pulse signal being associated with a first frequency band, and (2)
receiving uniquely identifiable response signals from the first
plural sensors that provide real-time monitoring of variations in
the physical or chemical property at each assigned region of the
system, wherein the first plural sensors are made operable in the
first frequency band according to design rules that permit the
simultaneous interrogation without collision between the response
signals echoed from each sensor operating in the first frequency
band.
[0008] According to another embodiment, an apparatus for real-time
sensing of properties in industrial manufacturing equipment is
described. The apparatus includes: a sensor arranged in a
processing environment of a semiconductor device manufacturing
system, the sensor comprising: an oscillation circuit responsive to
a request signal at an interrogation frequency that provides a
response signal corresponding to a variation of a physical or
chemical property of a region of the electronic device
manufacturing system where the sensor is mounted; and a protective
layer covering the oscillation circuit to insulate the sensor from
the environment present in the electronic device manufacturing
system.
[0009] Of course, the order of discussion of the different steps as
described herein has been presented for clarity sake. In general,
these steps can be performed in any suitable order. Additionally,
although each of the different features, techniques,
configurations, etc. herein may be discussed in different places of
this disclosure, it is intended that each of the concepts can be
executed independently of each other or in combination with each
other. Accordingly, the present invention can be embodied and
viewed in many different ways.
[0010] Note that this summary section does not specify every
embodiment and/or incrementally novel aspect of the present
disclosure or claimed invention. Instead, this summary only
provides a preliminary discussion of different embodiments and
corresponding points of novelty over conventional techniques. For
additional details and/or possible perspectives of the invention
and embodiments, the reader is directed to the Detailed Description
section and corresponding figures of the present disclosure as
further discussed below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the accompanying drawings:
[0012] FIGS. 1A through 1C illustrate a schematic representation of
an apparatus for real-time sensing of properties in industrial
manufacturing equipment according to an embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 2 provides a flow chart illustrating a method for
real-time sensing of properties in semiconductor device
manufacturing equipment according to an embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 3 depicts a representative view of a surface acoustic
wave (SAW) sensor according to an embodiment;
[0015] FIGS. 4A through 4D exemplify response signals following
interrogation of plural sensors according to an embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 5 depicts a representative view of a SAW-tag sensor
according to another embodiment;
[0017] FIGS. 6A and 6B exemplify response signals following
interrogation of plural sensors according to an embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 7 depicts a representative view of a SAW-tag sensor
according to yet another embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 8 exemplifies response signals following interrogation
of plural sensors according to an embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 9 exemplifies response signals following interrogation
of plural sensors according to an embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 10 depicts an antenna according to an embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 11 depicts a method of fabricating a sensor on a
substrate according to an embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 12 depicts a method of fabricating a sensor on a
substrate according to another embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 13 depicts a method of fabricating a sensor on a
substrate according to another embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 14 depicts a method of fabricating a sensor on a
substrate according to another embodiment;
[0026] FIG. 15 depicts a method of fabricating a sensor on a
substrate according to another embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 16 depicts a method of fabricating a sensor on a
substrate according to yet another embodiment; and
[0028] FIGS. 17A through 17D provide schematic illustrations of
plasma processing systems for performing the method of etching
according to various embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Techniques described herein pertain to an apparatus and
method for monitoring a process in an industrial manufacturing
system and, more particularly, to monitoring a process using a
monitoring device having an integral sensing and transceiving
device. The manufacturing system can include a semiconductor
manufacturing system. The manufacturing system can facilitate
manufacturing of semiconductor devices, photonic devices,
photo-emission devices, photo-absorption devices, or
photo-detection devices. The manufacturing system can include a
non-semiconductor manufacturing system. The manufacturing system
can facilitate manufacturing of metallic, semi-metallic, or
non-metallic workpieces. The manufacturing system can facilitate
manufacturing of metallic, polymeric, or ceramic workpieces. The
manufacturing system can facilitate manufacturing of glass or
glass-like workpieces.
[0030] According to various embodiments, an apparatus and method
for real-time sensing of properties in industrial manufacturing
equipment, such as semiconductor device manufacturing equipment,
are described. The sensing system includes plural sensors mounted
within a processing environment of a semiconductor device
manufacturing system, wherein each sensor is assigned to a
different region to monitor a physical or chemical property of the
assigned region of the manufacturing system, and a reader system
having componentry configured to simultaneously and wirelessly
interrogate the plural sensors. The reader system uses a single
high frequency interrogation sequence that includes (1)
transmitting a first request pulse signal to the first plural
sensors, the first request pulse signal being associated with a
first frequency band, and (2) receiving uniquely identifiable
response signals from the first plural sensors that provide
real-time monitoring of variations in the physical or chemical
property at each assigned region of the system. In particular, a
wafer-type sensor of a circuit capable of eliminating the need for
a wired power supply, to comply with automation requirements,
capable to withstand heat transfer due to ionic impact and
measuring the temperature distribution on a wafer, among other
things, is described in various embodiments.
[0031] According to an embodiment, an apparatus 100 for real-time
sensing of properties in semiconductor device manufacturing
equipment is described and depicted in FIGS. 1A through 1C. The
apparatus 110 includes: first plural sensors 2A, 2B (see FIG. 1B)
mounted within a processing environment 115 of a semiconductor
device manufacturing system 100, wherein each sensor 2A, 2B is
assigned to a different region to monitor a physical or chemical
property of the assigned region on a workpiece 1 (or substrate);
and a reader system 120 having componentry configured to
simultaneously and wirelessly interrogate the first plural sensors
using a single high frequency interrogation sequence. The
interrogation sequence can include (1) transmitting a first request
pulse signal to the first plural sensors, the first request pulse
signal being associated with a first frequency band, and (2)
receiving uniquely identifiable response signals from the first
plural sensors that provide real-time monitoring of variations in
the physical or chemical property at each assigned region of the
system, wherein the first plural sensors are made operable in the
first frequency band according to design rules that permit the
simultaneous interrogation without collision between the response
signals echoed from each sensor operating in the first frequency
band. Sensor system 10 can include the plural sensors 2A, 2B
mounted on workpiece 1. Workpiece 1 can be arranged within the
processing environment 115 of the semiconductor device
manufacturing system 100, wherein the first plural sensors 2A, 2B
are mounted on the workpiece 1 (see FIG. 1B). The number of sensors
in the first plural sensors can exceed 15 sensors, preferably more
than 30 sensors, preferably more than 45 sensors, and more
preferably more than 60 sensors.
