Patents by Inventor Boris Menchtchikov
Boris Menchtchikov has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Lithographic cluster system, method for calibrating a positioning device of a lithographic apparatus
Patent number: 9395633Abstract: A method of calibrating a substrate positioning system of a lithographic apparatus, the method including: exposing a pattern with the lithographic apparatus on an exposed layer on the surface of a substrate having a reference layer, wherein the pattern corresponds to a movement of the substrate by the substrate positioning system; measuring overlay data between the exposed layer and the reference layer on a plurality of positions on the substrate; transforming the overlay data from a spatial domain to a frequency domain by a discrete cosine transformation; modifying the overlay data in the frequency domain by selecting a subset of the overlay data; transforming the modified overlay data from the frequency domain back to the spatial domain by an inverse discrete cosine transformation; calibrating the substrate positioning system by using the modified overlay data in the spatial domain.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Alexander Alexandrovich Danilin, Alejandro Xabier Arrizabalaga Uriarte, Boris Menchtchikov, Alexander Viktorovych Padiy -
Publication number: 20160146740Abstract: A method to determine an overlay error between a first structure and a second structure, wherein the first structure and second structures are on different layers on a substrate and are imaged onto the substrate by a lithographic process, the method comprising: obtaining an apparent overlay error; obtaining a systematic error caused by a factor other than misalignment of the first and second structures; and determining the overlay error by removing the systematic error from the apparent overlay error. The method may alternatively comprise obtaining apparent characteristics of diffraction orders of diffraction by an overlapping portion of the first and second structures; obtaining corrected characteristics of the diffraction orders; determining the overlay error from the corrected characteristics; and adjusting a characteristic of the lithographic process based on the overlay error.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2015Publication date: May 26, 2016Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Yen-Wen Lu, Jay Jianhui Chen, Wei Liu, Boris Menchtchikov, Jen-Shiang Wang, Te-Chih Huang
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Patent number: 9310698Abstract: A lithographic exposure process is performed on a substrate using a scanner. The scanner comprises several subsystems. There are errors in the overlay arising from the subsystems during the exposure. The overlay errors are measured using a scatterometer to obtain overlay measurements. Modeling is performed to separately determine from the overlay measurements different subsets of estimated model parameters, for example field distortion model parameters, scan/step direction model parameters and position/deformation model parameters. Each subset is related to overlay errors arising from a corresponding specific subsystem of the lithographic apparatus. Finally, the exposure is controlled in the scanner by controlling a specific subsystem of the scanner using its corresponding subset of estimated model parameters. This results in a product wafer being exposed with a well controlled overlay.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2011Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Boris Menchtchikov, Alexander Viktorovych Padiy
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Patent number: 9268242Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is described having a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and a substrate with liquid, a barrier member arranged to substantially contain the liquid within the space, and a heater.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Theodorus Petrus Maria Cadee, Johannes Henricus Wilhelmus Jacobs, Nicolaas Ten Kate, Erik Roelof Loopstra, Aschwin Lodewijk Hendricus Johannes Vermeer, Jeroen Johannes Sophia Maria Mertens, Christianus Gerardus Maria De Mol, Marcel Johannus Elisabeth Hubertus Muitjens, Antonius Johannus Van Der Net, Joost Jeroen Ottens, Johannes Anna Quaedackers, Mana Elisabeth Reuhman-Huisken, Marco Koert Stavenga, Patricius Aloysius Jacobus Tinnemans, Martinus Cornelis Maria Verhagen, Jacobus Johannus Leonardus Hendricus Verspay, Frederik Eduard De Jong, Koen Goorman, Boris Menchtchikov, Herman Boom, Stoyan Nihtianov, Richard Moerman, Martin Frans Pierre Smeets, Bart Leonard Peter Schoondermark, Franciscus Johannes Joseph Janssen, Michel Riepen
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Publication number: 20160048085Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is described having a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and a substrate with liquid, a barrier member arranged to substantially contain the liquid within the space, and a heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2015Publication date: February 18, 2016Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Theodorus Petrus Maria CADEE, Johannes Henricus Wilhelmus JACOBS, Nicolaas TEN KATE, Erik Roelof LOOPSTRA, Aschwin Lodewijk Hendricus Johannes VERMEER, Jeroen Johannes Sophia Maria MERTENS, Christianus Gerardus Maria DE MOL, Marcel Johannus Elisabeth Hubertus MUITJENS, Antonius Johannus VAN DER NET, Joost Jeroen OTTENS, Johannes Anna QUAEDACKERS, Maria Elisabeth REUHMAN-HUISKEN, Marco Koert STAVENGA, Patricius Aloysius Jacobus TINNEMANS, Martinus Cornelis Maria VERHAGEN, Jacobus Johannus Leonardus Hendricus VERSPA Y, Frederik Eduard DE JONG, Koen GOORMAN, Boris MENCHTCHIKOV, Herman BOOM, Stoyan NIHTIANOV, Richard MOERMAN, Martin Frans Pierre SMEETS, Bart Leonard Peter SCHOONDERMARK, Franciscus Johannes Joseph JANSSEN, Michel RIEPEN
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Patent number: 9188880Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is described having a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and a substrate with liquid, a barrier member arranged to substantially contain the liquid within the space, and a heater.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2011Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Theodorus Petrus Maria Cadee, Johannes Henricus Wilhelmus Jacobs, Nicolaas Ten Kate, Erik Roelof Loopstra, Aschwin Lodewijk Hendricus Johannes Vermeer, Jeroen Johannes Sophia Maria Mertens, Christianus Gerardus Maria De Mol, Marcel Johannus Elisabeth Hubertus Muitjens, Antonius Johannus Van Der Net, Joost Jeroen Ottens, Johannes Anna Quaedackers, Maria Elisabeth Reuhman-Huisken, Marco Koert Stavenga, Patricius Aloysius Jacobus Tinnemans, Martinus Cornelis Maria Verhagen, Jacobus Johannus Leonardus Hendricus Verspay, Frederik Eduard De Jong, Koen Goorman, Boris Menchtchikov, Herman Boom, Stoyan Nihtianov, Richard Moerman, Martin Frans Pierre Smeets, Bart Leonard Peter Schoondermark, Franciscus Johannes Joseph Janssen, Michel Riepen
