Not applicable.
After each coating of a semiconductor wafer, for example with an oxide layer, a tungsten layer or other metal layers, a processing has to take place in order to produce the desired planar surfaces. Otherwise, problems may occur, for example with lithographic processes, in the form of focus failures by the small focal depth of the UV-stepper or in the form of damage to the conductor paths. A method in the semiconductor industry for planarisation uses the so-called CMP process. This refers to a chemical-mechanical treatment by means of a fluid (slurry), the chemically reactive part of the slurry having the objective of converting the material into a polishable condition. The slurry contains an abrasive in the form of colloidal abrasive small particles.
From DE 197 19 503 A1 a device for the chemical-mechanical polishing of surfaces has become known. It contains two polishing stations with vertically adjustable vacuum chucks or polishing heads for each semiconductor wafer. The polishing stations have polishing plates which can be rotated about a vertical axis. The vacuum chucks are guided along independently of one another by two parallel guides extending approximately horizontally. By this, two wafers can be processed simultaneously by a polishing plate. At least one transfer and receiving device for the wafers is provided at one end of the guides. Furthermore, arranged on opposing sides of the guides loading and unloading devices for the semiconductor wafers are provided, to which the vacuum chucks can be aligned. The transfer and receiving device is normally formed by a robot.
During transportation and processing the wafers are held by the vacuum chuck or a so-called carrier. Its object is to transfer a homogenous pressure field or different pressure profiles onto the rear face of the workpiece. The so-called sharp face, ie the face which is provided with circuits, faces the polishing plate. Usually the carrier is held and moved by an adjusting device which rotates the carrier on the one hand about a vertical axis and on the other hand moves it linearly in the vertical and horizontal direction.
The throughput through a CMP device is mainly dependent on the number of polishing stations. On the other hand, the processing times for the planarisation are very short (typically 90 seconds). Due to the short processing times, bottlenecks may occur when transferring workpieces between the individual sections and limit the throughput.
A further important point regarding chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) is keeping the workpieces clean. The entire polishing and cleaning process takes place in a clean room and means have to be provided which prevent slurry remainders and slurry particles present after the polishing process from remaining on the surface of the workpiece. Drying such remainders would damage the circuit on the workpiece. From U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,138, for example, the so-called Dry-In-Dry-Out method has become known, where by corresponding transfer processes in the treatment room it is ensured that, for example a transfer device which removes the workpieces from a loading and unloading station, does not come into contact with wet or uncleaned workpieces. With this transfer device, for example a robot, the final cleaned and dried workpieces are again transported back into the loading and unloading station.
The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device for the chemical-mechanical polishing of workpieces, such that at high production speeds a high level of cleanliness of the workpieces is maintained.
In the method according to the invention the workpieces are first transferred by a transfer device into an intermediate station. Once there they are conveyed to the polishing device. This takes place by means of a polishing head or carrier which is provided with means to receive a workpiece carefully, for example a wafer. The workpiece is transported with the polishing head to the polishing plate of the polishing device and by the rotation of the polishing head held against the rotating polishing plate. After the polishing the workpieces are transported back by the polishing head to the intermediate station, deposited there and cleaned therein. Additionally or alternatively a chemical treatment, for example etching or the like, can also take place in the intermediate station. The cleaned workpieces are then transported from the intermediate station either to a further polishing device or to a washing and drying device in which they are washed and dried. Subsequently they are transported back by the transfer device to the loading and unloading station. The polishing head is cleaned prior to receiving each workpiece.
The wafers can be cleaned on both sides in the intermediate station which naturally cannot take place when they are suspended on the polishing head.
Etching or chemical reactions which are produced by remainders on the workpiece are prevented in the intermediate station. This is particularly advantageous when the workpieces are treated in a two-step or multiple-step CMP process, ie transported from the intermediate station into a further polishing device. By corresponding rinsing and cleaning devices in the intermediate station, so-called cross-contamination can be prevented, ie the mixing of different materials and chemical components between the polishing devices. Furthermore, a chemical pretreatment of the workpieces can take place in the intermediate station in order to prepare them for the polishing stages.
A further advantage of the invention is that after each workpiece is deposited the polishing head is cleaned in a special cleaning station. This cleaning station is preferably arranged at a height where it does not interfere with the cooperation of the polishing head, intermediate station and polishing device. The polishing head can be cleaned alone in the processing and cleaning station, but can also be brought into the cleaning station together with the workpiece so that both are subjected to cleaning.
