WO2020032005A1 - Wafer inspection method and inspection device - Google Patents
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- 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
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- 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
- G01N21/9501—Semiconductor wafers
- G01N21/9505—Wafer internal defects, e.g. microcracks
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- 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
- G01N21/8851—Scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment, for detecting different kinds of defects, for compensating for structures, markings, edges
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- 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
- G01N21/9501—Semiconductor wafers
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- 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
- G01N21/9501—Semiconductor wafers
- G01N21/9503—Wafer edge inspection
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
- G01N23/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
- G01N23/04—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and forming images of the material
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- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
- G01N23/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
- G01N23/06—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption
- G01N23/18—Investigating the presence of flaws defects or foreign matter
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- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L22/00—Testing or measuring during manufacture or treatment; Reliability measurements, i.e. testing of parts without further processing to modify the parts as such; Structural arrangements therefor
- H01L22/10—Measuring as part of the manufacturing process
- H01L22/12—Measuring as part of the manufacturing process for structural parameters, e.g. thickness, line width, refractive index, temperature, warp, bond strength, defects, optical inspection, electrical measurement of structural dimensions, metallurgic measurement of diffusions
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
- H01L22/00—Testing or measuring during manufacture or treatment; Reliability measurements, i.e. testing of parts without further processing to modify the parts as such; Structural arrangements therefor
- H01L22/20—Sequence of activities consisting of a plurality of measurements, corrections, marking or sorting steps
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- 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
- G01N21/8851—Scan or image signal processing specially adapted therefor, e.g. for scan signal adjustment, for detecting different kinds of defects, for compensating for structures, markings, edges
- G01N2021/8854—Grading and classifying of flaws
Abstract
Provided are a wafer inspection method and inspection device that make it possible to discern whether a wafer defect extends from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer, is only present on the front surface or back surface, or is only present inside the wafer. The inspection device emits infrared rays (IR) or X-rays onto an inspection surface (2) of a wafer (W), detects the intensity of transmitted light (TL) consisting of infrared rays or X-rays that have passed through the inspection surface, detects intensities for each prescribed surface area that the inspection surface has been divided into, determines the profile of a histogram indicating the relationship between the intensities for each prescribed surface area and the frequencies of occurrence of the intensities, and identifies a defect from the determined histogram profile and the characteristics of a histogram profile for a specific defect stored in advance.
Description
本発明は、シリコンウェーハやシリコンエピタキシャルウェーハの欠陥を検査するウェーハの検査方法及び検査装置に関するものである。
The present invention relates to a wafer inspection method and an inspection apparatus for inspecting a silicon wafer or a silicon epitaxial wafer for defects.
シリコンウェーハには、製造時や搬送時に微小な割れ（クラック）が生じることがある。こうしたクラック等の有無を検査する方法として、シリコンウェーハへ向けて赤外照明光を供給し、赤外照明光であるビームのうちの円偏光成分を円偏光フィルタにより射出し、円偏光フィルタを透過してシリコンウェーハで反射したビームの円偏光成分を撮像し、撮像されたビームの円偏光成分の画像データを演算する方法であって、クラックが存在しない箇所の正反射光は円偏光フィルタを透過せず、クラックでの乱反射によって生じる無偏光は円偏光フィルタを透過することを利用して、クラック等の欠陥の有無を検査する方法が知られている（特許文献１）。
Small cracks may occur on silicon wafers during manufacturing and transport. As a method of inspecting the presence or absence of such cracks, infrared illumination light is supplied to a silicon wafer, and a circularly polarized light component of the infrared illumination light beam is emitted by a circularly polarized light filter and transmitted through the circularly polarized light filter. Imaging the circularly polarized light component of the beam reflected by the silicon wafer, and calculating the image data of the circularly polarized light component of the imaged beam. There is known a method of inspecting the presence or absence of a defect such as a crack by utilizing the fact that non-polarized light generated by irregular reflection at a crack is transmitted through a circularly polarizing filter without using it (Patent Document 1).