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Patent number: 9134625Abstract: A method produces at least one monitor wafer for a lithographic apparatus. The monitor wafer is for use in combination with a scanning control module to periodically retrieve measurements defining a baseline from the monitor wafer thereby determining parameter drift from the baseline. In doing this, allowance and/or correction can be to be made for the drift. The baseline is determined by initially exposing the monitor wafer(s) using the lithographic apparatus, such that the initial exposure is performed while using non-standard alignment model settings optimized for accuracy, such as those used for testing the apparatus. An associated lithographic apparatus is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2011Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Alexander Viktorovych Padiy, Boris Menchtchikov
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Patent number: 9069240Abstract: A system and method for calibrating system parameters of a lithography apparatus is disclosed. The system includes a measurement device configured to measure an overlay error between patterns formed on a substrate during different exposures and a processing device configured to determine a model representative of a relationship between the overlay error and a system parameter error based on the measured overlay error. The method includes measuring an overlay error between patterns formed at different exposures with the substrate positioned at different orientations during each of the different exposures. The method further includes determining a model representative of a relationship between the overlay error and a system parameter error based on the measured overlay error and deriving a calibration correction factor from the model.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Boris Menchtchikov, Alexander Viktorovych Padiy
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LITHOGRAPHIC CLUSTER SYSTEM, METHOD FOR CALIBRATING A POSITIONING DEVICE OF A LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS
Publication number: 20150153657Abstract: A method of calibrating a substrate positioning system of a lithographic apparatus, the method including: exposing a pattern with the lithographic apparatus on an exposed layer on the surface of a substrate having a reference layer, wherein the pattern corresponds to a movement of the substrate by the substrate positioning system; measuring overlay data between the exposed layer and the reference layer on a plurality of positions on the substrate; transforming the overlay data from a spatial domain to a frequency domain by a discrete cosine transformation; modifying the overlay data in the frequency domain by selecting a subset of the overlay data; transforming the modified overlay data from the frequency domain back to the spatial domain by an inverse discrete cosine transformation; calibrating the substrate positioning system by using the modified overlay data in the spatial domain.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2013Publication date: June 4, 2015Inventors: Alexander Alexandrovich Danilin, Boris Menchtchikov, Alexander Viktorovych Padiy, Alejandro Xabier Arrizabalaga Uriarte -
Patent number: 8947643Abstract: A method produces at least one monitor wafer for a lithographic apparatus. The monitor wafer is for use in combination with a scanning control module to periodically retrieve measurements defining a baseline from the monitor wafer, thereby determining parameter drift from the baseline. In doing this, allowance and/or correction can be to be made for the drift. The baseline is determined by initially exposing the monitor wafer(s) using the lithographic apparatus to perform multiple exposure passes on each of the monitor wafer(s). An associated lithographic apparatus is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Alexander Viktorovych Padiy, Boris Menchtchikov
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Patent number: 8947630Abstract: A method controls scanning function of a lithographic apparatus. A monitor wafer is exposed to determine baseline control parameters pertaining to the scanning function. The baseline control parameters are retrieved from the monitor wafer. Parameter drift is determined from the baseline control parameters. Compensation is performed based on the determination. A different parameterization is used for control of the scanning control module than for communication between the scanning control module and the lithographic apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Alexander Viktorovych Padiy, Boris Menchtchikov, Scott Anderson Middlebrooks
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Patent number: 8793099Abstract: System parameters are checked through self-assessment of a production wafer without a reference or a monitor wafer. In particular, exposure errors and substrate table positioning errors can be corrected for.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Boris Menchtchikov, Alexander Viktorovych Padiy
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Patent number: 8717536Abstract: A lithographic apparatus operates by moving a substrate and a patterning device relative to each other in a sequence of movements such that a pattern is applied at a successive portions on the substrate. Each portion of the substrate is patterned by a scanning operation in which the patterning device is scanned through the radiation beam while synchronously scanning the substrate through the patterned radiation beam so as to apply the pattern to the desired portion on the substrate. An intrafield correction is applied during each scanning operation so as to compensate for distortion effects which vary during the scanning operation. The intrafield correction includes corrective variations of one or more properties of the projection system, and optionally out-of-plane movements of the patterning device and/or substrate table.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Boris Menchtchikov, Alexander Viktorovych Padiy