The gripping means of the transfer device which can consist of a first and a second transfer device to carry out the Dry-In-Dry-Out method, can also be cleaned by means of corresponding cleaning means before each new workpiece is picked up. To keep the contamination particularly low, the gripping means pick up the workpieces only at the edge. As a result, the surface of the workpiece is treated with care.
It is advantageous for carrying out the disclosed method if it can be identified that layer transitions are present. To this end the friction behaviour is measured between the polishing cloth and the layer to be polished, for example via the power consumption of the drive means for the polishing plate. This criterion is generally inadequate for determining the layer transition, in particular when a plurality of workpieces are processed simultaneously on the polishing plate. Therefore the temperature variations of the temperature on the surface of the polishing plate on the one hand and the difference in temperature of the cooling means for the polishing plate on the other hand are evaluated. From the indicated temperature variations it can be determined by means of a suitable algorithm when a layer transition is present.
In an embodiment of the invention the intermediate station comprises a carrier rotatably mounted about a vertical axis which can be rotated by a rotary drive means. The rotatable carrier comprises on its upper face at least two horizontal loading surfaces exposed upwardly. In the device according to the invention, moreover, at least two polishing stations are associated with the circumference of the rotating carrier. Two polishing stations are preferably located on diametrically opposing sides of the carrier. A third polishing station can also be provided which is arranged offset to the other two polishing stations on the circumference of the carrier about an angle of approximately 90°, the transfer device able to be diametrically opposed to the last-mentioned polishing station. The transfer device carries out the loading of the loading surfaces with workpieces and the removal of processed workpieces from the loading surfaces.
The CMP processes can be provided by two or more processing steps in which the workpiece is planarised in different polishing stations. By using different chemicals and polishing cloths in different polishing stations, different materials, such as for example tungsten, copper or titanium nitrite can be processed under optimised conditions. It is important to minimise the transportation times of the workpieces between the polishing stations as the chemical components of the first step can very rapidly lead to further etching of the workpiece. In the device according to the invention a fast transportation from one polishing station to another can take place. By a rapid exchange of the workpieces between the polishing stations, the throughput is increased as the secondary processing times are reduced. By the disclosed embodiment of the device according to the invention, as mentioned above, a plurality of polishing stations can be interconnected so that a more rapid exchange between the stations is possible. With a one-step method the throughput time can also be reduced as the workpieces can be treated during their transportation onto the loading surface, for example a chemical pretreatment can take place and/or rinsing or cleaning after the polishing step.
In the present CMP process technology it is usual to convey the workpiece after the first polishing step to an intermediate cleaning process, in order to minimise or eliminate the aforementioned disadvantageous effects. In the already disclosed publication DE 197 19 503 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,885 it is known to provide a stationary cleaning device. According to the invention a cleaning device can also be associated with the carrier so that during the transportation of the workpiece on the carrier cleaning can take place. As a suitable cleaning device is effective during the transportation of the workpieces, undesired etchings on the workpiece can be avoided. Additionally, so-called cross-contamination between the polishing stations is eliminated in a two-step process.
The positioning of the workpieces on the loading surfaces by means of the transfer device is not normally such that the workpieces are correctly centred, so that they can be received in a centred manner by the carrier or polishing head. Therefore the loading surfaces in the device according to the invention are associated with centring means which cooperate with the circumference of a workpiece on the loading surface and align the workpiece with a predetermined vertical axis. The vertical axis of the carrier can be aligned with this axis so that the carrier when lowered over the workpiece on the loading surface can receive the workpiece in a centred manner.
The carrier for the transportation of the workpieces and for cooperating with the polishing plates in the polishing stations can be constructed in the usual manner. Preferably it holds the workpieces by means of a vacuum. Releasing the workpieces from the carrier can be carried out by generating an air pressure pulse after switching off the vacuum. The displacement of the carrier along horizontal and vertical axes is also already known and can be carried out in the manner disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,885.
From the aforementioned publication it is known to provide a linear guide for the carriers, two carriers each with a received workpiece being used for each polishing plate. The carriers can be moved on the guide independently from one another. In this case it is advantageous if the carrier comprises four loading surfaces, each two loading surfaces having an axis which is in a plane extending parallel to the guide, when the carrier has a corresponding rotary position. In this manner one loading surface can be provided per carrier, whereby the throughput of the workpieces upon polishing can be considerably increased, in particular with a two- or multi-step planarisation process. The positioning of the four loading surfaces preferably takes place in steps of 90° or a multitude of 90°.