[0032] Semiconductor device manufacturing system 100 can include a
holder 130, which may or may not include a clamping mechanism, such
as a mechanical clamping system or an electrical clamping system
(e.g., ESC, electrostatic chuck). In response to signals from a
control system 140, a holder control system 130 can adjust
properties affecting the processing of workpiece 1, or production
workpiece (not shown). Embodiments can include temperature control
elements spatially oriented to affect process conditions in
different regions of workpiece 1, or a production workpiece.
Alternatively, gas flows, and other processing properties, e.g.,
pressure, plasma power, bias power, etc., can be adjusted in
response to signals from control system 140.
[0033] In some embodiments, processing environment 115 includes a
gas-phase environment without plasma. In other embodiments,
processing environment 115 includes a gas-phase environment with
plasma.
[0034] The first frequency band can include an excitation frequency
in the 2.45 GHz-centered ISM band, as an example, however, other
frequency bands are contemplated. The frequency band can be
selected to permit electromagnetic wave propagation between the
reader system and the instrumented substrate.
[0035] The semiconductor device manufacturing system can include an
etching system, a deposition system, a plating system, a cleaning
system, an ashing system, a thermal treatment system, a
lithographic coating system, or a polishing system, or other
semiconductor processing system. FIGS. 17A through 17D depict
several gas-phase and/or plasma processing systems, within which
the sensor system can be implemented.
[0036] As further described below, depending on the environment
within which the instrumented substrate will be exposed, several
techniques are proposed to protect the sensor(s). Protective
layers, deposited or formed over the sensor, are examples of the
protection provided to a sensor in an erosive and/or corrosive
environment.
[0037] According to various embodiments, multiple sensor groupings
are assigned to plural, uniquely defined frequency bands, wherein
the multiple sensor groupings including the first plural sensors
assigned to the first frequency band (to be described in greater
detail below). The number of sensors assigned to a sensor grouping
and associated frequency band may not exceed 25 sensors; however,
more or less are contemplated. Each sensor can include a surface
acoustic wave (SAW) delay line device or SAW resonator. The SAW
devices can be mounted on workpiece 1 exhibiting an
electromechanical coupling coefficient greater than or equal to 1%,
or 2 to 3%. And, the substrate can include LiNbO.sub.3,
LiTaO.sub.3, or La.sub.3Ga.sub.5SiO.sub.14. Other materials for
conducting surface acoustic waves are contemplated. Lithium niobate
or lithium tantalite may be used for lower temperature operations,
and langasite (La.sub.3Ga.sub.5SiO.sub.14) may be used for higher
temperature operations. The physical or chemical property can
include temperature or differential temperature. The physical or
chemical property can include temperature or differential
temperature, wherein an echo drift due to temperature ranges up to,
and inclusive of, 100 ns, or 0 ns. The maximum variation in
temperature can range up to 200 K. While temperature sensing is
described, other properties, physical and chemical are
contemplated.
[0038] As described in greater detail below, each sensor includes
an inter-digitated transducer to excite and subsequently detect
surface waves, and one or more reflector groups to diffract and
reflect surface waves back towards the inter-digitated transducer,
and wherein the one or more reflector groups are spaced apart a
pre-determined distance along a wave propagation path from the
inter-digitated transducer. The inter-digitated transducer includes
two interlaced comb-like metal structures formed on the surface of
a piezoelectric substrate, and the one or more reflectors include
one or more groupings of one or more spaced apart metal line formed
on the piezoelectric substrate. Further, the inter-digitated
transducer can be coupled to at least one antenna for receiving and
transmitting signals between each sensor and the reader system. The
at least one antenna can be designed to an impedance of 50 Ohms.
The electrical impedance of the inter-digitated transducer can be
substantially matched to the electrical impedance of the at least
one antenna at a frequency within the designated frequency band.
And, the spectral range of the designated frequency band, such as
the first frequency band, can be less than 100 MHz, or 50 MHz. The
at least one antenna can include a meander antenna, a monopole or
dipole antenna, or other antenna, as listed below.
[0039] The inter-digitated transducer can include 10 to 20 pairs of
inter-digitated electrode pairs, or 15 inter-digitated pairs, for
example. The inter-digitated transducer can include two or more
groups of inter-digitated electrode pairs, and wherein each group
of inter-digitated electrode pairs is designed with a different
electrode pitch. The single high frequency interrogation sequence
can include interrogating sensors with a time-resolved excitation
signal and processing received echo signals in the time domain, or
with a frequency modulated excitation signal and processing
received echo signals in the frequency domain.
[0040] When the physical or chemical property includes temperature,
each sensor can exhibit a temperature coefficient of delay (TCD)
equal to or greater than 30 ppm-K.sup.-1, or 50 ppm-K.sup.-1, or 75
ppm-K.sup.-1, or 100 ppm-K.sup.-1.
[0041] As mentioned, the one or more reflectors of each sensor can
be arranged to produce an impulse response signal in the time
domain exhibiting a train of two or more distinct echo impulse
responses. The one or more reflectors of each sensor can be
arranged to produce a first echo impulse response for each sensor
that is received by the reader system in a first time delay range,
and a second echo impulse response for each sensor that is received
by the reader system in a second time delay range, the second time
delay consecutive to the first time delay following a first guard
time delay inserted there between. And, the first guard time delay
can range up to 200 ns, or range from 100 ns to 200 ns.