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Patent number: 8687167Abstract: A method controls a scanning function of a lithographic apparatus. A first alignment strategy is used. A monitor wafer is exposed to determine baseline control parameters pertaining to the scanning function. The baseline control parameters are periodically retrieved from the monitor wafer. Parameter drift is determined from the baseline control parameters. Corrective action is taken based on the determination. A production wafer is exposed using a second alignment strategy, different to the first alignment strategy. The corrective action is modified so as to be substantially closer to the correction that would have been made had the second alignment strategy been used in exposing the monitor wafer.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Alexander Viktorovych Padiy, Boris Menchtchikov
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Publication number: 20120113402Abstract: A lithographic apparatus is described having a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between a projection system of the lithographic apparatus and a substrate with liquid, a barrier member arranged to substantially contain the liquid within the space, and one or more elements to control and/or compensate for evaporation of liquid from the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2011Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Theodorus Petrus Maria CADEE, Johannes Henricus Wilhelmus Jacobs, Nicolaas Ten Kate, Erik Roelof Loopstra, Aschwin Lodewijk Hendricus Johannes Vermeer, Jeroen Johannes Sophia Maria Mertens, Christianus Gerardus Maria De Mol, Marcel Johannus Elisabeth Hubertus Muitjens, Antonius Johannus Van Der Net, Joost Jeroen Ottens, Johannes Anna Quaedackers, Maria Elisabeth Reuhman-Huisken, Marco Koert Stavenga, Patricius Aloysius Jacobus Tinnemans, Martinus Comelis Maria Verhagen, Jacobus Johannus Leonardus Hendricus Verspay, Frederik Eduard De Jong, Koen Goorman, Boris Menchtchikov, Herman Boom, Stoyan Nihtianov, Richard Moerman, Martin Frans Pierre Smeets, Bart Leonard Peter Schoondermark, Franciscus Johannes Joseph Janssen, Michel Riepen
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Publication number: 20110216294Abstract: A lithographic apparatus operates by moving a substrate and a patterning device relative to each other in a sequence of movements such that a pattern is applied at a successive portions on the substrate. Each portion of the substrate is patterned by a scanning operation in which the patterning device is scanned through the radiation beam while synchronously scanning the substrate through the patterned radiation beam so as to apply the pattern to the desired portion on the substrate. An intrafield correction is applied during each scanning operation so as to compensate for distortion effects which vary during the scanning operation. The intrafield correction includes corrective variations of one or more properties of the projection system, and optionally out-of-plane movements of the patterning device and/or substrate table.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Boris Menchtchikov, Alexander Viktorovych Padiy
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Publication number: 20110216293Abstract: A method controls a scanning function of a lithographic apparatus. A first alignment strategy is used. A monitor wafer is exposed to determine baseline control parameters pertaining to the scanning function. The baseline control parameters are periodically retrieved from the monitor wafer. Parameter drift is determined from the baseline control parameters. Corrective action is taken based on the determination. A production wafer is exposed using a second alignment strategy, different to the first alignment strategy. The corrective action is modified so as to be substantially closer to the correction that would have been made had the second alignment strategy been used in exposing the monitor wafer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Alexander Viktorovych Padiy, Boris Menchtchikov
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Publication number: 20110213584Abstract: System parameters are checked through self-assessment of a production wafer without a reference or a monitor wafer. In particular, exposure errors and substrate table positioning errors can be corrected for.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Boris MENCHTCHIKOV, Alexander PADIY
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Publication number: 20110205513Abstract: A method produces at least one monitor wafer for a lithographic apparatus. The monitor wafer is for use in combination with a scanning control module to periodically retrieve measurements defining a baseline from the monitor wafer thereby determining parameter drift from the baseline. In doing this, allowance and/or correction can be to be made for the drift. The baseline is determined by initially exposing the monitor wafer(s) using the lithographic apparatus, such that the initial exposure is performed while using non-standard alignment model settings optimized for accuracy, such as those used for testing the apparatus. An associated lithographic apparatus is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 20, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Alexander Viktorovych PADIY, Boris Menchtchikov
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Publication number: 20110205510Abstract: A lithographic exposure process is performed on a substrate using a scanner. The scanner comprises several subsystems. There are errors in the overlay arising from the subsystems during the exposure. The overlay errors are measured using a scatterometer to obtain overlay measurements. Modeling is performed to separately determine from the overlay measurements different subsets of estimated model parameters, for example field distortion model parameters, scan/step direction model parameters and position/deformation model parameters. Each subset is related to overlay errors arising from a corresponding specific subsystem of the lithographic apparatus. Finally, the exposure is controlled in the scanner by controlling a specific subsystem of the scanner using its corresponding subset of estimated model parameters. This results in a product wafer being exposed with a well controlled overlay.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Boris Menchtchikov, Alexander Viktorovych Padiy