CA1226348A - Inspection system utilizing dark-field illumination - Google Patents
Inspection system utilizing dark-field illuminationInfo
- Publication number
- CA1226348A CA1226348A CA000472769A CA472769A CA1226348A CA 1226348 A CA1226348 A CA 1226348A CA 000472769 A CA000472769 A CA 000472769A CA 472769 A CA472769 A CA 472769A CA 1226348 A CA1226348 A CA 1226348A
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- Prior art keywords
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F1/00—Originals for photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g., masks, photo-masks, reticles; Mask blanks or pellicles therefor; Containers specially adapted therefor; Preparation thereof
- G03F1/68—Preparation processes not covered by groups G03F1/20 - G03F1/50
- G03F1/82—Auxiliary processes, e.g. cleaning or inspecting
- G03F1/84—Inspecting
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
- G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
- G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
- G01N21/95—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination characterised by the material or shape of the object to be examined
- G01N21/956—Inspecting patterns on the surface of objects
- G01N21/95607—Inspecting patterns on the surface of objects using a comparative method
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/70—Microphotolithographic exposure; Apparatus therefor
- G03F7/70483—Information management; Active and passive control; Testing; Wafer monitoring, e.g. pattern monitoring
Abstract
INSPECTION SYSTEM UTILIZING DARK-FIELD ILLUMINATION
Abstract For inspecting photolithographic masks, and the like, of the type comprising an ordered mosaic of identical patterns on a substrate (10) surface, corresponding portions or features (42, 44) of pairs of patterns are simultaneously illuminated by dark-field illumination (60-69) (incident light rays almost parallel to the surface) to cause light scattering from edges only of the features and of any defects associated therewith. The presence of a defect (40) in or at one of the features gives rise to a difference in the light scattering characteristic from the two features, which difference provides an error signal indicative of the presence of a defect. (FIG. 4)
Abstract For inspecting photolithographic masks, and the like, of the type comprising an ordered mosaic of identical patterns on a substrate (10) surface, corresponding portions or features (42, 44) of pairs of patterns are simultaneously illuminated by dark-field illumination (60-69) (incident light rays almost parallel to the surface) to cause light scattering from edges only of the features and of any defects associated therewith. The presence of a defect (40) in or at one of the features gives rise to a difference in the light scattering characteristic from the two features, which difference provides an error signal indicative of the presence of a defect. (FIG. 4)
Description
;3~8 INSPECTION SYSTEM UTILIZING DARK--FIELD ILLUMINATION
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for inspecting patterned workpieces~ particularly lithographic masks and reticles used in the fabrication of integrated circuit semiconductor wafers and/or for inspecting the wafers themselves.
Feature widths on masks and reticles used in making integrated circuits have continued to shrink, e.g., as low as 0.5 em.
Ideally, workpieces such as masks, reticles and wafers should be inspected for defects down to about half the minimum feature size. In practice, though, this is often not possible. For example, one commercially available mask inspection system is capable of detecting a minimum-size defect of only about one em, and this capability degrades to about two em in complex areas of the mask under inspection. (Hereinafter, the terrn "mask" is to he construed to mean either a mask or a reticle. Also, the invention is applicable to the inspection of other patterned workpieces, e.g., semiconductor wafers.) Conventional systems accomplish mask inspection by bright-field illumination of a portion of a pattern on the mask. A signal derived therefrom is compared with another signal representative of a corresponding portion of another supposedly identical pattern (both patterns, for example, along with many others, being disposed in an ordered mosaic on the mask). Because the patterns are supposedly identical, differences between the two signals are indicative that one of the portions is defective.
In practice, the minimum-size defect that can be detected by an inspection system of the aforespecified type is set hy false error indications arising from misalignment between the patterns being compared. At a given misalignment, the minimum detectable defect is defined as the defect which produces a signal as large as the false ~7 3~t3 signal arising from the misalignment.
Misalignment between the patterns may arise from residual alignment errors in the inspection systems, mismatched optical distortions, mask distortions, S linewidth variations, etc. The present invention is directed to means for reducing the effects of such misalignments.
Summary of the Invention Workpiece patterns to be compared are illuminated in a dark-field mode in which incident light is directed at the surface of the workpiece at a glancing angle. In such a mode, only light scattered from the edges of a feature or defect is detected. For a given misalignment, the ratio of defect signal-to-misalignment signal for relatively small defects is found to be much greater with dark-field illumination than with conventional bright-field illumination. Hence, dark-field illumination in an in-spection system provides a basis for greatly increasing the detectability of small defects.