[0042] The one or more reflectors of each sensor can be arranged to
produce an impulse response signal in the time domain exhibiting a
train of three or more distinct echo impulse responses. And, the
one or more reflectors of each sensor can be arranged to produce a
third echo impulse response for each sensor that is received by the
reader system in a third time delay range, the third time delay
consecutive to the second time delay following a second guard time
delay inserted there between. The second guard time delay can range
up to 200 ns, or range from 100 ns to 200 ns. The first, second,
and third time delay can range up to 5 microseconds.
[0043] The reader system 120 can include a radio frequency (RF)
filter to reject signals at frequencies outside the designated
frequency band. The radio frequency (RF) filter can be designed to
reject signals at frequencies outside the designated frequency
band. For example, the RF filter can reject signals originating
from harmonic frequencies of the plasma excitation frequency by
excess of 30 dB, or even 40 dB.
[0044] While first plural sensors are described, second plural
sensors can be mounted on or within the semiconductor device
manufacturing system 100, wherein each sensor is assigned to a
different region to monitor a physical or chemical property of the
assigned region of the system, and wherein the second plural
sensors are made operable in the second frequency band according to
design rules that permit the simultaneous interrogation without
collision between the response signals echoed from each sensor.
[0045] FIG. 1C schematically illustrates a reader system, including
a transmitter circuit 141, a receiver circuit 142, a sampling
circuit 143, memory 144, and a controller 145 to control sensor
interrogation, manage signal processing to and from each component,
and assess the processing state of the semiconductor device
manufacturing system 100.
[0046] According to yet another embodiment, a method for real-time
sensing of properties in semiconductor device manufacturing
equipment is described. The method is depicted in FIG. 2, and
includes: locating a workpiece having plural sensors mounted
thereon within a processing environment of an semiconductor device
manufacturing system in 210; assigning a grouping of sensors to a
frequency band for interrogation of the grouping in 220; and
simultaneously and wirelessly interrogating each grouping of
sensors using a single high frequency interrogation sequence in 230
that includes (1) transmitting a request pulse signal to the plural
sensors designated with a sensor grouping, the request pulse signal
being associated with a designated frequency band, and (2)
receiving uniquely identifiable response signals from the plural
sensors that provide real-time monitoring of variations in the
physical or chemical property at each assigned region of workpiece
1.
[0047] As an example, a sensing system is described below for
monitoring temperature or differential temperature. The wafer-type
sensor can include a workpiece, onto which a plurality of
temperature measurement sensors are connected. The temperature
measurement sensors can include surface acoustic wave (SAW) delay
line sensors or SAW resonator sensors, each of which are connected
to a proper antenna. The sensors are located according to the
desired temperature mapping required for the workpiece or process.
The SAW sensors can be based on delay lines designed in such a way
that they can be interrogated simultaneously with one or more,
including a single, high frequency interrogation sequence that may
include either (i) a time-resolved excitation and signal
processing, or (ii) a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW)
approach. In the latter, the frequency-modulated continuous wave
approach can include Fourier signal processing to convolve and
de-convolve information in frequency or wave-number space.
[0048] The SAW delay lines can be designed to match, or
substantially match, the antenna impedance across a range of
temperature and sensor performance. A burst signal can be used when
the interrogation and the signal processing are time-resolved with
a duration equal to, or approximately equal to, the inverse of the
width of the frequency band of the transducer (i.e., a number of
oscillations equal to the number of the finger pairs of the
transducer). The SAW sensor can be designed in such a way that
several sensors can be interrogated simultaneously without
collision, shifting the sensor response in time in a way that
avoids any pulse superposition on the whole operating ranges and
conditions.
[0049] Design rules are given to explain how this design is
achieved using Rayleigh-like SAW on lithium niobate (LiNbO.sub.3),
as an example, without generality restriction. The use of a silica
passivation layer can allow for controlling the actual temperature
sensitivity, the electromechanical coupling, and the reflection
coefficient of the sensor. The number of sensors that can be
interrogated without collision can be increased significantly by
using frequency bands shifted in such a way that the interrogation
of one set of sensors in a given band will poorly couple energy in
another band and preventing any cross-coupling by using a filter on
the reader reception stage filtering the currently used band, i.e.,
only allowing the signal in the band to be received and processed.
This filtering operation also allows for improving the signal
processing during the application of the plasma, which generates RF
(radio frequency) harmonics at a level that can pollute or perturb
the sensor response signal processing, notably when the plasma
excitation overcomes some tens of Watts, as observed by the
inventors.
[0050] In another embodiment, the apparatus includes protection for
the SAW sensor surface from plasma and/or corrosive chemistry,
including ionic impact during plasma excitation, which can
irreversibly damage the sensors, the electrodes, and surface
quality, thus reducing the sensor life time.
[0051] In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an in-situ
piezoelectric film deposited onto a silicon (Si) wafer surface,
wherein the antenna is bonded onto the sensor location, allowing
for both RF signal reception and emission, and sensor surface
protection. As described above, the wafer-type sensor can be
composed of SAW devices with associated antenna having one or more
of the following features: (i) the use of SAW-tag delay lines built
on LiNbO.sub.3 with similar time response shifted in such a way
that several sensors can be interrogated without collision/signal
superposition; (ii) the use of several frequency bands to increase
the number of sensors that can be interrogated onto a given wafer,
using adapted filters to improve the robustness of the signal
processing, thus avoiding cross-coupling between the different
frequency bands and the mitigation of RF pollution due to the
plasma excitation; (iii) the use of an adapted structure to allow
for the wafer to be used even during plasma activation (several
structures are considered that provide protection of the sensor);
and (iv) the use of a single crystal piezoelectric film bonded onto
the wafer to form the SAW sensors that can be protected using the
antenna.