シリコンウェーハの欠陥には、上述したクラック以外にも、結晶成長時に導入されるピンホール欠陥および双晶欠陥や、ウェーハ熱処理時に導入されるスリップ欠陥、ウェーハ搬送時に導入されるキズ等、様々な欠陥が発生することがある。これらの欠陥をその存在部位で分類すると、ウェーハの裏面から表面側にまで突き抜けた欠陥（以下、ウェーハの裏面から表面まで達する欠陥ともいう。）、ウェーハの表面あるいは裏面だけに存在する欠陥（表面まで突き抜けてはいない欠陥）、ウェーハ内部にのみ存在して、ウェーハ表面および裏面から見えない欠陥に分類することができる。しかしながら、上述した従来の検査方法では、クラック等の欠陥の有無は検査できても、ウェーハの裏面から表面まで達する欠陥と、ウェーハの表面あるいは裏面だけに存在する欠陥と、ウェーハ内部にのみ存在する欠陥とを判別することができないという問題がある。
In addition to the cracks described above, various defects such as pinhole defects and twin defects introduced during crystal growth, slip defects introduced during wafer heat treatment, and scratches introduced during wafer transport are included in the silicon wafer. May occur. When these defects are classified according to their existence sites, defects penetrating from the back surface of the wafer to the front surface side (hereinafter also referred to as defects reaching from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer), defects existing only on the front surface or the back surface of the wafer (front surface) Defects that do not penetrate to the wafer), and exist only inside the wafer and can be classified as defects that cannot be seen from the front and back surfaces of the wafer. However, in the conventional inspection method described above, even if the presence or absence of a defect such as a crack can be inspected, a defect reaching from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer, a defect existing only on the front surface or the back surface of the wafer, and a defect existing only inside the wafer are present. There is a problem that a defect cannot be determined.
本発明が解決しようとする課題は、ウェーハの裏面から表面まで達する欠陥、表面あるいは裏面だけに存在する欠陥、ウェーハ内部にのみ存在する欠陥であるかを識別可能なウェーハの検査方法及び検査装置を提供することである。特に、ウェーハの裏面から表面まで達する欠陥と、裏面だけで表面側まで突き抜けてはいない欠陥とを識別可能なウェーハの検査方法及び検査装置を提供することである。
The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a wafer inspection method and an inspection apparatus capable of identifying a defect reaching from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer, a defect existing only on the front surface or the back surface, or a defect existing only inside the wafer. To provide. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wafer inspection method and an inspection apparatus capable of distinguishing a defect reaching from the back surface to the front surface of a wafer and a defect that does not penetrate to the front surface only on the back surface.
本発明は、被検査体であるウェーハの検査面に赤外線又はＸ線を照射し、
前記検査面を透過した前記赤外線又はＸ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、
前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定し、
前記欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出し、
前記所定面積当たりの強度とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求め、
前記ヒストグラムのプロファイルから欠陥を識別するウェーハの検査方法によって上記課題を解決する。 The present invention irradiates an infrared or X-ray to the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected,
Detect the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared or X-rays transmitted through the inspection surface, create an in-plane distribution diagram of the intensity of the transmitted light,
Identify the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity,
At the position of the defect, the intensity per a predetermined area that divides the inspection surface is detected,
Determine the profile of the histogram showing the relationship between the intensity per predetermined area and its frequency,
The object is solved by a wafer inspection method for identifying a defect from the profile of the histogram.
前記検査面を透過した前記赤外線又はＸ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、
前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定し、
前記欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出し、
前記所定面積当たりの強度とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求め、
前記ヒストグラムのプロファイルから欠陥を識別するウェーハの検査方法によって上記課題を解決する。 The present invention irradiates an infrared or X-ray to the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected,
Detect the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared or X-rays transmitted through the inspection surface, create an in-plane distribution diagram of the intensity of the transmitted light,
Identify the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity,
At the position of the defect, the intensity per a predetermined area that divides the inspection surface is detected,
Determine the profile of the histogram showing the relationship between the intensity per predetermined area and its frequency,
The object is solved by a wafer inspection method for identifying a defect from the profile of the histogram.
また本発明は、被検査体であるウェーハの検査面に赤外線又はＸ線を照射し、
前記ウェーハを透過した前記赤外線又はＸ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、
前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定し、
前記欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出し、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分をそれぞれ求め、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求め、
前記ヒストグラムのプロファイルから欠陥を識別するウェーハの検査方法によって上記課題を解決する。 The present invention also irradiates infrared or X-rays to the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected,
Detecting the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared or X-rays transmitted through the wafer, to create an in-plane distribution diagram of the intensity of the transmitted light,
Identify the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity,
At the position of the defect, the intensity per a predetermined area that divides the inspection surface is detected,
Find the difference in intensity per the predetermined area,
Determine the profile of the histogram indicating the relationship between the difference in intensity per predetermined area and its frequency,
The object is solved by a wafer inspection method for identifying a defect from the profile of the histogram.