In accordance with an aspect oE the invention there is provided apparatus for inspecting a workpiece to determine whether or not a first region thereof is patterned in accordance with prescribed design standards, said apparatus comprising means for illuminating said region to cause light to be transmitted therefrom, means for collecting such transmitted light and providing a first output signal representative of the pattern of said region, means for providing a comparison signal derived from a second region supposedly identical to said first region, and means for comparing said signals to provide an indication of whether or not said first reyion is patterned in accordance with said second region and thus in accordance with said prescribed design standards, characterized by means Eor illuminating said Eirst region by dark-field illumination, said transmitted light thus comprising light scattered from edges of said Eirst region.
~IL22~3~3 - 2a In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of inspecting a workpiece to determine whether or not a first region thereof is Qatterned in accordance with prescribed des:ign standards, said method comprising the steps of illumintating said first region to cause light to be transmitted therefrom, collecting such transmitted light for providing a first output signal representative of the pattern of said region, providing a comparison signal derived from a second region supposedly identical to said first region and comparing said signals to provide an indication of whether or not said first region is patterned in accordance with said second region and thus in accordance with said prescribed design standards, characterized by illuminating said first region in a dark-field illumination mode.
Brief Description of the Drawing FIG. 1 depicts a known task inspection system;
FIG. 2 represents two compared mask areas one oE
which contains a defect;
FIG. 3 represents features in two compared mask areas and illustrates a misalignment therebetween;
F'IG. 4 is a schematic representation of a mask inspection system in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 shows the manner in which incident light is scattered by and collected from a feature or defect illuminated in the dark-field mode;
FIG. 6 shows an alternative way of providing dark-field illumination in the FIG. 4 system;
FIG. 7 is a top view of a portion of the FIG. 4 system; and FIG. 8 is a top vlew of a portion of a modification of the FIG. 4 system.
Detailed Desertion __ _ __ ~l~22~;3a~3 In the conventional system schematically depicted in FIG. 1, a standard workpiece 10 to be inspected is shown supported on a table 12. The table is mechanically coupled to an XY drive assembly 14.
For illustrative purposes, the workpiece 10 of FIG. 1 is a mask. The mask 10 comprises an optically transparen-t substrate having thereon optically opaque features, e.g., of chromium. These features define at least two supposedly identical patterns on the mask.
In the FIG. 1 system, two spots of light are directed along dot-dash reference lines 16 and 18 through openings through the table 12 at the underside of the mask 10. The spacing of the spots is equal to the pattern spacing, or a multiple thereof, so that the spots are directed at corresponding, presumably identical portions or features of identical patterns.
The light spots are provided by conventlonal sources 20, 22 and respectively associated lens assemblies 24, 26.
By means of the assembly 14, the table 12 of FIG. 1 is indexed in the X and Y directions for inspecting successive pairs of patterns on the mask.
The amount of incident light that is propagated throuqh the mask 10 is dependent on the transmissive character of the pattern in each illuminated area.
In the conventional so-called bright-field-illumination mode represented in FIG. 1, light transmitted through the illuminated patterned areas of the mask 10 is collected by lens assemblies 2~ and 30 which comprise, for example, conventional microscope objectives. In turn, this collected light is focused onto standard photodetector arrays 32 and 34 which provide electrical output signals representative of the illuminated mask patterns.
The signals provided by the arrays 32, 34 are compared and processed in a standard signal processor and minicomputer unit 36, and viewed from a display 38.
Assume that the viewing optics of the inspection 3~L~
syste,n are characterized by a Gaussian point spread function whose full width at half maximum (FWHM) is w. (The value w also constitutes the so-called resolution element of the viewing optics.) Assume further that one of the spaced-apart patterns being inspected contains a centrally located opaque circular deEect 40 of diameter d, as depicted in FIG. 2.
In the standard bright-field mode of mask illumination, it is apparent that the photodetector array responsive to light transmitted through the left-hand pattern that contains the opaque defect 40 (FIG. 2) receives less light than the other photodetector array. As a result, a bright-field difference signal Bdef attributable to the defect 40 is generated in the unit 36 of FIG. 1. When d/w is small Bdef can be approximated by the expression K1 Iod2 ( 1 ) where K1 is a constant and Io is the peak value of the point spread function at the photodetector array. (The constants K1, K2, K3 and K4 employed herein are roughly of the same order of magnitude.) As mentioned above, difference signals are generated in the mask inspection systems even in the absence of defects. Thus, for example, relative misalignment between features in the patterns being compared also produces a difference signal. In practice, such misalignment-caused signals set the value of the minimul~-size defect that can be detected by the inspection system.
FIG. 3 represents portions of two identical opaque Eeatures 42 and 44 included in spaced-apart patterns, each feature including a straight edge 46 and 48, respectively. With perfect alignment, the edges of the two features are disposed at identical corresponding points.
Thus, for example, the right-hand edge 46, 48 of each ideal ~2~i3~
feature Gould extend through the center 50, 52 of its respec~i~P light spot 54 and 56. In this ideal case, the transited light associated with each of the light spots 54, ~6 would be exactly the same. Hence, no difference signal (false defect signal) would be thereby generatecl by the unit 36 of FIG. l But, as specified earlier above, perfect alignment is rarely, if ever, achieved in practice. This is also represented ln JIG. 3 wherein the edge of the feature 42 is assumed, because of misaliqnment by a distance "a" relative to the aforespecified ideal condition, to lie along dashed line 5~.