[0052] Information provided herein referring to or concerning cut
angles and crystal orientation can be ascertained in the IEEE
Std-176 standard on piezoelectricity (ANSI/IEEE Std 176-1987 IEEE
Standard on Piezoelectricity,
http://standards.ieee.org/reading/ieee/std_public/description/ultrasonics-
/176-1987_desc.html). The material constants used for all the
computations are those of Kovacs, et al. for lithium tantalate and
niobate (G. Kovacs, M. Anhorn, H. E. Engan, G. Visintini, C. C. W.
Ruppel, "Improved material constants for LiNbO.sub.3 and
LiTaO.sub.3", Proc. of the IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, 435-438,
1990). Data for Silicon (mass density and elastic/thermoelastic
constants) can be found in Landolt-Bornstein, as well as for fused
quartz (silica) and aluminum (Landolt-Bornstein, Numerical data and
functional relationships in science and technology, Group III,
Crystal and solid state physics, Vol. 11, K. H. Hellwege, and A. M.
Hellwege, Eds., Springer-Verlag Berlin-Heidelberg-New York 1979).
The sensitivity of the delay to temperature is classically given
(cf. for instance Leonhard Reindl et al, Theory and Application of
Passive SAW Radio Transponders as Sensors, IEEE Trans. on UFFC,
Vol. 45, No. 5, pp. 1281-1292, 1998) by a Taylor expansion of the
delay defined as follows:
f.sub.0=f.sub.x(1+.sup..theta..alpha.(T-T.sub.0)) (1)
[0053] where f the current frequency at temperature T is given by
the ration of the wave velocity V divided by the wavelength .lamda.
and f.sub.0 the frequency at reference temperature
T.sub.0=25.degree. C. Now defining r the delay of a wave traveling
from a transducer to a reflector and back to the transducer as:
.tau.=L/V=L/(.lamda.f) (2)
[0054] we can express the delay at a given temperature T as
follows:
.DELTA..tau./.tau.=.DELTA.L/L-(.DELTA..lamda./.lamda.+.DELTA.f/f)
with .DELTA..tau.=.tau.-.tau..sub.0 (3)
[0055] with L=L.sub.0.times.(1+.alpha..sub.1.sup.(1)(T-T.sub.0))
and
.lamda.=.lamda..sub.0.times.(1+.alpha..sub.1.sup.(1)(T-T.sub.0))
and .alpha..sub.1.sup.(1) the first order thermal expansion
coefficient. Assuming that
.DELTA.L/L=.DELTA..lamda./.lamda..apprxeq..alpha..sub.1.sup.(1)(T-T.sub.0-
) allows on for demonstrating that:
.DELTA..tau./.tau.=-(.DELTA.f/f) (4)
[0056] and, as a consequence, the temperature coefficient of delay
(TCD) is the inverse of the temperature coefficient of frequency
(TCF). In one embodiment, the use of real-time sensing includes
temperature measurement using SAW-tags based on an inter-digitated
transducer (IDT) to excite and detect the surface waves, and
reflector groups located along the wave propagation path,
diffracting and launching waves back toward the transducer.
Although the above consideration holds for resonator-based sensors,
other design rules than the following rules are necessary for such
sensors.
[0057] In the case of LiNbO.sub.3 cuts used for SAW tag application
(which can be (YX/)/128.degree. or (YZ) cuts), the TCF classically
lies in the range [-80;-90] ppm-K.sup.-1. The TCD value can range
up to a value of 100 ppm-K.sup.-1 as the maximum delay variation
due to temperature. The inventors recognize this parameter as one
method to set the delay range in which a given echo can vary. The
above mentioned TCD can be used to set the minimum delay between
two echoes to avoid any signal superposition (collision) and
prevent clear and efficient differentiation during the measurement
process.
[0058] FIG. 3 provides a simplified schematic of a SAW-tag sensor
300 with inter-digitated transducer (IDT) 301, with slots provided
as reflectors 302 positioned in groups for a given delay range.
Assuming two delays, .tau..sub.1 and .tau..sub.2, close to one
another, a fundamental design rule can include a sensor designed to
avoid the overlap of the two corresponding echoes. In that purpose,
an important parameter to take into account is the echo spreading.
This parameter is related to the transducer length and the delay
line operation. Actually, one must consider that the form of the
echo on the impulse response of the SAW-tag results from the
self-convolution of the impulse response of the transducer
prolongated by the number of electrodes in a given reflector.
[0059] In the case of SAW-tags designed and fabricated on
LiNbO.sub.3 (YX/)/128.degree., considering an aperture of 70 .mu.m,
the number of electrode pairs in the transducer can be limited to
15 to achieve an electrical impedance close to 50 Ohms on the whole
operation spectrum (we consider here the 2.45 GHz-centered ISM band
regulation for generality reason). This design consideration
equates to a spectrum range set to 85 MHz, yielding a minimum
length of 30 oscillations to avoid the spectrum overcoming the
above mentioned value. The duration of such an excitation burst can
be about 12 ns (whereas only about 6 ns would be mandatory using a
15-finger-pair IDT to couple the energy at maximum, i.e., the
transducer and excitation spectrum overlaps at best), which makes
the length of the self-convolution equal to 24 ns, majored to 25 ns
in FIG. 3 for convenience.
[0060] Referring again the two above-mentioned echoes, the minimum
duration between the echoes can be set to avoid any overlap of
their signature on the whole temperature range. A 100.degree. C.
temperature variation can result in a 10.sup.-2 relative change in
the nominal value of the delay. Therefore, when two sensors are
submitted to a temperature difference of 200.degree. C., the delay
between the two echoes is expected to be at minimum 2% of the
nominal longest delay (for instance, .tau..sub.2, if we assume
.tau..sub.1<.tau..sub.2) plus 25 ns, the maximum time spreading
of one echo. As an example, a 30 ns echo separation can be selected
because the spreading of one echo does not overcome 20 ns. For
illustration purpose, if a 500 ns delay is considered for T.sub.2,
the above rule infers that .tau..sub.1 correspond to a maximum
delay of 465 ns (i.e., 500-10-25 ns). This exercise provides a
general design rule which allows a design to comply with ISM
regulations, and address the separation of two echoes when
measuring several sensors at once.