前記ウェーハを透過した前記赤外線又はＸ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、
前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定し、
前記欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出し、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分をそれぞれ求め、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求め、
前記ヒストグラムのプロファイルから欠陥を識別するウェーハの検査方法によって上記課題を解決する。 The present invention also irradiates infrared or X-rays to the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected,
Detecting the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared or X-rays transmitted through the wafer, to create an in-plane distribution diagram of the intensity of the transmitted light,
Identify the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity,
At the position of the defect, the intensity per a predetermined area that divides the inspection surface is detected,
Find the difference in intensity per the predetermined area,
Determine the profile of the histogram indicating the relationship between the difference in intensity per predetermined area and its frequency,
The object is solved by a wafer inspection method for identifying a defect from the profile of the histogram.
また本発明は、被検査体であるウェーハの検査面に赤外線又はＸ線を照射する照射部と、
前記ウェーハを透過した前記赤外線又はＸ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定する欠陥位置特定部と、
前記特定された欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出する強度検出部と、
前記所定面積当たりの強度とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求めるプロファイル生成部と、
前記ヒストグラムのプロファイルから欠陥を識別する判定部と、を備えるウェーハの検査装置によって上記課題を解決する。 Further, the present invention, an irradiation unit for irradiating infrared or X-rays to the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected,
Detecting the intensity of the infrared or X-ray transmitted light transmitted through the wafer, creating an in-plane distribution map of the intensity of the transmitted light, and identifying a defect position from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity. Specific part,
At the position of the identified defect, an intensity detection unit that detects the intensity per predetermined area that divides the inspection surface,
A profile generation unit that obtains a profile of a histogram indicating a relationship between the intensity per predetermined area and the frequency thereof,
The above object is achieved by a wafer inspection apparatus including: a determination unit that identifies a defect from a profile of the histogram.
前記ウェーハを透過した前記赤外線又はＸ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定する欠陥位置特定部と、
前記特定された欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出する強度検出部と、
前記所定面積当たりの強度とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求めるプロファイル生成部と、
前記ヒストグラムのプロファイルから欠陥を識別する判定部と、を備えるウェーハの検査装置によって上記課題を解決する。 Further, the present invention, an irradiation unit for irradiating infrared or X-rays to the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected,
Detecting the intensity of the infrared or X-ray transmitted light transmitted through the wafer, creating an in-plane distribution map of the intensity of the transmitted light, and identifying a defect position from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity. Specific part,
At the position of the identified defect, an intensity detection unit that detects the intensity per predetermined area that divides the inspection surface,
A profile generation unit that obtains a profile of a histogram indicating a relationship between the intensity per predetermined area and the frequency thereof,
The above object is achieved by a wafer inspection apparatus including: a determination unit that identifies a defect from a profile of the histogram.
また本発明は、被検査体であるウェーハの検査面に赤外線又はＸ線を照射する照射部と、
前記ウェーハを透過した前記赤外線又は前記Ｘ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定する欠陥位置特定部と、
前記特定された欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出するする強度検出部と、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分をそれぞれ求める差分演算部と、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求めるプロファイル生成部と、
前記ヒストグラムのプロファイルから欠陥を識別する判定部と、を備えるウェーハの検査装置によって上記課題を解決する。 Further, the present invention, an irradiation unit for irradiating infrared or X-rays to the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected,
A defect that detects the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared ray or the X-ray transmitted through the wafer, creates an in-plane distribution map of the intensity of the transmitted light, and specifies the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity. A position identification unit,
At the position of the identified defect, an intensity detection unit that detects the intensity per predetermined area that divides the inspection surface,
A difference calculation unit for obtaining a difference in intensity per the predetermined area,
A profile generation unit that obtains a profile of a histogram indicating a relationship between the difference in intensity per predetermined area and the frequency,
The above object is achieved by a wafer inspection apparatus including: a determination unit that identifies a defect from a profile of the histogram.
前記ウェーハを透過した前記赤外線又は前記Ｘ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定する欠陥位置特定部と、
前記特定された欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出するする強度検出部と、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分をそれぞれ求める差分演算部と、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求めるプロファイル生成部と、
前記ヒストグラムのプロファイルから欠陥を識別する判定部と、を備えるウェーハの検査装置によって上記課題を解決する。 Further, the present invention, an irradiation unit for irradiating infrared or X-rays to the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected,
A defect that detects the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared ray or the X-ray transmitted through the wafer, creates an in-plane distribution map of the intensity of the transmitted light, and specifies the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity. A position identification unit,
At the position of the identified defect, an intensity detection unit that detects the intensity per predetermined area that divides the inspection surface,
A difference calculation unit for obtaining a difference in intensity per the predetermined area,
A profile generation unit that obtains a profile of a histogram indicating a relationship between the difference in intensity per predetermined area and the frequency,
The above object is achieved by a wafer inspection apparatus including: a determination unit that identifies a defect from a profile of the histogram.
