Abstract: A semiconductor fabricating method including: placing the semiconductor wafer having a film thereon inside of a chamber; generating plasma; detecting a quantity of interference lights for each of at least two wavelengths obtained from a surface of the wafer for a predetermined time period during the etching of the wafer; detecting a first time point at which the detected quantity of interference lights for one of the two wavelengths becomes a maximum and a second time point at which the detected quantity of interference lights for the other wavelength becomes a minimum; determining a state of etching based on a result of comparing a predetermined value with an interval between the first and second time points, wherein both time points are detected by using outputs of a detector for detecting a quantity of the interference lights; and controlling etching in accordance with the determining.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabricating method including: placing the semiconductor wafer having a film thereon inside of a chamber; generating plasma; detecting a quantity of interference lights for each of at least two wavelengths obtained from a surface of the wafer for a predetermined time period during the etching of the wafer; detecting a first time point at which the detected quantity of interference lights for one of the two wavelengths becomes a maximum and a second time point at which the detected quantity of interference lights for the other wavelength becomes a minimum; determining a state of etching based on a result of comparing a predetermined value with an interval between the first and second time points, wherein both time points are detected by using outputs of a detector for detecting a quantity of the interference lights; and controlling etching in accordance with the determining.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabricating apparatus for etching a semiconductor wafer, which is placed in a chamber and which has a multiple-layer film composed of a first film formed on a surface thereof and a second film formed on the first film, using plasma generated in the chamber. The semiconductor fabricating apparatus includes a light detector that detects a change in an amount of light with a plurality of wavelengths obtained from the surface of the wafer for a predetermined time during which the second film is etched, and a detection unit that detects a thickness of the first film based on a specific waveform obtained from an output of the detector.

Abstract: A semiconductor fabricating apparatus for etching a semiconductor wafer, which is placed in a chamber and which has a multiple-layer film composed of a first film formed on a surface thereof and a second film formed on the first film, using plasma generated in the chamber. The semiconductor fabricating apparatus includes a light detector that detects a change in an amount of light with a plurality of wavelengths obtained from the surface of the wafer for a predetermined time during which the second film is etched, and a detection unit that detects a thickness of the first film based on a specific waveform obtained from an output of the detector.

Abstract: When a semiconductor wafer placed in a chamber and having films thereon is etched using plasma generated in the chamber, a change in the amount of lights with at least two wavelengths, obtained from the wafer surface during the processing, is detected. The time between the time at which the amount of a light with one of two wavelengths is maximized and the time at which the amount of a light with the other wavelength is minimized is compared with a predetermined value to determine the state of etching processing.

Abstract: When a semiconductor wafer placed in a chamber and having films thereon is etched using plasma generated in the chamber, a change in the amount of lights with at least two wavelengths, obtained from the wafer surface during the processing, is detected. The time between the time at which the amount of a light with one of two wavelengths is maximized and the time at which the amount of a light with the other wavelength is minimized is compared with a predetermined value to determine the state of etching processing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for detecting the end point of plasma treatment. The method includes steps: selecting a plasma spectrum having a characteristic wavelength from the plasma spectrum occurring at the time of the plasma treatment reaction of a specimen; computing a secondary differential value of a function of the quantity of the plasma spectrum selected and the plasma treatment reaction time of the specimen; and detecting the end point of the plasma treatment reaction of the specimen by comparing the secondary differential value computed with preset reference values for judgment.