As a consequence of such misalignment, the photodetector array responsive to bright-field light transmitted through the leEt-hand pattern receives less light than the other photodetector array. As a result, a bri~ht-field difference signal BmiS a-ttributable to the misalignment "a" is generated. When a/w is small, BmiS can be approximated by the expression K2IOaW (2) where K2 is a constant.
Roughly spea]cing, when the speckled area in FIG. 3 attributable to misalignment approximately equals the area of the defect 40 of FIG. 2, the difference signal BmiS approximately equals the difference signal Bdef~ This is evident from a consideration of equations (1) and (2).
In one illustrative bright-field system in which w = 1 Gaussian illumination) and d = 0.52 em, smiS
approxi~tely equals Bdef for a misalignment "a" of about a.2 em. That is, in such prior art system, for a misalignment of about 0.2 em, the minimum detectable defeat has a value of d = 0.52 em.
In accordance with the present invention, the patterns being compared are illuminated in a dark-fielcl 3~3 mode, as depicted in FIG. 4. By "dark-field" illumination is meant illumination in a non-normal, glancing direction.
In effect, dark-field illumination outlines only the edges of features or defects on the mask. because of this, when viewed from above, the mask surface (the "field"), although illuminated by incident light, appears dark except for visible bright lines corresponding to feature or defect edges.
In Fig. 4, the dark-field is provided by four light sources 60 through 63 and associated lens assemblies 66 through 69 which together serve to illuminate corresponding portions of two patterns on the mask 10.
Advantageously, for reasons later described, the illumination provided by the sources 60 through 63 is selected to be within a specified wavelength band. This is accomplished, for example, with a mercury arc lamp and an associated filter. Alternatively, each source can constitute a laser.
Advantageously, the angle at which light is directed at the mask 10 in the dark-field mode is in the range of 0-to-75 degrees. Illustratively, the angle 3 is selected to be approximately 5 degrees.
For reasons later described, the FIG. 4 system also advantageously includes a bright-field-illumination capability of the type described above in connection with FIG. 1.
In the dark-field mode of operation, only light scattered from illuminated edges of a feature or defect is collected. Light incident on other surfaces of the features or defects is reflected and/or refracted along paths that do not fall within the entrance aperture of the collecting optics.
This is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein feature or defect 70 on one pattern on the workpiece 10 is obliquely illuminated by light beams directed thereat along center lines 7~, 74. Illustratively, each beam illuminates an area approximately 300 em in diameter on the workpiece ~3~2~i3~3 surface.
Light scattered from the edges of the feature or defect 70 i5 represented by lines 7G, 78. Only such scattered light is collected by the lens assernbly 28.
Scattered light collected by the lens assemblies 28, 30 i5 directed (FI5. 4) at dichroic mirrors 8Ql 82. These mirrors reflect light of wavelength emitted by the dark-field-illumination sources 60 through 63. On the other hand, bright-field illumination provided by the sources 20, 22 at a different wavelength propagates straight through the mirrors 80, 82 to the photodetector arrays 32, 34. Other known techniques such as polarization separation are available for separatiny bright-field and dark-field illumination.) Dark-field-derived light reflected by the mirrors 80, 82 is propagated along paths 84, 86 to respective photodetector arrays 85, 87. In turn, electrical signals generated by the arrays 85, 87 are applied to the unit 36.
Considering, for example, the dark-field illumination of the two pattern portions shown in FIG. 2, the photodetector array 85 responsive to light from the left-hand portion that contains the opaque defect 40 receives more scattered light than does the photodetector array ~7 which is responsive to light from the right-hand portion which contains no edges to scatter light toward the lens assembly 30 of FIG. 4. As a result, a dark-field difference signal Ddef attributable to the defect 40 is generated. When d/w is small, Ddef can be approximated by the expression K3Jod ( ) where K3 is a constant and J0 is the intensity per unit lengtn of the edge source of the scattered light. For very large centrally positioned defects (d/w~>1), Ddef becomes small because the deEect edge lies outside the ~L2~3~
light spot.
For the particular misalignment condition represented in FIG. 3, assuming the light spots 54 and 56 are from the dark-field light sources 60-63, the length of the Eeature edge lying within the liyht spot 54 on the left-hand portion is less than the length of the feature lying within the light spot 56 on the right-hand portion Hence, the photodetector array ~7 responsive to scattered light from the right-hand portion receives more light than does the photodetector array 85 responsive to scattered light from the left-hand portion. As a result, a dark-field difference signal DmiS attributable to the misalignment a is generated in the unit 36 of FIG. 4. When a/w is small, DmiS can be approximated for Gaussian illumination) by the expression 1~4JOa (4) where ~4 is a constant.