本発明のウェーハの検査方法及び検査装置において、前記プロファイルのピーク数が１である場合には、ウェーハ裏面から前記検査面にまで達する欠陥があると判定し、
前記プロファイルのピーク数が２である場合には、前記検査面に欠陥はなく、ウェーハ裏面から前記検査面まで達しない欠陥であると判定することができる。 In the wafer inspection method and the inspection apparatus of the present invention, when the number of peaks of the profile is 1, it is determined that there is a defect reaching from the back surface of the wafer to the inspection surface,
When the number of peaks in the profile is 2, it can be determined that there is no defect on the inspection surface and the defect does not reach the inspection surface from the back surface of the wafer.
前記プロファイルのピーク数が２である場合には、前記検査面に欠陥はなく、ウェーハ裏面から前記検査面まで達しない欠陥であると判定することができる。 In the wafer inspection method and the inspection apparatus of the present invention, when the number of peaks of the profile is 1, it is determined that there is a defect reaching from the back surface of the wafer to the inspection surface,
When the number of peaks in the profile is 2, it can be determined that there is no defect on the inspection surface and the defect does not reach the inspection surface from the back surface of the wafer.
本発明のウェーハの検査方法及び検査装置において、前記強度分布プロファイルのピーク数が２である場合に、前記検査面を透過した透過光の強度が大きいほど、ウェーハ裏面からの欠陥の深さが相対的に深いと判定することもできる。
In the wafer inspection method and the inspection apparatus of the present invention, when the number of peaks in the intensity distribution profile is 2, as the intensity of transmitted light transmitted through the inspection surface increases, the depth of a defect from the back surface of the wafer increases. It can also be determined that it is deep.
本発明のウェーハの検査方法及び検査装置において、前記ウェーハは、鏡面研磨後のウェーハ、熱処理後のウェーハ、エピタキシャルウェーハの少なくとも何れかを含む。
In the method and apparatus for inspecting a wafer according to the present invention, the wafer includes at least one of a mirror-polished wafer, a heat-treated wafer, and an epitaxial wafer.
本発明者らが、ウェーハの裏面から表面まで達する欠陥と、ウェーハの裏面から表面まで達しない欠陥との識別に関し、これらの欠陥近傍の赤外線透過光の強度のヒストグラムを作成して精査したところ、ウェーハの裏面から検査面にまで達する場合には、ヒストグラムプロファイルのピーク数が１であるのに対し、検査面に欠陥はないが、ウェーハの裏面から表面まで達しない欠陥がある場合には、ヒストグラムプロファイルのピーク数が２であることを知見した。よって、赤外線透過光のヒストグラムプロファイルを解析することによって、欠陥を識別することができる。このような識別を行うことによって、目視又は顕微鏡による表面検査を省略できるという利点がある。また、特に表面側から見えない欠陥は、目視又は顕微鏡による表面検査で確認することができないため、この点においても有利である。
The present inventors, regarding the defect that reaches from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer, and the defect that does not reach from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer, when examining and creating a histogram of the intensity of infrared transmitted light near these defects, When reaching the inspection surface from the back surface of the wafer, the number of peaks in the histogram profile is 1. On the other hand, when there is no defect on the inspection surface, but when there is a defect that does not reach from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer, the histogram is used. It was found that the number of peaks in the profile was 2. Therefore, the defect can be identified by analyzing the histogram profile of the infrared transmission light. By performing such identification, there is an advantage that visual or microscopic surface inspection can be omitted. In addition, a defect that cannot be seen particularly from the surface side cannot be confirmed visually or by a surface inspection using a microscope, which is also advantageous in this respect.
