Automatic Recipe Adjust and Download Based on Process Control Window

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the manufacture of high performance integrated circuits on semiconductor devices. More specifically, this invention relates to optimizing the manufacture of high performance integrated circuits on semiconductor devices. Even more specifically, this invention relates to optimizing the manufacture of high performance integrated circuits on semiconductor devices by making appropriate adjustments to the process recipes for each process.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

In the typical semiconductor manufacturing facility, many simulation and analysis tools have been implemented to assist the process integration and device development efforts. These simulation and analysis tools, however, are typically employed to provide an indication of general trends. The latent potential of reducing the number of silicon runs and speeding up the process optimization cycle has not been fully achieved. One of the primary reasons the process optimization cycle has not been achieved is that the accuracy of the data obtained cannot be established to the degree necessary to determine the dependability of the simulation systems. The accuracy of the data obtained can only be achieved by a complete and detailed engineering calibration of the simulation system. This calibration, however, demands extensive engineering resources and data from multiple silicon production runs which, in turn, is usually only available at the latter stages of the process development or early production cycles.

In addition, process optimization for a technology that has completed qualification and is ramping-up production could receive great benefit from the extensive embedded device physics contained in advanced complex simulation tools.

Current trends in semiconductor process development include the use of these simulation tools to predict certain wafer electrical tests (WET) device performance characteristics based on a predetermined set of process values. The use of these simulation tools has been very effective. Additionally, optimal performance of current large-scale integrated devices can be predicted by a subset of critical WET performance parameters. These performance criteria include speed, operating temperature, power utilization, and reliability.

Furthermore, current manufacturing technology utilizes in-line statistical evaluation of critical parametric values at most module steps in the overall process flow. These statistical values are used to maintain control of the process, at the particular process module in question, often without regard to previous processing results. Often the goal of manufacturing is to meet not only yield goals, but certain performance goals as well. Currently, to do this it is necessary to force certain values to meet very strict specifications, such as shifting polysilicon gate critical dimensions (CD) or increasing or increasing threshold adjust implant, and hope that other process module variations will not adversely affect performance.

Further trends in semiconductor processing are continually moving towards more automated or system level control of individual equipment components to maintain a high degree or confidence in the overall process environment. The standard practice has been to require strict adherence to a rigidly controlled specification limit for certain process parameters such that natural variation within those specifications at various critical steps would not permit device performance to vary outside of the desired operating range. The current practice is to continually adjust toward the middle of the specification, making recipe modifications as necessary to implement the fine-tuning, and these adjustments are based on the current trend of the equipment. These specifications stand alone at the individual process steps and are generally not affected by the previous processing results of the lot.

A process simulation tool has been disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,866,437, entitled DYNAMIC PROCESS WINDOW CONTROL USING SIMULATED WET DATA FROM CURRENT AND PREVIOUS LAYER DATA that uses a method to achieve optimum performance by providing a process control window or specification for the current module by utilizing the previous process step statistical data as a baseline that is entered into the process simulation tool. Such a process control window has the potential of being much wider than current specifications due to the previous layer parameters and their effects being precisely known and can be considered dynamic since the process control window can change based on actual previous layer data. The simulation tool would be preset to optimize the process to hit certain critical WET parametrics. Using the previous data baseline, and the WET goals, the simulator tool would then provide direction by providing a process control window for the remaining operations to achieve those goals. However, there is no current method to automatically adjust the process recipes for each process to incorporate the optimized parameters and account for the current status of the process equipment for each process.

Therefore, what is needed is a system that will evaluate the current trend of each of the process tools and automatically adjust the process recipe of each process.

An automatic recipe adjust and download system based on the data in a process control window in accordance with the present invention solves the above and other problems associated with the present semiconductor manufacturing process.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention are attained by a system that evaluates the current trend of each process tool, takes into account the recommended target values, lookup the setting requirements to achieve the target values for each tool in a tool characterization table, makes the appropriate adjustments to the process recipe for each process and download the recipe to the appropriate tool.

The system first compares collected predicted WET data with target WET specification data and then compares the optimized process parameters for the next process with the equipment characteristics for each piece of processing equipment. The system uses the data to adjust the parameters of the next process equipment.

The present invention is better understood upon consideration of the detailed description below, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. As will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, there is shown and described an embodiment of this invention simply by way of illustration of the best mode to carry out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a prior art manufacturing process; and

FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show a manufacturing process in accordance with the present invention.