Significantly, for a given misalignment, the ratio of defect signal-to-misalignment signal is much greater for dark-field illumination than it is for bright-field illumination. This can be seen, for example, from FIG. 3. For a given misalignment "a", the misalignment signal BmiS for bright-field illumination is a function of the area aw (equation 2), whereas the misalignment signal DmiS for dark-field illumination is a function merely of the linear misalignment dimension "a" (equation 4). Although the strength of the defect signal is smaller for dark-field illumination than for bright-field illumination, still, as noted, the net result is that the ratio of defect signal to misalignment signal is greater with the dark-field illumination. In other words, for a given misaliynment, a mask inspection system embodying dark-field illumination can detect defects that are considerably smaller than those detectable in a bright-field system.
~2~i3~3 g In one specific illustrative dark-field system in which w = 1 em and a = 0.2 em (the same misalignment mentioned above for bright-field illumination), Ddef approximately equals Ddef when the diameter d of a defect has a value of only about 0.11 em. Thus, in this particular example, the diameter of the minimurn-size defect detectable in the dark-field inspection mode is less than four times that of the minimum-size defect detectable in the conventional bright-field mode. The gain in sensitivity with dark-field illumination is even greater for smaller misalignments.
In the system shown in FIG. 4 r dark-field illumination of two spaced-apart regions on the mask 10 is achieved by utilizing sources 60 through 63 positioned above the surface of the mask. Alternatively, d,ark-~ield illumination can be implemented by positioning the sources and associated lens assemblies below the mask. portion of a system that embodies this alternative approach is schematically depicted in FIG. 6.
FIG. 7 is a simplified top view of a portion of the FIG. 4 system. All the light from the dark-field light sources 60-63 (sources 61 and 62 not being shown) are directed along the X-axis of the table 12. In FIG. 8, the light sources are off-set by an angle l (not critical, but generally in a range of l to 20 degrees) from the X-axisO Generally talthough a function of the geometry of the features on the workpiece), the arrangement of FIG 8 has a greater defect detection sensitivity than that of the FIG. 7 arrangement. The reason is as follows.
The defect detect sensitivity is a function of the difference in the amount of light received from the two pattern features being inspected such difference being caused by the presence of a defect (i.eO, any difEerence between the features). The detection sensitivity can be increased if the proportion of the total light received bythe light detectors owing to the presence of the defect is increased. This is accomplished in the FIG. 8 G34~3 arrangement.
The amount of light scattered from a feature or defect edge in any direction is a function of the angle of incidence of the light with respect to the edge. Thus, for example, for feature edges aligned in the X and directions, the amount of light scattered in the X-z plane towards the detector 28 (disposed in the X-Z plane, FIG. 4) i5 greater in the FIG. 7 arrangement than in the FIG. 8 arrangement owing to the differences in the angle of incidence of the illumination against the feature edges.
Accordingly, for such feature edge orientations, the total amount of dar]c-field illumination reaching the detectors is less in the FIG. 8 arrangement than in the FIG. 7 arrangement. However, for defects, which generally have irregular shapes, the total amo~lnt of light scattered from the deEect edges towards the light detectors is little affected by the angle l and, generally, the same amount of light will be scattered by the defect edges in the X Z
plane in either of the FIG. 7 and 8 arrangements. Thus, because the light scattered from the X-Y oriented feature edges towards the light detector in the FIG. 8 arrangement is less than that scattered from these feature edges in the E'IG. 7 arrangement, the light scattered from the defect edges in the FIG. 8 arrangement is a larger proportion of the total light received by the detectors than in the FIG. 7 arrangement.
In practice, the vast majority of edges of features of most masks extend along preferred directions, e.g., along the X and Y axes shown in FIGs. 7 and 8. Thus, in such situations, the FIX. 8 arrangement provides greater defect detection sensitivity.
Although dark-field illumination greatly increases the detectability of small defects, it is generally advantageous to retain some bright-field capability even at a reduced sensitivity of the dark-field system. This is because the bright-field systeln is better able to detect large defects.
~z~j3~3 The inspection systems rely upon a comparison of the light from two patterns. Both patterns need not be on the same workpiece, and one of the patterns, where ever located, can be a standard against which the other patterns, one by one, are comparedO Also, the standard can comprise simply a train of signals against which the detected signals are compared.
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for inspecting patterned workpieces~ particularly lithographic masks and reticles used in the fabrication of integrated circuit semiconductor wafers and/or for inspecting the wafers themselves.
Feature widths on masks and reticles used in making integrated circuits have continued to shrink, e.g., as low as 0.5 em.