以下、本発明の実施形態を図面に基づいて説明する。図１は、本発明に係るウェーハの検査装置の一実施の形態を示すブロック図である。本実施形態のウェーハの検査装置１は、被検査体であるウェーハＷの検査面２に赤外線ＩＲを照射する赤外線照射部１１と、ウェーハＷを透過した赤外線ＩＲの透過光ＴＬを撮像するカメラ１２と、欠陥位置特定部１３と、強度検出部１４と、差分演算部１５と、プロファイル生成部１６と、判定部１７とを備える。このうち、欠陥位置特定部１３と、強度検出部１４と、差分演算部１５と、プロファイル生成部１６と、判定部１７は、ＣＰＵ，ＲＯＭ，ＲＡＭなどを備えたコンピュータハードウェアに、これらの演算内容を書き込んだプログラムをインストールし、これを実行することにより実現される。
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a wafer inspection apparatus according to the present invention. The wafer inspection apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes an infrared irradiator 11 that irradiates an inspection surface 2 of a wafer W to be inspected with infrared IR, and a camera 12 that captures transmitted light TL of the infrared IR transmitted through the wafer W. , A defect position specifying unit 13, an intensity detecting unit 14, a difference calculating unit 15, a profile generating unit 16, and a determining unit 17. Among them, the defect position specifying unit 13, the intensity detecting unit 14, the difference calculating unit 15, the profile generating unit 16, and the determining unit 17 perform these calculations on computer hardware including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. This is realized by installing a program in which the contents are written and executing the program.
赤外線照射部１１は、０．７μｍ～１ｍｍの赤外線ＩＲを照射する光源を含み、ウェーハＷの一部又は全面に対して、ウェーハＷの裏面又は表面に赤外線ＩＲを照射する。ウェーハＷの一部に対して照射する場合は、ウェーハＷと赤外線照射部１１とを相対的に移動させながら走査し、ウェーハＷの全面に赤外線ＩＲを照射するのがよい。また、検査対象とされる欠陥が発生し易い部位に限定して赤外線ＩＲを照射してもよい。なお、本発明の照射部から照射される、ウェーハＷの欠陥を検査するための光（電磁波）は、ウェーハＷを透過する必要があり、本実施形態では、赤外線ＩＲを用いたが、これに代えてＸ線を用いてもよい。ウェーハＷを透過しない反射光では、欠陥がウェーハ裏面から表面側に突き抜けているのか、途中で止まっているのかの判断が不可能だからである。
The infrared irradiator 11 includes a light source that irradiates an infrared IR of 0.7 μm to 1 mm, and irradiates a part or the entire surface of the wafer W with the infrared IR to the back surface or the front surface of the wafer W. When irradiating a part of the wafer W, it is preferable to scan while moving the wafer W and the infrared irradiation unit 11 relatively, and to irradiate the entire surface of the wafer W with the infrared IR. Alternatively, the infrared rays IR may be applied only to a portion of the inspection target where a defect is likely to occur. In addition, the light (electromagnetic wave) for inspecting a defect of the wafer W, which is emitted from the irradiation unit of the present invention, needs to pass through the wafer W. In the present embodiment, the infrared IR is used. Instead, X-rays may be used. This is because it is impossible to determine whether the defect has penetrated from the back surface of the wafer toward the front surface or has stopped halfway with the reflected light that does not pass through the wafer W.
カメラ１２は、ＣＣＤカメラなどからなり、赤外線照射部１１から照射された赤外線ＩＲがウェーハＷを透過した透過光ＴＬを受光（撮像）するように、ウェーハＷを挟んだ赤外線照射部１１の対面位置に設けられている。赤外線照射部１１がウェーハＷの一部に対して赤外線ＩＲを照射する場合には、その透過光を全て受光するように構成及び配置されることが好ましい。また、ウェーハＷに対して移動して走査しながら透過光を受光するのが好ましい。赤外線照射部１１がウェーハＷの全面に赤外線ＩＲを照射する場合でも、その透過光を全て受光するように構成及び配置されることが好ましい。カメラ１２で受光された透過光は、欠陥位置特定部１３により読み出される。
The camera 12 includes a CCD camera or the like, and faces the infrared irradiating unit 11 with the wafer W interposed therebetween so that the infrared IR radiated from the infrared irradiating unit 11 receives (images) the transmitted light TL transmitted through the wafer W. It is provided in. When the infrared irradiator 11 irradiates a part of the wafer W with the infrared IR, it is preferable that the infrared irradiator 11 be configured and arranged to receive all the transmitted light. Further, it is preferable to receive transmitted light while moving and scanning the wafer W. Even when the infrared irradiating unit 11 irradiates the entire surface of the wafer W with the infrared IR, it is preferable that the infrared irradiating unit 11 be configured and arranged to receive all the transmitted light. The transmitted light received by the camera 12 is read by the defect position specifying unit 13.