[0061] Therefore, as an example, if fifteen (15) sensors are to be
interrogated simultaneously, once the initial delay .tau..sub.0 of
the first sensor (the one which "answers" first) is fixed, all of
the first echoes of the sensors will arise in a minimum of
.tau..sub.0 plus 35 ns times 15 delay range (e.g., .tau..sub.0+525
ns), guaranteeing that the sensor set can be interrogated and the
response read without collision on the whole temperature range.
After a minimum guard delay following the last sensor's first echo
(the first echo of the sensor "answering" last), the same analysis
can be applied for the second echo of the sensors. This guard
delay, of course, can overcome the delay between the two "first"
echoes, the above-mentioned 35 ns, otherwise it is difficult to
differentiate the pulse train of the first echo and the pulse train
of the second echo. This delay could be typically 50 ns, but for
more signal process robustness a delay ranging between 100 and 200
ns can be used. As another example, a delay of 150 ns can be used
to provide a difference of delay sufficiently long to avoid
confusion between the first and second pulse trains, and yield a
wave path sufficiently short to minimize losses due to wave
propagation (10.sup.-2 dB/.lamda. can be typical as a loss
parameter on (YX/)/128.degree. LiNbO.sub.3 surface which is
validated when comparing theoretical and experimental SAW-tag
responses).
[0062] According to an example, in consideration of the design
rules outlined above for a SAW device, a wafer-type sensor can
include four (4) groupings of sixteen (16) sensors assigned to a
separate frequency band. FIGS. 4A through 4D show the typical
responses of a grouping of sixteen (16) sensors superimposed to
elucidate the sequence of peaks, including the first and second
echoes (see FIG. 4A), and the separation between the peaks (see the
close-up of the first three echoes in FIG. 4B). In FIG. 4C, the
result of summing all the delay line S.sub.11 parameters is
plotted, and the corresponding time response is computed. For the
sake of comparison, one of the delay line time-domain responses is
superimposed to illustrate the actual effect of the summation:
e.g., the baseline is increased, meaning that the signal-to-noise
ratio is decreased, yet not sufficiently degraded to prevent the
system operation (as illustrated in FIG. 4C).
[0063] The interrogation of sixty five (65) sensors on a single
wafer can be achieved by fabricating four sets of sixteen (16)
sensors operating in different frequency bands (plus one in one of
the four frequency bands). Using IDTs composed of 15 finger-pairs,
the spectrum spreading of the SAW-tag is about 150 MHz (i.e., plus
or minus 75 MHz from the central frequency). Therefore, according
to one embodiment, the second, third, and fourth frequency bands
can be shifted 150, 300 and 450 MHz, respectively, from the first
frequency band to generate the three other frequency bands to
complete the whole wafer-type sensor design. The resulting spectral
distribution is shown in FIG. 4D, allowing for a clear separation
of each frequency band. As a consequence, the same (time-domain)
echo distribution is preserved for each band, which simplifies the
signal processing, since only the frequency band has to be shifted
(i.e., the local oscillator of the interrogator), as well as the
reception filter which must correspond to the current treated
band.
[0064] Consequently, the interrogation process for addressing sixty
five (65) measurement points onto the wafer can include setting the
central frequency to the central frequency of the first band (i.e.,
set the local oscillator and the reception filter to the current
frequency band), to set the reader in emission mode and to launch
the RF interrogation signal to the reader antenna, to switch the
reader to the reception mode after the emission of the whole
interrogation signal (e.g., 15 ns max for a 15-finger-pair IDT,
corresponding to 15 signal periods plus some delay to fade the
antenna contribution properly), and to collect the signals
re-emitted by the sensors (e.g., max delay about 2 .mu.s), to
repeat the operation as much as the signal must be averaged to
improve the SNR, and then to set the next frequency band and repeat
the operation as long as the four bands have not been scanned.
[0065] Note that the first computations were made considering a
two-echo solution. However, the same design process can be applied
to a three pulse sensor that will allow meeting desired accuracy
targets. In that perspective, an effort can be achieved to optimize
the sensor response according the measurements achieved, and more
particularly, optimizing the transducer performance. Several
approaches can be taken, including varying the period in the IDT to
cover the whole 2.4-2.5 GHz band, and to slightly shift the
reflectors so that they do not actually exhibit the same reflection
spectral coverage. For instance, the IDT can be split into five (5)
sections (see FIG. 5; or more or less than five (5)) for which the
mechanical period is set respectively to p.sub.IDT1=0.78 nm
(.lamda.=1.56 .mu.m), p.sub.IDT2=785 nm (.lamda.=1.57 .mu.m),
p.sub.IDT3=790 nm (.lamda.=1.58 .mu.m), p.sub.IDT4=795 nm
(.lamda.=1.59 .mu.m), and p.sub.IDT5=800 nm (.lamda.=1.6 .mu.m),
considering a metal thickness of 100 nm (relative electrode height
h/.lamda. in excess of 6%) and a metal ratio of 0.45. The IDT the
consists of a first electrode pair at p.sub.IDT1, two electrode
pairs set at p.sub.IDT2, five electrode pairs at p.sub.IDT3, four
electrode pairs at p.sub.IDT4 and three at p.sub.IDT5.
[0066] Along this distribution, the impedance of the transducer
remains close to approximately 50.OMEGA., a design condition for
optimizing the energy transmission from the antenna to the SAW
device and vice versa. Several other configurations can be
imagined; however, the leading idea is to spread the IDT optimal
response on a band larger than the one obtained considering a
purely synchronous IDT structure at .lamda.=1.57 .mu.m (see FIGS.