Ideally, workpieces such as masks, reticles and wafers should be inspected for defects down to about half the minimum feature size. In practice, though, this is often not possible. For example, one commercially available mask inspection system is capable of detecting a minimum-size defect of only about one em, and this capability degrades to about two em in complex areas of the mask under inspection. (Hereinafter, the terrn "mask" is to he construed to mean either a mask or a reticle. Also, the invention is applicable to the inspection of other patterned workpieces, e.g., semiconductor wafers.) Conventional systems accomplish mask inspection by bright-field illumination of a portion of a pattern on the mask. A signal derived therefrom is compared with another signal representative of a corresponding portion of another supposedly identical pattern (both patterns, for example, along with many others, being disposed in an ordered mosaic on the mask). Because the patterns are supposedly identical, differences between the two signals are indicative that one of the portions is defective.
In practice, the minimum-size defect that can be detected by an inspection system of the aforespecified type is set hy false error indications arising from misalignment between the patterns being compared. At a given misalignment, the minimum detectable defect is defined as the defect which produces a signal as large as the false ~7 3~t3 signal arising from the misalignment.
Misalignment between the patterns may arise from residual alignment errors in the inspection systems, mismatched optical distortions, mask distortions, S linewidth variations, etc. The present invention is directed to means for reducing the effects of such misalignments.
Summary of the Invention Workpiece patterns to be compared are illuminated in a dark-field mode in which incident light is directed at the surface of the workpiece at a glancing angle. In such a mode, only light scattered from the edges of a feature or defect is detected. For a given misalignment, the ratio of defect signal-to-misalignment signal for relatively small defects is found to be much greater with dark-field illumination than with conventional bright-field illumination. Hence, dark-field illumination in an in-spection system provides a basis for greatly increasing the detectability of small defects.
In accordance with an aspect oE the invention there is provided apparatus for inspecting a workpiece to determine whether or not a first region thereof is patterned in accordance with prescribed design standards, said apparatus comprising means for illuminating said region to cause light to be transmitted therefrom, means for collecting such transmitted light and providing a first output signal representative of the pattern of said region, means for providing a comparison signal derived from a second region supposedly identical to said first region, and means for comparing said signals to provide an indication of whether or not said first reyion is patterned in accordance with said second region and thus in accordance with said prescribed design standards, characterized by means Eor illuminating said Eirst region by dark-field illumination, said transmitted light thus comprising light scattered from edges of said Eirst region.
~IL22~3~3 - 2a In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of inspecting a workpiece to determine whether or not a first region thereof is Qatterned in accordance with prescribed des:ign standards, said method comprising the steps of illumintating said first region to cause light to be transmitted therefrom, collecting such transmitted light for providing a first output signal representative of the pattern of said region, providing a comparison signal derived from a second region supposedly identical to said first region and comparing said signals to provide an indication of whether or not said first region is patterned in accordance with said second region and thus in accordance with said prescribed design standards, characterized by illuminating said first region in a dark-field illumination mode.
Brief Description of the Drawing FIG. 1 depicts a known task inspection system;
FIG. 2 represents two compared mask areas one oE
which contains a defect;
FIG. 3 represents features in two compared mask areas and illustrates a misalignment therebetween;
F'IG. 4 is a schematic representation of a mask inspection system in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 shows the manner in which incident light is scattered by and collected from a feature or defect illuminated in the dark-field mode;
FIG. 6 shows an alternative way of providing dark-field illumination in the FIG. 4 system;
FIG. 7 is a top view of a portion of the FIG. 4 system; and FIG. 8 is a top vlew of a portion of a modification of the FIG. 4 system.
Detailed Desertion __ _ __ ~l~22~;3a~3 In the conventional system schematically depicted in FIG. 1, a standard workpiece 10 to be inspected is shown supported on a table 12. The table is mechanically coupled to an XY drive assembly 14.
For illustrative purposes, the workpiece 10 of FIG. 1 is a mask. The mask 10 comprises an optically transparen-t substrate having thereon optically opaque features, e.g., of chromium. These features define at least two supposedly identical patterns on the mask.
In the FIG. 1 system, two spots of light are directed along dot-dash reference lines 16 and 18 through openings through the table 12 at the underside of the mask 10. The spacing of the spots is equal to the pattern spacing, or a multiple thereof, so that the spots are directed at corresponding, presumably identical portions or features of identical patterns.
The light spots are provided by conventlonal sources 20, 22 and respectively associated lens assemblies 24, 26.
By means of the assembly 14, the table 12 of FIG. 1 is indexed in the X and Y directions for inspecting successive pairs of patterns on the mask.
The amount of incident light that is propagated throuqh the mask 10 is dependent on the transmissive character of the pattern in each illuminated area.
In the conventional so-called bright-field-illumination mode represented in FIG. 1, light transmitted through the illuminated patterned areas of the mask 10 is collected by lens assemblies 2~ and 30 which comprise, for example, conventional microscope objectives. In turn, this collected light is focused onto standard photodetector arrays 32 and 34 which provide electrical output signals representative of the illuminated mask patterns.