欠陥位置特定部１３は、カメラ１２で撮像した透過光の輝度値を読み出し、透過光のウェーハマップを作成する。さらに、透過光のウェーハマップから、図１の右下図に示すように、欠陥を検出し、欠陥周辺についてウェーハ（たとえばシリコンウェーハ又はエピタキシャルシリコンウェーハ）の一部の検査面２、たとえば２ｍｍ×２ｍｍの正方形の検査面２を抽出する。強度検出部１４は、この検査面２を、図１の中央右図に示すように、複数の所定面積部分２１（たとえば、５μｍ×５μｍの正方形）に画素を分割し、各所定面積部分２１の輝度値から透過光の強度を検出する。検査面２が２ｍｍ×２ｍｍ、複数の所定面積部分２１が５μｍ×５μｍである場合には、４０×４０＝１６００の所定面積部分２１のそれぞれの透過光の強度を算出する。なお、検査面２の面積及び所定面積部分２１の面積の数値は何ら限定されず、カメラ１２の解像度やウェーハＷの大きさなどに応じて適宜の数値に設定すればよい。
(4) The defect position specifying unit 13 reads out the luminance value of the transmitted light captured by the camera 12 and creates a wafer map of the transmitted light. Further, as shown in the lower right diagram of FIG. 1, a defect is detected from the transmitted light wafer map, and a part of the inspection surface 2 of the wafer (eg, a silicon wafer or an epitaxial silicon wafer), for example, 2 mm × 2 mm, is detected around the defect. A square inspection surface 2 is extracted. The intensity detecting unit 14 divides the inspection surface 2 into a plurality of predetermined area portions 21 (for example, a 5 μm × 5 μm square) as shown in the center right diagram of FIG. The intensity of the transmitted light is detected from the luminance value. When the inspection surface 2 is 2 mm × 2 mm and the plurality of predetermined area portions 21 are 5 μm × 5 μm, the intensity of each transmitted light of the predetermined area portions 21 of 40 × 40 = 1600 is calculated. The numerical values of the area of the inspection surface 2 and the area of the predetermined area 21 are not limited at all, and may be set to appropriate numerical values according to the resolution of the camera 12, the size of the wafer W, and the like.
差分演算部１５は、複数の所定面積部分２１の透過光の強度の差分をそれぞれ求めるものであり、たとえば透過光の強度が最小となった所定面積部分２１の当該最小値を基準値として、この所定面積部分２１との差分の透過光の強度をそれぞれ演算する。強度検出部１４で検出されるのが透過光の強度の絶対値であるのに対し、差分演算部１５は、ある検査面２における透過光の強度の相対値となり、一種のフィルタの機能を司る。たとえば、図４（Ｂ）に示す画像は、図４（Ａ）に示す検査面２の透過光の強度を示す画像データであるのに対し、図４（Ｃ）に示す画像は、差分演算部１５により求められた差分画像を示したものである。両者を比較して明らかなように、図４（Ｂ）の画像に対して図４（Ｃ）の画像の方が、透過光の強度が異なる部分の有無が鮮明になる。ただし、本発明のウェーハの検査装置及び検査方法において、差分演算部１５は必須ではなく、必要に応じて設けるようにしてもよい。
The difference calculation unit 15 calculates the difference between the intensities of the transmitted light of the plurality of predetermined area portions 21. For example, the minimum value of the predetermined area portion 21 in which the intensity of the transmitted light is minimum is set as a reference value. The intensity of the transmitted light having a difference from the predetermined area portion 21 is calculated. While the absolute value of the intensity of the transmitted light is detected by the intensity detection unit 14, the difference calculation unit 15 is a relative value of the intensity of the transmitted light on a certain inspection surface 2, and controls a kind of filter function. . For example, the image shown in FIG. 4B is image data indicating the intensity of transmitted light of the inspection surface 2 shown in FIG. 4A, while the image shown in FIG. 15 shows the difference image obtained by the step S15. As is clear from the comparison between the two, the image of FIG. 4C clearly shows the presence or absence of a portion where the intensity of the transmitted light is different from the image of FIG. 4B. However, in the wafer inspection apparatus and inspection method of the present invention, the difference calculation unit 15 is not essential, and may be provided as necessary.