Reference is now made in detail to a specific embodiment of the present invention that illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for practicing the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a prior art manufacturing process for the manufacture of semiconductor devices. A wafer lot is started as indicated at 100. The process parameters are set in the process equipment as indicated at 102. The current process is run as indicated at 104. After the current process is completed, the in-line critical dimensions (CD) are measured at 106. At 108, it is determined if the in-line critical dimensions are within pre-established manufacturing specifications. If the in-line critical dimensions are not within the manufacturing specifications, it is attempted to find a remedy as shown at 110, and if a remedy is not available, the wafers are scrapped. If, at 108, it is determined that the in-line critical dimensions are within the manufacturing specifications, it is then determined at 112 if the process just completed is the last process. If it is not the last process, the wafer lot is sent to the next process at 102 where the process parameters for the next process are set in the process equipment. If the process just completed is the last process, the wafer electrical tests (WET) are conducted as indicated at 114. If, at 116, it is determined that the WET measurements are not within the WET manufacturing specifications the wafer lot is scrapped as indicated at 118. If the WET measurements are within the WET manufacturing specifications the wafer lot is sent to the next stage of the manufacturing process, which could be the dice and packaging stage as shown at 120.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a wafer manufacturing process flow in accordance with the present invention is shown. In FIG. 2, the wafer lot is started in the manufacturing process, as indicated at 200. The process parameters for the first process are set on the process equipment as indicated at 202. The current process is run as indicated at 204. After the current process is run, the in-line critical dimensions are measured at 206. The in-line critical dimensions are input to a statistical manufacturing simulation at 300, FIG. 3. The statistical manufacturing simulation at 300 is conducted with data from in-line critical dimension measurements from previous processes from this lot as indicated at 302. The statistical manufacturing simulation at 300 is also conducted with data from previous lots for process steps after the current process step as indicated at 304. The statistical manufacturing simulation at 300 also includes calibration simulation data at 306. The calibration simulation data at 306 has input from a comparison made at 312 of the predicted WET measurements at 308 and the collected WET data from all previous process steps at 310. The statistical manufacturing simulation at 300 determines the predicted WET measurements at 308, which are input to the decision step at 208. The predicted WET measurements are also input to a database at 400, FIG. 4. The predicted WET measurements may provide a widened process control window. This means, for example, that a parameter that is currently being measured may be adjusted to compensate for a parameter that has been previously measured and was either within or without that parameters specification. The widened process control window provides more flexibility to the process control engineer to continue processing a wafer lot and can result in cost savings by not having to scrap wafer lots that can be saved by merely adjusting subsequent process parameters. If it is determined at 208 that the predicted WET measurements are not within the pre-established WET specifications, the wafer lot is scrapped if a remedy is not found, as indicated at 210. If it is determined at 208 that the predicted WET measurements are within the pre-established WET specifications, it is then determined at 212 if the current process is the last process. If the current process is not the last process, the wafer lot is sent to the next process as indicated at 214. If the current process is the last process, the WET measurements are conducted as indicated at 216. The results from the WET measurements are sent to a decision point at 218 and to a database 310 FIG. 3. The use of the WET database at 310 is discussed above. If the WET measurements are not within the WET manufacturing specification, the wafer lot is scrapped as indicated at 220. If the WET measurements are within the WET manufacturing specification, the wafer lot is sent to the next stage, as indicated at 222.

Referring to FIG. 4, the predicted WET data for the previous processes are collected at 400. The predicted WET data is compared at 402 with the target WET specification stored at 404. The comparison results in an optimized set of process parameters for the next process at 406. The optimized set of process parameters is compared at 408 with the next process equipment characteristics that are maintained in the equipment characteristics database at 410. The equipment characteristics database at 410 is updated as the equipment is used, measured and calibrated and contains the latest information available concerning the operating parameters of each piece of process equipment. The comparison at 408 is used to automatically adjust the set of parameters for the next process as shown at 412. The automatic adjust is triggered by the input 414 from the decision point 212 (FIG. 2). The set of adjusted parameters is input to the flow shown in FIG. 2 as indicated at 224 (FIG. 2) and the next process is run, as shown at 204.

The benefits of the present invention include:

1. It allows for the specific targeting of wafer lots to achieve selected performance characteristics.

2. It allows for the maintenance of tight process control based on previous process or layer history.

3. It provides critical information to process engineers for the disposition decision for wafer lots if manufacturing specification targets are not met.

4. It allows for the widening of process specification limits based on data from previous process and layer data and the current tool performance characteristics.

The foregoing description of the embodiment of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.