The signals provided by the arrays 32, 34 are compared and processed in a standard signal processor and minicomputer unit 36, and viewed from a display 38.
Assume that the viewing optics of the inspection 3~L~
syste,n are characterized by a Gaussian point spread function whose full width at half maximum (FWHM) is w. (The value w also constitutes the so-called resolution element of the viewing optics.) Assume further that one of the spaced-apart patterns being inspected contains a centrally located opaque circular deEect 40 of diameter d, as depicted in FIG. 2.
In the standard bright-field mode of mask illumination, it is apparent that the photodetector array responsive to light transmitted through the left-hand pattern that contains the opaque defect 40 (FIG. 2) receives less light than the other photodetector array. As a result, a bright-field difference signal Bdef attributable to the defect 40 is generated in the unit 36 of FIG. 1. When d/w is small Bdef can be approximated by the expression K1 Iod2 ( 1 ) where K1 is a constant and Io is the peak value of the point spread function at the photodetector array. (The constants K1, K2, K3 and K4 employed herein are roughly of the same order of magnitude.) As mentioned above, difference signals are generated in the mask inspection systems even in the absence of defects. Thus, for example, relative misalignment between features in the patterns being compared also produces a difference signal. In practice, such misalignment-caused signals set the value of the minimul~-size defect that can be detected by the inspection system.
FIG. 3 represents portions of two identical opaque Eeatures 42 and 44 included in spaced-apart patterns, each feature including a straight edge 46 and 48, respectively. With perfect alignment, the edges of the two features are disposed at identical corresponding points.
Thus, for example, the right-hand edge 46, 48 of each ideal ~2~i3~
feature Gould extend through the center 50, 52 of its respec~i~P light spot 54 and 56. In this ideal case, the transited light associated with each of the light spots 54, ~6 would be exactly the same. Hence, no difference signal (false defect signal) would be thereby generatecl by the unit 36 of FIG. l But, as specified earlier above, perfect alignment is rarely, if ever, achieved in practice. This is also represented ln JIG. 3 wherein the edge of the feature 42 is assumed, because of misaliqnment by a distance "a" relative to the aforespecified ideal condition, to lie along dashed line 5~.
As a consequence of such misalignment, the photodetector array responsive to bright-field light transmitted through the leEt-hand pattern receives less light than the other photodetector array. As a result, a bri~ht-field difference signal BmiS a-ttributable to the misalignment "a" is generated. When a/w is small, BmiS can be approximated by the expression K2IOaW (2) where K2 is a constant.
Roughly spea]cing, when the speckled area in FIG. 3 attributable to misalignment approximately equals the area of the defect 40 of FIG. 2, the difference signal BmiS approximately equals the difference signal Bdef~ This is evident from a consideration of equations (1) and (2).
In one illustrative bright-field system in which w = 1 Gaussian illumination) and d = 0.52 em, smiS
approxi~tely equals Bdef for a misalignment "a" of about a.2 em. That is, in such prior art system, for a misalignment of about 0.2 em, the minimum detectable defeat has a value of d = 0.52 em.
In accordance with the present invention, the patterns being compared are illuminated in a dark-fielcl 3~3 mode, as depicted in FIG. 4. By "dark-field" illumination is meant illumination in a non-normal, glancing direction.
In effect, dark-field illumination outlines only the edges of features or defects on the mask. because of this, when viewed from above, the mask surface (the "field"), although illuminated by incident light, appears dark except for visible bright lines corresponding to feature or defect edges.
In Fig. 4, the dark-field is provided by four light sources 60 through 63 and associated lens assemblies 66 through 69 which together serve to illuminate corresponding portions of two patterns on the mask 10.
Advantageously, for reasons later described, the illumination provided by the sources 60 through 63 is selected to be within a specified wavelength band. This is accomplished, for example, with a mercury arc lamp and an associated filter. Alternatively, each source can constitute a laser.
Advantageously, the angle at which light is directed at the mask 10 in the dark-field mode is in the range of 0-to-75 degrees. Illustratively, the angle 3 is selected to be approximately 5 degrees.
For reasons later described, the FIG. 4 system also advantageously includes a bright-field-illumination capability of the type described above in connection with FIG. 1.
In the dark-field mode of operation, only light scattered from illuminated edges of a feature or defect is collected. Light incident on other surfaces of the features or defects is reflected and/or refracted along paths that do not fall within the entrance aperture of the collecting optics.
This is illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein feature or defect 70 on one pattern on the workpiece 10 is obliquely illuminated by light beams directed thereat along center lines 7~, 74. Illustratively, each beam illuminates an area approximately 300 em in diameter on the workpiece ~3~2~i3~3 surface.
Light scattered from the edges of the feature or defect 70 i5 represented by lines 7G, 78. Only such scattered light is collected by the lens assernbly 28.