A cleaning device is associated with the carrier. For this it can be provided that the carrier comprises a central elevation in which at least one nozzle which is connected to a fluid source is arranged per loading surface. The nozzle can spray cleaning fluid on the processed surface of the workpiece. It can also serve to wet the surface of the workpiece with a suitable liquid. In such an elevation a number of detectors can also be arranged which determine whether a workpiece is arranged on the loading surface.
It is necessary to centre the workpieces on the loading surfaces so that they can be received by the carrier in a centred manner. There are different known possibilities for this. According to an embodiment of the invention, one possibility consists in that centring cams are provided which are spaced apart on a circle and which have support surfaces to receive the edge region of a workpiece. The centring cams further comprise radially adjustable stop surfaces which may engage the circumference of the workpiece in order to align the workpiece with respect to a predetermined vertical axis. To this end the stop surfaces are synchronously actuated.
The loading surfaces can moreover have a concave shape so that the space between a received workpiece and the loading surface can serve as a cleaning chamber. It is possible to drain fluid from this cleaning chamber by one or more bores in the loading surface. A nozzle can also be arranged in the loading surface for the supply of cleaning fluid to the disclosed chamber between the workpiece and the loading surface. By means of such measures the contact surface of the carriers can also be cleaned when it is lowered onto the loading surface.
Thus a multifunction device is created in which by a rotary movement the individual polishing stations and the transfer device can be interconnected in order to keep the transportation times as short as possible. By means of the multifunction device the throughput can be increased, in particular in a so-called two-step or multi-step process, in which different materials, such as for example tungsten, copper or titanium nitrite are processed with different chemicals and polishing cloths in different polishing stations. By the integration of suitable rinsing and cleaning devices, it is possible to prevent etching and chemical reactions which can be produced by remainders on the workpieces. Furthermore, in the disclosed multifunction device so-called cross-contamination is prevented, ie contamination of different materials and chemical components between the polishing stations. Furthermore, the rinsing and cleaning devices can be used for the chemical pretreatment of the workpieces, in order to prepare them for the second or third polishing step. Since the cleaning, the pretreatment and the like takes place when moved for transportation, the throughput speed is not affected.
The invention is to be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:
a-10o show diagrammatically the sequence of a two-step polishing process according to the method according to the invention,
While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein a specific preferred embodiment of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment illustrated
In FIGS. 1 to 3 the outline of a clean room 100 is indicated in which numerous individual units and devices of the device according to the invention are accommodated. They are to be firstly diagrammatically indicated and disclosed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. A loading and unloading station is generally designated by 102 which comprises three platforms 104 for cassettes 106 loaded with wafers. The platforms 104 contain a plurality of sensors, which for example detect the exact position of the cassette 106 on the platform or the type of cassette. Furthermore, a cassette identification device is provided which reads corresponding data carriers of the cassettes. This is not to be described in detail. Moreover, a so-called mapping device is also provided which registers the accurate arrangement of wafers in the storage racks of the cassettes and sends a signal to a control device not shown in detail.
A first robot 108 serves to remove the wafers from the cassettes 106, the robot firstly depositing each wafer onto a cassette identification device 110 or holding it therein.
The robot 108 is designed to handle dry wafers. It removes the wafers from the storage racks of the cassettes and transfers them to the identification device 110 (a wafer 112 is shown in the identification device 110). The robot 108 then conveys the wafer 112 to a transfer point 114 at which a thickness gauge 116 is also arranged.
A further robot 118 is arranged approximately centrally in the clean room 100 by means of which the wafer is conveyed from the transfer point 114 to an intermediate station 120. The intermediate station 120 comprises four support surfaces 122 to 128 which are arranged on a rotatable carrier. This will be described below in more detail. On the opposing sides of the carrier a polishing plate 130 and 132 is respectively rotatably driven. Two polishing heads 134, 136 and 138, 140 are assigned to each polishing plate 130. The structure of the polishing plate and the polishing heads, in addition to their movement will be described in more detail below. It has already been mentioned that the polishing heads can be moved linearly between the shown positions in
Between the polishing plate 130 and the intermediate station 120 two processing and cleaning stations 142, 144 are arranged. Similar cleaning stations 146, 148 are arranged between the intermediate station 120 and the polishing plate 132. The processing and cleaning stations can be pivoted between a position, as is marked in
After polishing, the wafers are transported by robots 118 to the thickness gauge 116.