6A and 6B). On the other hand, three groups of reflectors can be
used according to the above remark (improving the sensor resolution
and removing phase uncertainties), two groups on one side of the
reflector and one group on the other side of the reflector to
optimize the sensor response. The mechanical period of each group
can, respectively, be set to p.sub.R1=780 nm and p.sub.R2=790 nm
with a metal ratio set to 0.55. A scheme is reported to illustrate
the SAW-tag concept.
[0067] The choice of a metal ratio of 0.45, for example, in the IDT
can be selected to reduce or minimize reflection phenomena
(reflection coefficient smaller than 3% on a single obstacle)
inside the transducer, whereas the reflector metal ratio can be set
to 0.55, yielding a reflection coefficient on a single obstacle
close to 5%. The metal ratio can range from 0.4 to 0.6, for example
(the minimal width of the electrode can be equal to 351 nm for a
metal ratio of 0.45 and a period p.sub.1=0.78). Using this
electrode distribution, a balanced distribution of the SAW-tag
response can be achieved with all the three pulses (echoes) of the
delay lines close to -20 dB. In this assessment, the propagation
loss can be about 10.sup.-3 dB/A for the selected 100 MHz band
(from 2.4 to 2.5 GHz).
[0068] According to an additional embodiment, another configuration
can include a single phase uni-directional transducer (SPUDT)
according to designs published in Plessky, et al. (S. Lehtonen, V.
P. Plessky, C. S. Hartmann, and M. M. Salomaa, "SPUDT filters for
the 2.45 GHz ISM band", IEEE Trans. Ultrason. Ferroelectr. Freq.
Control 51, pp. 1697-1703, 2004). Therein, the reflectors are
located on one side of the IDT which emits more energy in that
direction than on the opposite one.
[0069] According to yet additional embodiments, the coupling and
reflectivity of SAW-tag sensors based on Rayleigh waves on
(YX//128.degree.) LiNbO.sub.3 substrates can be adjusted by
depositing a layer, such as a SiO.sub.2 layer. An increase in the
coupling can reduce the insertion loss and increase the
interrogation distance. In the same field of consideration, the use
of pure shear waves for SAW-tags is also contemplated, wherein
shear waves can be guided by the deposition of a guiding film onto
the SAW device.
[0070] According to various embodiments, numerous configurations
are contemplated for forming piezoelectric films, such as lithium
niobate, lithium tantalite, or langasite, on the workpiece,
including silicon workpieces. Piezoelectric films can be formed by
wafer molecular bonding and lapping/polishing. Therein,
piezoelectric films are bonded and thinned, or transferred onto
silicon, allowing for the excitation of guided modes (true surface
waves) without radiation losses in the substrate underneath the
film (the wave is guided by the silicon substrate) exhibiting an
electromechanical coupling k.sub.s.sup.2 (for which
1-(f.sub.r/f.sub.a).sup.2 with f.sup.r and f.sub.a the resonance
and anti-resonance frequencies of the mode signature respectively
provides a reliable estimation, provided the mode is not mixing
energy with other guided modes nor waves radiated from the surface)
in excess of 3% and a reflection coefficient on a single obstacle
at minimum equal to 3%. Several examples can be provided to
determine the actual configurations for shear waves on LiTaO.sub.3
(YX/)/32.degree. to (YX/)/48.degree. and on several other singly
rotated lithium tantalate cuts onto silicon (or sapphire or any
substrate allowing wave guiding), and Rayleigh waves on LiNbO.sub.3
(YX/)/128.degree. and shear waves on almost all the singly rotated
lithium niobate cuts onto silicon are contemplated.
[0071] More generally, for a material film, such as LiNbO.sub.3,
transferred onto silicon, shear waves can be used for all the
propagation directions, excluding propagation directions ranging
from 100.degree. to 140.degree., whereas Rayleigh waves can be used
in the propagation direction range from 100.degree. to 180.degree..
The preferred solutions for shear waves correspond to propagation
directions ranging from 0.degree. to 20.degree. and from
140.degree. to 180.degree. to promote a large absolute value of TCF
(yielding a TCD value in excess of 60 ppm-K.sup.-1). Note that for
fundamental symmetry reasons, the properties of the waves are the
same when adding 180.degree. to the angle .theta. (rotation around
X crystallographic axis, referring the IEEE Std-176 standard) of a
given singly-rotated cut. To maximize the SAW-tag operation, one
can select a propagation direction from -20.degree. to +20.degree.
because the electromechanical coupling is maximum (in excess of
20%). It is noted, however, that these design considerations allow
for second order improvements, since most of the crystal cuts can
be used for the considered application, as mentioned above.
[0072] More generally, for a material film, such as LiTaO.sub.3,
transferred onto silicon, the shear wave mode is exploitable for a
propagation direction ranging from -30.degree. to +90.degree..
Moreover, the TCF is particularly favorable for a temperature
sensor in the angular range of -30.degree. to 0.degree. for which
the coupling factor is ranging from 3 to 8%. According to a
preferred embodiment, when considering the coupling factor, the cut
can be near the (YX/)/36.degree. for which the TCF is close to
zero. This orientation family can be considered for the measurement
of a broad range of properties, yet is less optimal for
temperature.
[0073] FIG. 7 shows an example of a SAW-tag operating near 2.45
GHz, manufactured of a material film, such as LiNbO.sub.3,
transferred onto silicon. Device 700 includes interdigitated
transducer 701, antenna 702, and reflector groups 703. FIG. 8 shows
exemplary reflection coefficient |S11| in time domain for eight (8)
SAW-tag sensors operating at room temperature (approximately 20
degrees C.) in the 2.4 to 2.5 GHz frequency band. FIG. 9 shows
exemplary reflection coefficient |S11| in time domain for thirteen
(13) SAW-tag sensors operating at 60 degrees C. in the 2.4 to 2.5
GHz frequency band.