Scattered light collected by the lens assemblies 28, 30 i5 directed (FI5. 4) at dichroic mirrors 8Ql 82. These mirrors reflect light of wavelength emitted by the dark-field-illumination sources 60 through 63. On the other hand, bright-field illumination provided by the sources 20, 22 at a different wavelength propagates straight through the mirrors 80, 82 to the photodetector arrays 32, 34. Other known techniques such as polarization separation are available for separatiny bright-field and dark-field illumination.) Dark-field-derived light reflected by the mirrors 80, 82 is propagated along paths 84, 86 to respective photodetector arrays 85, 87. In turn, electrical signals generated by the arrays 85, 87 are applied to the unit 36.
Considering, for example, the dark-field illumination of the two pattern portions shown in FIG. 2, the photodetector array 85 responsive to light from the left-hand portion that contains the opaque defect 40 receives more scattered light than does the photodetector array ~7 which is responsive to light from the right-hand portion which contains no edges to scatter light toward the lens assembly 30 of FIG. 4. As a result, a dark-field difference signal Ddef attributable to the defect 40 is generated. When d/w is small, Ddef can be approximated by the expression K3Jod ( ) where K3 is a constant and J0 is the intensity per unit lengtn of the edge source of the scattered light. For very large centrally positioned defects (d/w~>1), Ddef becomes small because the deEect edge lies outside the ~L2~3~
light spot.
For the particular misalignment condition represented in FIG. 3, assuming the light spots 54 and 56 are from the dark-field light sources 60-63, the length of the Eeature edge lying within the liyht spot 54 on the left-hand portion is less than the length of the feature lying within the light spot 56 on the right-hand portion Hence, the photodetector array ~7 responsive to scattered light from the right-hand portion receives more light than does the photodetector array 85 responsive to scattered light from the left-hand portion. As a result, a dark-field difference signal DmiS attributable to the misalignment a is generated in the unit 36 of FIG. 4. When a/w is small, DmiS can be approximated for Gaussian illumination) by the expression 1~4JOa (4) where ~4 is a constant.
Significantly, for a given misalignment, the ratio of defect signal-to-misalignment signal is much greater for dark-field illumination than it is for bright-field illumination. This can be seen, for example, from FIG. 3. For a given misalignment "a", the misalignment signal BmiS for bright-field illumination is a function of the area aw (equation 2), whereas the misalignment signal DmiS for dark-field illumination is a function merely of the linear misalignment dimension "a" (equation 4). Although the strength of the defect signal is smaller for dark-field illumination than for bright-field illumination, still, as noted, the net result is that the ratio of defect signal to misalignment signal is greater with the dark-field illumination. In other words, for a given misaliynment, a mask inspection system embodying dark-field illumination can detect defects that are considerably smaller than those detectable in a bright-field system.
~2~i3~3 g In one specific illustrative dark-field system in which w = 1 em and a = 0.2 em (the same misalignment mentioned above for bright-field illumination), Ddef approximately equals Ddef when the diameter d of a defect has a value of only about 0.11 em. Thus, in this particular example, the diameter of the minimurn-size defect detectable in the dark-field inspection mode is less than four times that of the minimum-size defect detectable in the conventional bright-field mode. The gain in sensitivity with dark-field illumination is even greater for smaller misalignments.
In the system shown in FIG. 4 r dark-field illumination of two spaced-apart regions on the mask 10 is achieved by utilizing sources 60 through 63 positioned above the surface of the mask. Alternatively, d,ark-~ield illumination can be implemented by positioning the sources and associated lens assemblies below the mask. portion of a system that embodies this alternative approach is schematically depicted in FIG. 6.
FIG. 7 is a simplified top view of a portion of the FIG. 4 system. All the light from the dark-field light sources 60-63 (sources 61 and 62 not being shown) are directed along the X-axis of the table 12. In FIG. 8, the light sources are off-set by an angle l (not critical, but generally in a range of l to 20 degrees) from the X-axisO Generally talthough a function of the geometry of the features on the workpiece), the arrangement of FIG 8 has a greater defect detection sensitivity than that of the FIG. 7 arrangement. The reason is as follows.
The defect detect sensitivity is a function of the difference in the amount of light received from the two pattern features being inspected such difference being caused by the presence of a defect (i.eO, any difEerence between the features). The detection sensitivity can be increased if the proportion of the total light received bythe light detectors owing to the presence of the defect is increased. This is accomplished in the FIG. 8 G34~3 arrangement.
The amount of light scattered from a feature or defect edge in any direction is a function of the angle of incidence of the light with respect to the edge. Thus, for example, for feature edges aligned in the X and directions, the amount of light scattered in the X-z plane towards the detector 28 (disposed in the X-Z plane, FIG. 4) i5 greater in the FIG. 7 arrangement than in the FIG. 8 arrangement owing to the differences in the angle of incidence of the illumination against the feature edges.