プロファイル生成部１６は、強度検出部１４により検出された複数の所定面積部分２１の透過光の強度、又は差分演算部１５により求められた複数の所定面積部分２１の透過光の強度の差分から、図１の右上図に示すように、強度又は強度の差分に対する頻度の関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを生成する。図１の右上に示すグラフの横軸は、強度又は強度の差分の階級を示し、縦軸は頻度を示す。上述した例のように所定面積部分２１が４０×４０＝１６００個である場合には、頻度の合計は１６００となる。なお、横軸の強度又は強度の差分の階級は、後述する判定部１７においてピーク数が判定可能な数値に設定すればよい。
The profile generation unit 16 calculates the intensity of the transmitted light of the plurality of predetermined area portions 21 detected by the intensity detection unit 14 or the difference between the intensity of the transmitted light of the plurality of predetermined area portions 21 calculated by the difference calculation unit 15, As shown in the upper right diagram of FIG. 1, a histogram profile showing the relationship between the intensity or the difference in the intensity and the frequency is generated. The horizontal axis of the graph shown on the upper right of FIG. 1 indicates the class of the intensity or the difference of the intensity, and the vertical axis indicates the frequency. When the predetermined area portions 21 are 40 × 40 = 1600 as in the example described above, the total frequency is 1600. Note that the class of the intensity or the difference of the intensity on the horizontal axis may be set to a numerical value from which the number of peaks can be determined by the determination unit 17 described later.
判定部１７は、プロファイル生成部１６により生成されたヒストグラムのプロファイル（頻度プロファイル）から、その検査面２における強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルの特徴を判定する。判定部１７には、予め特定の欠陥と当該欠陥に対する強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルの特徴とが記憶されている。たとえば、後述するように、裏面から検査面２まで達する欠陥に対しては、1つのピークを有する強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルが特徴的プロファイルとして記憶され、その検査面２には欠陥はなく、裏面だけで検査面２まで達しない欠陥に対しては、２つのピークを有する強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルが特徴的プロファイルとして記憶され、双晶欠陥に対しては、図８（Ｂ）に示す強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルが特徴的プロファイルとして記憶されている。裏面から検査面２まで達する欠陥であるか、その検査面２には欠陥はなく、裏面だけで検査面２まで達しない欠陥であるかを検査する場合を例に挙げると、判定部１７は、プロファイル生成部１６により生成されたヒストグラムのプロファイル（頻度プロファイル）から、その検査面２における強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルにピークが幾つあるかを判定する。そして、判定部１７は、頻度プロファイルのピーク数が１である場合には、裏面から検査面２まで達する欠陥であると判定し、頻度プロファイルのピーク数が２である場合には、その検査面２には欠陥はなく、裏面だけで検査面２まで達しない欠陥であると判定する。
The determination unit 17 determines, from the histogram profile (frequency profile) generated by the profile generation unit 16, the feature of the frequency profile of the intensity or the intensity difference on the inspection surface 2. The determination unit 17 stores in advance the specific defect and the characteristics of the frequency profile of the intensity or the difference of the intensity with respect to the defect. For example, as described later, for a defect reaching from the back surface to the inspection surface 2, a frequency profile of an intensity having one peak or a difference in intensity is stored as a characteristic profile, and the inspection surface 2 has no defect. For a defect that does not reach the inspection surface 2 only by the back surface, the intensity profile having two peaks or the frequency profile of the difference in the intensity is stored as a characteristic profile, and for the twin defect, FIG. Are stored as characteristic profiles. As an example, in the case of inspecting whether a defect reaches the inspection surface 2 from the back surface or whether the inspection surface 2 has no defect and does not reach the inspection surface 2 by the back surface alone, the determination unit 17 From the histogram profile (frequency profile) generated by the profile generator 16, it is determined how many peaks are present in the frequency profile of the intensity or the difference of the intensity on the inspection surface 2. When the number of peaks in the frequency profile is 1, the determination unit 17 determines that the defect extends from the back surface to the inspection surface 2. When the number of peaks in the frequency profile is 2, the determination unit 17 determines the defect. No. 2 has no defect and is determined to be a defect that does not reach inspection surface 2 only on the back surface.
図２（Ａ）は、ウェーハＷの裏面から表面にまで達する欠陥ＤＦを示す要部断面図、図２（Ｂ）その際に得られる透過光の強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルを示す図である。図２（Ａ）において、ウェーハＷの下面が裏面、上面が表面であるものとする。本発明者らは、多数のウェーハ（鏡面研磨後のウェーハ、熱処理後のウェーハ及びエピタキシャルウェーハ）を用いて、裏面から表面にまで達する欠陥に対して赤外線ＩＲを照射し、その透過光の強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルを生成したところ、図２（Ｂ）に示すように、総じて１つのピークを有するプロファイルとなった。
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a defect DF reaching from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer W, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a frequency profile of intensity of transmitted light or intensity difference obtained at that time. is there. In FIG. 2A, the lower surface of the wafer W is the back surface, and the upper surface is the front surface. The present inventors use a large number of wafers (mirror-polished wafers, heat-treated wafers, and epitaxial wafers) to irradiate a defect reaching from the back surface to the front surface with infrared IR, and transmit the intensity of transmitted light or When a frequency profile of the intensity difference was generated, a profile having one peak as a whole was obtained as shown in FIG.