[0074] According to various embodiments, the antenna design for the
sensors can include single pole designs, dipole designs, helical
designs, circular designs, spiral designs, patch designs, or
meander designs, or any combination of two or more thereof. FIG. 10
illustrates a meander-type antenna, illustrating several dimensions
to be selected for the antenna design. Metallization of the antenna
can produce an antenna thickness ranging up to 50 micron, or up to
35 micron (e.g., ranging from 10 to 35 micron in thickness). The
antenna may be composed of Al, Cu, Ni, Au, or alloys thereof. The
antenna can be fabricated using a variety of deposition techniques,
including electroplating.
[0075] In several embodiments, the wafer-type sensor can be
operated during exposition to plasma. The upper, exposed surface of
the device can be exposed to plasma, including plasma chemistry and
ion bombardment. As a result, if unprotected, the device can be
etched. Therefore, protection of the SAW-tag and the antenna, while
operating the sensor under plasma conditions for more than several
of minutes (e.g., up to 5-10 minutes) is contemplated according to
several embodiments. The wafer-type sensor thickness can range up
to 5 mm (millimeters), preferably up to 2 mm, more preferably up to
1.5 mm, and most preferably up to 1.2 mm. In some embodiments, the
sensors include a protective cover, such as an etched glass cover,
and in other embodiments, the sensors are embedded in the
substrate, such as a silicon substrate.
[0076] According to one embodiment shown in FIG. 11, a SAW-tag and
its antenna are manufactured separately, and then bonded onto a
silicon substrate. The device is connected using wire bonding, and
protected by a protective layer, such as a machined glass cover.
Since the protective cover is an electrical insulator, the
connection wire may be in contact with the cover. It is then bonded
onto the silicon substrate to form a hermetically sealed cavity.
This operation should be operated under vacuum, or at least under a
dry air condition, to reduce or avoid any oxygen trapped in the
cavity.
[0077] According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 12, a SAW-tag
and its antenna are manufactured on the same substrate, and then
bonded onto a silicon substrate. The device is protected a
protective layer, such as a machined glass cover.
[0078] According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 13, a SAW-tag
and its antenna are fabricated in a manner similar to the device
depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12. However, in this embodiment, the
silicon substrate is etched to allow locating and recessing the
SAW-tag and antenna device within the silicon substrate, i.e., at
least partially or fully recessed beneath an upper surface of the
silicon substrate. As a result, the protective layer can include a
planar cover, such as a glass plate or sheet.
[0079] According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 14, a SAW-tag
and its antenna are fabricated directly on a silicon substrate.
Fabrication of the device directly on the silicon substrate can
include etching and deposition techniques, with appropriate
patterning to remove and add material to the silicon substrate.
Each device is independently covered with a protective layer, using
for example an adapted silica mark.
[0080] According to another embodiment shown in FIG. 15, a SAW-tag
and its antenna are fabricated directly on a silicon substrate.
However, each device is covered with a full-substrate protective
layer, such as a glass cover plate.
[0081] According to yet another embodiment shown in FIG. 16, a
SAW-tag and its antenna are fabricated silicon, the SAW-tag being
manufactured on LiNbO.sub.3 or LiTaO.sub.3, for example, and then
assembled and bonded onto the silicon substrate. The SAW-tag sensor
and its antenna can be protected by a machined (etched) Silica
plate.
[0082] In other embodiments, plural sensors can be fabricated on a
LiNbO.sub.3 or LiTaO.sub.3 substrate, and then bonded to or
embedded within a silicon substrate. The technique of flip-chip can
also be exploited to build the device(s) mounted onto a silicon
substrate. The antenna can be directly fabricated onto the silicon
substrate, followed by flip-chipping the SAW-tag proximate the
antenna to reduce undesired parasitic capacitance or
self-inductance due to wire bonding. The use of a flip chip
approach can be compatible with the application as the back of the
SAW-tag will be exposed to the processing environment, such as
plasma, but not the front side.
[0083] While the device, including sensor and/or antenna, can be
fabricated on a semiconductor substrate, such as a silicon
substrate, other materials and substrates are contemplated. The
substrate may be an insulator, a conductor, or a semiconductor. The
substrate may include any material portion or structure of a
device, particularly a semiconductor or other electronics device,
and may, for example, be a base substrate structure, such as a
semiconductor substrate or a layer on or overlying a base substrate
structure such as a thin film. The substrate may be a conventional
silicon substrate or other bulk substrate comprising a layer of
semi-conductive material. As used herein, the term "bulk w
substrate " means and includes not only silicon wafers, but also
silicon-on-insulator ("SOI") substrates, such as
silicon-on-sapphire ("SOS") substrates and silicon-on-glass ("SOG")
substrates, epitaxial layers of silicon on a base semiconductor
foundation, and other semiconductor or optoelectronic materials,
such as silicon-germanium, germanium, gallium arsenide, gallium
nitride, and indium phosphide. The substrate may be doped or
undoped. Thus, substrate is not intended to be limited to any
particular base structure, underlying layer or overlying layer,
patterned or un-patterned, but rather, is contemplated to include
any such layer or base structure, and any combination of layers
and/or base structures.
[0084] As the sensor can be required to operate during plasma
operation, these embodiments can account for radio frequency (RF)
electromagnetic fields used to generate plasma in a vacuum
environment. RF operation can range from the low MHz frequencies
(e.g., 1 MHz) to very high frequency (VHF) operation (e.g., 100
MHz). As a result of the nonlinear behavior of plasma, harmonics of
the excitation frequency are produced, which can impact the
operation of a SAW-tag sensor at frequencies near the 434-MHz
centered and 2.45-GHz centered ISM bands. To accommodate, signal
filtering can be employed to eliminate harmonic contribution to the
detected signal. As an example, when the RF excitation frequency is
about 13.56 MHz, the harmonic content as a result of plasma is
relatively inconsequential within the 2.45 GHz region (and more
generally above 2 GHz). However, at higher RF excitation
frequencies, harmonic content may be more important, and impact
sensor operation. Even with favorable conditions corresponding to
an operation above 2 GHz, RF filtering can be used to reject all
unwanted contributions due to the plasma source, and the inventors
have observed successful monitoring of SAW devices with active
plasma conditions, particularly when the plasma power overcomes 70
Watts (W). For example, RF filtering can be employed for plasma
power conditions exceeding 50 W.