Accordingly, for such feature edge orientations, the total amount of dar]c-field illumination reaching the detectors is less in the FIG. 8 arrangement than in the FIG. 7 arrangement. However, for defects, which generally have irregular shapes, the total amo~lnt of light scattered from the deEect edges towards the light detectors is little affected by the angle l and, generally, the same amount of light will be scattered by the defect edges in the X Z
plane in either of the FIG. 7 and 8 arrangements. Thus, because the light scattered from the X-Y oriented feature edges towards the light detector in the FIG. 8 arrangement is less than that scattered from these feature edges in the E'IG. 7 arrangement, the light scattered from the defect edges in the FIG. 8 arrangement is a larger proportion of the total light received by the detectors than in the FIG. 7 arrangement.
In practice, the vast majority of edges of features of most masks extend along preferred directions, e.g., along the X and Y axes shown in FIGs. 7 and 8. Thus, in such situations, the FIX. 8 arrangement provides greater defect detection sensitivity.
Although dark-field illumination greatly increases the detectability of small defects, it is generally advantageous to retain some bright-field capability even at a reduced sensitivity of the dark-field system. This is because the bright-field systeln is better able to detect large defects.
~z~j3~3 The inspection systems rely upon a comparison of the light from two patterns. Both patterns need not be on the same workpiece, and one of the patterns, where ever located, can be a standard against which the other patterns, one by one, are comparedO Also, the standard can comprise simply a train of signals against which the detected signals are compared.
Claims (10)
1. Apparatus for inspecting a workpiece to determine whether or not a first region thereof is patterned in accordance with prescribed design standards, said apparatus comprising means for illuminating said region to cause light to be transmitted therefrom, means for collecting such transmitted light and providing a first output signal representative of the pattern of said region, means for providing a comparison signal derived from a second region supposedly identical to said first region, and means for comparing said signals to provide an indication of whether or not said first region is patterned in accordance with said second region and thus in accordance with said prescribed design standards, characterized by means for illuminating said first region by dark-field illumination, said transmitted light thus comprising light scattered from edges of said first region.
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second region is disposed on said workpiece, and said comparison signal is obtained using means separate from but identical to the means used to provide said first output signal.
3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said second region is disposed on another workpiece, and said comparison signal is obtained using means separate from but identical to the means used to provide said first output signal.
4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said comparison signal is a stored signal representative of said second region.
5. Apparatus as in claim 1, 2 or 3 further including means for illuminating said first region in a bright-field mode, means responsive to bright-field-mode light transmitted from said first region for providing a second output signal also representative of the pattern of said first region, and means for distinguishing between dark-field-mode scattered light and bright-field-mode transmitted light for generating said first and second output signals in response to said scattered and transmitted light, respectively.
6. Apparatus as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein different edges of said first region extend along preferred axes, and wherein the direction of incident dark-field illumination is selected to minimize collectible light scattered from said edges.
7. A method of inspecting a workpiece to deter-mine whether or not a first region thereof is patterned in accordance with prescribed design standards, said method comprising the steps of illuminating said first region to cause light to be transmitted therefrom, collecting such transmitted light for providing a first output signal representative of the pattern of said region, providing a comparison signal derived from a second region supposedly identical to said first region, and comparing said signals to provide an indication of whether or not said first region is patterned in accordance with said second region and thus in accordance with said prescribed design standards, characterized by illuminating said first region in a dark-field illumination mode.
8. A method as in claim 7 wherein said second region is disposed on said workpiece, and said comparison signal is obtained using method steps identical to those used to provide said first output signal.
9. A method as in claim 7 wherein said second region is disposed on another workpiece, and said comparison signal is obtained using method steps identical to those used to provide said first output signal.
10. A method as in claim 7 wherein said comparison signal is a stored signal representative of said second region.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/573,816 US4595289A (en) | 1984-01-25 | 1984-01-25 | Inspection system utilizing dark-field illumination |
| US573,816 | 1984-01-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1226348A true CA1226348A (en) | 1987-09-01 |
Family
ID=24293503
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000472769A Expired CA1226348A (en) | 1984-01-25 | 1985-01-24 | Inspection system utilizing dark-field illumination |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4595289A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0169238A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS61501062A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1226348A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1985003353A1 (en) |
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-
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- 1985-01-16 EP EP85900896A patent/EP0169238A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1985-01-16 WO PCT/US1985/000082 patent/WO1985003353A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1985-01-16 JP JP60500610A patent/JPS61501062A/en active Pending
- 1985-01-24 CA CA000472769A patent/CA1226348A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1985003353A1 (en) | 1985-08-01 |
| EP0169238A1 (en) | 1986-01-29 |
| JPS61501062A (en) | 1986-05-22 |
| US4595289A (en) | 1986-06-17 |
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