Abstract: An aligner evaluation system includes (a) an error calculation module configured to calculate error information on mutual optical system errors among a plurality of aligners; (b) a simulation module configured to simulate device patterns to be delineated by each of the aligners based on the error information; and (c) a evaluation module configured to evaluate whether each of the aligners has appropriate performances for implementing an organization of a product development machine group based on the simulated device pattern.

Abstract: An aligner evaluation system includes (a) an error calculation module configured to calculate error information on mutual optical system errors among a plurality of aligners; (b) a simulation module configured to simulate device patterns to be delineated by each of the aligners based on the error information; and (c) a evaluation module configured to evaluate whether each of the aligners has appropriate performances for implementing an organization of a product development machine group based on the simulated device pattern.

Abstract: An aligner evaluation system includes (a) an error calculation module configured to calculate error information on mutual optical system errors among a plurality of aligners; (b) a simulation module configured to simulate device patterns to be delineated by each of the aligners based on the error information; and (c) a evaluation module configured to evaluate whether each of the aligners has appropriate performances for implementing an organization of a product development machine group based on the simulated device pattern.

Abstract: A design system of an alignment mark for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a memory which stores at least mark data including pattern information regarding plural kinds of marks and process data including condition information of manufacturing processes, and a first process simulator which simulates a substrate structure before patterning based on the process data, the substrate structure being formed in an identified manufacturing process.

Abstract: A design system of an alignment mark for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a memory which stores at least mark data including pattern information regarding plural kinds of marks and process data including condition information of manufacturing processes, and a first process simulator which simulates a substrate structure before patterning based on the process data, the substrate structure being formed in an identified manufacturing process.

Abstract: An aligner evaluation system includes (a) an error calculation module configured to calculate error information on mutual optical system errors among a plurality of aligners; (b) a simulation module configured to simulate device patterns to be delineated by each of the aligners based on the error information; and (c) a evaluation module configured to evaluate whether each of the aligners has appropriate performances for implementing an organization of a product development machine group based on the simulated device pattern.

Abstract: An exposure method forms, in a shot area on a reticle, marks to measure arrangement errors that may occur between adjacent device patterns, transfers the marks from the reticle onto a wafer through exposure and development processes using an exposure system, measures arrangement errors according to the marks on the wafer, calculates four error components from the measured arrangement errors, and corrects the exposure system according to the calculated error components. This method eliminates superposition errors from the next exposure process, thereby effectively using the shot areas of exposure systems.

Abstract: A plurality of bars-in-bars marks are formed. Each mark has four small patterns and four large patterns arranged in a direction of a straight line and a direction perpendicular thereto. The straight lines of the respective bars-in-bars marks are disposed at angles of 0°, 30° and 60°.

Abstract: In an alignment apparatus, an alignment mark formed on a substrate is illuminated through an illuminating optical system, and an image of the alignment mark is projected onto a light receiving surface of a CCD camera through an enlarging optical system. The enlarging optical system includes a parallel flat plate, the inclination of which can be adjustable, for parallel-translating an eccentric component of coma.