Each polishing plate 130, 132 is associated with a dressing device 150 and 152. This will also be further described below. It can be seen from
In a further section of the device according to
It is also noteworthy in
With reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 the polishing operation is now described in more detail with regard to the intermediate station 120.
A not shown dressing mechanism 24 contains a dressing disc 26 which is rotatably mounted on an arm 28 and is driven with a rotational speed n3. The force by which the dressing disc 26 is pressed is F2.
In the diagrammatic illustration according to
A circular carrier 34 is arranged between the polishing stations 30, 31 for the intermediate station 120 according to
Two loading and unloading points 36 are respectively arranged on on the carrier on opposing sides of this axis and which will be subsequently described in more detail and correspond to the loading surfaces 122 to 128. Their centres are positioned on a circle concentric to the rotary axis of the carrier 34. Each of the four loading and unloading points 36 is in a position to receive a wafer in a centred manner. The loading and unloading of these points 36 takes place by means of a diagrammatically illustrated robot 38, thus for example the robot 118 according to
In the rotary position shown in
The structure of the loading and unloading points is more clearly seen in
The carrier 34 is rotatably mounted about a vertical axis in an opening of a stationary frame 40. It comprises a plurality of parts. A circular plate 42 is connected fixedly in rotation to a wheel 44 which can be rotated about a vertical axis by a gear 46 and a driving motor 48. The plate 42 also rotates with the rotation of the wheel 44. Trunnion-shaped holders 50 are arranged on the plate 42. The holders stand vertically upwards and support cap-shaped elements 52. The support is resilient in the axial direction by means of a spring 51. The upper face of the elements 52 forms a loading surface 54 for wafers 56 which can be placed on the loading surface. Four centring cams 58 are arranged at the circumference of the loading surface 54 in a circumferentially spaced manner. They comprise a support surface for the wafers 56, not shown in more detail. As a result the wafers 58 are supported only on four points at the edge (in
A throughbore 62 is shown in the top wall of the element 52 which is provided with a connection fitting 64 for a fluid. Fluid can be conveyed to the lower face of the received wafer via the connection fitting. Bores can also be provided in order to remove liquid from the loading surface.
Spaced from the plate 42 a plate 66 is fixedly attached to the plate 42 which in the region of the elements 52 comprises openings 68. In the centre the plate 64 comprises an elevation 70 with an inner hollow space which is aligned with an axial through-passage 72 from wheel 44 to plate 42. In the slightly oblique wall in the upper region of the elevation 70 a plurality of nozzles is arranged, of which one is shown at 74. A nozzle 74 is respectively associated with a loading and unloading station 36, ie to its loading surface 54. A conduit 76 guided to the nozzle 74 is connected to a fluid source in order to spray a fluid onto the upper face of the received wafer 56. A radiation source 78 is also provided for each loading and unloading station 36 which is directed toward the loading surface 54 and cooperates with a receiver 79 which indicates whether a wafer 56 is received or not.
The carrier 34 is encircled by a sealing ring 80 of the frame 40, a labyrinth seal 82 being provided between the ring 80 and the plate 66. A dripping tub (not shown) for the entire system is located below the ring 80. Each cap-shaped element 52 is also encircled by a dripping tub 82, in order to receive liquid or slurry and to drain it into the dripping tub for the entire system in a manner not shown.
According to
The loading surfaces 54 can be of concave construction so that a chamber is formed on the rear face of the wafer 56, as already disclosed. They can be provided with bores in order to allow the drainage or supply of fluid. In this manner the rear face of the received wafer 56 can also be cleaned. The contact surface of the carrier can also be cleaned if it is lowered onto a loading surface.
It is understood that the disclosed drive means for individual parts of the polishing system and the cooperation of these drive means can be controlled by means of a suitable, not shown control device. Such control devices are generally known.
A two-step polishing method is to be described hereinafter with reference to
In
As soon as the wafers W1 and W2 are removed from the carrier, two further wafers W3 and W4 are deposited on the loading surfaces WLT1 and WLT4. As soon as this has taken place the carrier is rotated back about 90° into the zero position, as can be seen in
During the processing of the wafers W1 to W4 by the polishing plate POT1 and POT2 the loading surfaces WLT1 to WLT4 are empty. They can therefore be loaded with further wafers W5 and W6, as can be seen in
Whilst the wafers W5 and W6 are on the loading surfaces, as already disclosed above, they can be pretreated, rinsed and cleaned. By these processes the entire throughput time is not extended in the two-step polishing of the wafers.