[0085] As noted previously, the above describes an apparatus for
real-time sensing of properties in electronic device manufacturing,
according to several embodiments. The electronic device
manufacturing system can include semiconductor device equipment
capable of processing a substrate, such as a 200 mm or 300 mm
substrate, in a gas-phase environment, that may or may not include
plasma. In semiconductor manufacturing, plasma can be used to
assist the deposition of material onto a substrate, or the etching
of material from the substrate. Examples of plasma processing
systems, for either deposition, or etching, or both deposition and
etching are described below and depicted in FIGS. 17A through
17D.
[0086] FIGS. 17A through 17D provide several plasma processing
systems that may be used to facilitate plasma-excitation of a
process gas. FIG. 17A illustrates a capacitively coupled plasma
(CCP) system, wherein plasma is formed proximate a substrate
between an upper plate electrode (UEL) and a lower plate electrode
(LEL), the lower electrode also serving as an electrostatic chuck
(ESC) to support and retain the substrate. Plasma is formed by
coupling radio frequency (RF) power to at least one of the
electrodes. As shown in FIG. 17A, RF power is coupled to both the
upper and lower electrodes, and the power coupling may include
differing RF frequencies. Alternatively, multiple RF power sources
may be coupled to the same electrode. Moreover, direct current (DC)
power may be coupled to the upper electrode.
[0087] FIG. 17B illustrates an inductively coupled plasma (ICP)
system, wherein plasma is formed proximate a substrate between an
inductive element (e.g., a planar, or solenoidal/helical coil) and
a lower plate electrode (LEL), the lower electrode also serving as
an electrostatic chuck (ESC) to support and retain the substrate.
Plasma is formed by coupling radio frequency (RF) power to the
inductive coupling element. As shown in FIG. 17B, RF power is
coupled to both the inductive element and lower electrode, and the
power coupling may include differing RF frequencies.
[0088] FIG. 17C illustrates a surface wave plasma (SWP) system,
wherein plasma is formed proximate a substrate between a slotted
plane antenna and a lower plate electrode (LEL), the lower
electrode also serving as an electrostatic chuck (ESC) to support
and retain the substrate. Plasma is formed by coupling radio
frequency (RF) power at microwave frequencies through a waveguide
and coaxial line to the slotted plane antenna. As shown in FIG.
17C, RF power is coupled to both the slotted plane antenna and
lower electrode, and the power coupling may include differing RF
frequencies.
[0089] FIG. 17D illustrates remote plasma system, wherein plasma is
formed in a region remote from a substrate and separated from the
substrate by a filter arranged to impede the transport of charged
particles from the remote plasma source to a processing region
proximate the substrate. The substrate is supported by a lower
plate electrode (LEL) that also serves as an electrostatic chuck
(ESC) to retain the substrate. Plasma is formed by coupling radio
frequency (RF) power to a plasma generating device adjacent the
remotely located region. As shown in FIG. 9D, RF power is coupled
to both the plasma generating device adjacent the remote region and
lower electrode, and the power coupling may include differing RF
frequencies.
[0090] While not shown, the plasma processing systems of FIGS. 17A
through 17D can include other componentry, including coated and
replaceable parts design to protect interior surfaces of the
processing chamber. Such parts can include deposition shields,
baffle plate assemblies, confinement shields, etc., that surround
the processing environment and potentially interfere with signal
exchange between the interrogator and the instrumented
substrate.
[0091] The plasma processing systems of FIGS. 17A through 17D are
intended to be illustrative of various techniques for implementing
the stepped ion/radical process described. Other embodiments are
contemplated including both combinations and variations of the
systems described.
[0092] In the claims below, any of the dependents limitations can
depend from any of the independent claims.
[0093] In the preceding description, specific details have been set
forth, such as a particular geometry of a processing system and
descriptions of various components and processes used therein. It
should be understood, however, that techniques herein may be
practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific
details, and that such details are for purposes of explanation and
not limitation. Embodiments disclosed herein have been described
with reference to the accompanying drawings. Similarly, for
purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials, and
configurations have been set forth in order to provide a thorough
understanding. Nevertheless, embodiments may be practiced without
such specific details. Components having substantially the same
functional constructions are denoted by like reference characters,
and thus any redundant descriptions may be omitted.
[0094] Various techniques have been described as multiple discrete
operations to assist in understanding the various embodiments. The
order of description should not be construed as to imply that these
operations are necessarily order dependent. Indeed, these
operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.
Operations described may be performed in a different order than the
described embodiment. Various additional operations may be
performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional
embodiments.
[0095] "Workpiece", "Substrate", or "target substrate" as used
herein generically refers to an object being processed in
accordance with the invention. The substrate may include any
material portion or structure of a device, particularly a
semiconductor or other electronics device, and may, for example, be
a base substrate structure, such as a semiconductor wafer, reticle,
or a layer on or overlying a base substrate structure such as a
thin film. Thus, substrate is not limited to any particular base
structure, underlying layer or overlying layer, patterned or
un-patterned, but rather, is contemplated to include any such layer
or base structure, and any combination of layers and/or base
structures. The description may reference particular types of
substrates, but this is for illustrative purposes only.
[0096] Those skilled in the art will also understand that there can
be many variations made to the operations of the techniques
explained above while still achieving the same objectives of the
invention. Such variations are intended to be covered by the scope
of this disclosure. As such, the foregoing descriptions of
embodiments of the invention are not intended to be limiting.
Rather, any limitations to embodiments of the invention are
presented in the following claims.
* * * * *
References