A polishing plate of the polishing device according to the above disclosed Figures is shown in section in
The polishing plate 130 is driven by a drive means 178 which is arranged in a frame 180, via a vertical shaft. The polishing heads 134, 136 are connected to a spindle 182 and 184 which can be vertically adjusted in guide rails 186. The vertical adjusting drive is not shown. The drive means 188 and 190 can however be seen, with which the spindle 182, 184 can be displaced in rotation. At 192 a dressing mechanism is shown by means of which the polishing cloth can be dressed. It can be moved diametrically to the polishing plate 130, so that the entire surface of the polishing plate can be covered.
In
It might also be mentioned with regard to the dressing device 192 according to
A circular tub 210 is shown in
In
According to the preceding figures a polishing head can be lowered into the tub 210 with or without a received workpiece and at this point cleaned by means of brushes and cleaning nozzles. The centring means 218 centre the polishing head and allow it to rotate in the tub 210. If the tub 210 is arranged over a support surface 122 to 128 or over a carrier 34, according to
In
In
A processing cycle begins, after at least one platform 104 is loaded with a cassette 106. In the first step, identification and processing data are read from the data carrier of the cassette 106 by means of the identification device. The read data are used further in the course of the processing step in order to associate the accumulating process data clearly with a cassette. In the next step verification of the cassette loading takes placed via the already disclosed mapping device which checks the loading and orientation of the workpieces 112 in the cassette 106. After the verification the robot 108 removes the wafers 112 from the storage racks of the cassettes 106 and transports them to the recognition system 110 and then to the transfer point 116. During transportation the wafers are only picked up by the edge region in order to avoid scratches on the surface and contamination. The second robot 118 removes the wafer from the transfer point 114, at which the layer thickness is measured and transports it to one of the support surfaces 122, to 128 of the carrier or the intermediate station 120. This transportation also takes place by picking up the edge of the wafer with the gripping means of the robot 118. After the robot 118 has deposited the wafer, for its part it can undergo cleaning in a not shown cleaning station, before it picks up the next wafer, for example in order to transport the wafer processed by the polishing plate 132 from a support surface of the intermediate station 120 to the cleaning and washing device 154, 156. The polishing and treatment in the polishing device and in the intermediate station 120 is not to be described further as it has already been extensively described above.
Before the polishing heads place a wafer on the intermediate station 120, the polishing heads can be lowered in the cleaning and processing stations 142, 144, 146, 148 and cleaned or treated there. Only then are the wafers deposited in the intermediate station 120. It is however necessary for the associated tub 210 to be first pivoted into a parking position, so that the polishing head can be lowered onto a support surface of the intermediate station 120. It is however also possible to deposit a wafer first and then to carry out cleaning of the polishing head in the tub 210 of the cleaning and processing station. For this it is also necessary that it is pivoted from the parking position shown in
After lowering the wafers onto the polishing plate 130, 132 the polishing process takes place, it being completed when the measured parameters for the temperatures and power consumption of the drive motor for the polishing plate indicate that a layer transition is taking place.
The robot 118 removes the completely processed workpiece or the completely polished wafer from the intermediate station 120 and places it in the input area 158 of the washing and drying station. Subsequently the washing and drying of the wafers takes place and at the output region of the drying device 162 (centrifugal rinsing and drying device) the robot 164 removes the cleaned and dried wafer out of the drying device 162 and deposits it in the transfer point 114, where its thickness is checked by means of the already disclosed thickness gauge 116. Subsequently, it is transported back into a cassette 106 by means of the robot 108.
Different filter and ventilation units are associated with the clean room 100, so that different clean room areas are created. In the region of the robot 108 a class 1 clean room is created. Filter and ventilation units which are arranged over the cleaning and drying device, create a class 2 clean room. The second robot 118 and the thickness gauge 116 operate in a class 3 clean room. The entire polishing device including the intermediate station operates in a class 4 clean room. The ventilation units which are attached to the ceiling of the clean room 100, create a laminar airflow of which the flow speed can be steplessly varied. By varying the air flow speeds in the individual areas, different pressure zones are created which allow the air flow to be geometrically guided. The filters are equipped so that they can produce the respectively required clean room class.
The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”. Those familiar with the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein which equivalents are also intended to be encompassed by the claims.
Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.
This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.
This application is a Continuation In Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/125,862, filed Apr. 19, 2002, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,780,083B2 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP03/02469 | 3/11/2003 | WO | 5/23/2005 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10125862 | Apr 2002 | US |
Child | 10511651 | May 2005 | US |