図４（Ａ）は、ウェーハＷの検査面２を示す平面図、図４（Ｂ）は、透過光の強度画像を示す図、図４（Ｃ）は、透過光の強度の差分画像を示す図、図４（Ｄ）は、透過光の強度を示すヒストグラムである。また、図５（Ａ）は、同じウェーハＷの他の検査面２を示す平面図、図５（Ｂ）は、透過光の強度画像を示す図、図５（Ｃ）は、透過光の強度の差分画像を示す図、図５（Ｄ）は、透過光の強度を示すヒストグラムである。図４（Ａ）及び図５（Ａ）は、いずれもウェーハＷの表面を示す平面図であり、図４（Ａ）の検査面２には、集光灯による目視検査にて確認できるスリップ欠陥ＤＦ１があり、図５（Ａ）の他の検査面２にも、集光灯による目視検査にて確認できるスリップ欠陥ＤＦ２があった。これらの結果からも理解できるように、ウェーハＷの裏面から表面にまで達するスリップ欠陥ＤＦ１，ＤＦ２に対する赤外線ＩＲの透過光ＴＬの強度のヒストグラムを生成すると、図４（Ｄ）及び図５（Ｄ）に示すとおり、いずれも１つのピークを示す結果が得られた。
4A is a plan view showing the inspection surface 2 of the wafer W, FIG. 4B is a diagram showing an intensity image of transmitted light, and FIG. 4C is a difference image of the intensity of transmitted light. FIG. 4D is a histogram showing the intensity of transmitted light. 5A is a plan view showing another inspection surface 2 of the same wafer W, FIG. 5B is a diagram showing an intensity image of transmitted light, and FIG. 5C is an intensity image of transmitted light. FIG. 5D is a histogram showing the intensity of transmitted light. 4 (A) and 5 (A) are plan views each showing the surface of the wafer W. The inspection surface 2 in FIG. 4 (A) has a slip defect which can be confirmed by visual inspection using a condensing lamp. DF1 was present, and the other inspection surface 2 in FIG. 5A also had a slip defect DF2 that could be confirmed by visual inspection using a condensing lamp. As can be understood from these results, when a histogram of the intensity of the transmitted light TL of the infrared IR with respect to the slip defects DF1 and DF2 reaching from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer W is generated, FIG. 4 (D) and FIG. As shown in Table 2, all showed one peak.
これに対して、図３（Ａ）は、ウェーハＷの裏面から表面まで達しない欠陥を示す要部断面図、図３（Ｂ）は、その際に得られる透過光の強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルを示す図である。図３（Ａ）において、ウェーハＷの下面が裏面、上面が表面であるものとする。本発明者らは、多数のウェーハ（鏡面研磨後のウェーハ、熱処理後のウェーハ及びエピタキシャルウェーハ）を用いて、裏面から表面にまで達しない欠陥に対して赤外線ＩＲを照射し、その透過光の強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルを生成したところ、図３（Ｂ）に示すように、総じて２つのピークを有するプロファイルとなった。
On the other hand, FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a defect that does not reach from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer W, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the intensity of transmitted light or the difference in intensity obtained at that time. It is a figure showing a frequency profile. In FIG. 3A, the lower surface of the wafer W is the back surface, and the upper surface is the front surface. The present inventors use a large number of wafers (a mirror-polished wafer, a heat-treated wafer and an epitaxial wafer) to irradiate a defect that does not reach from the back surface to the front surface with infrared IR, and to transmit the intensity of the transmitted light. Alternatively, when a frequency profile of the intensity difference is generated, a profile having two peaks as a whole is obtained as shown in FIG.
図６（Ａ）は、ウェーハＷのさらに他の検査面２を示す平面図、図６（Ｂ）は、透過光の強度画像を示す図、図６（Ｃ）は、透過光の強度の差分画像を示す図、図６（Ｄ）は、透過光の強度を示すヒストグラムである。また、図７（Ａ）は、同じウェーハＷのさらに他の検査面２を示す平面図、図７（Ｂ）は、透過光の強度画像を示す図、図７（Ｃ）は、透過光の強度の差分画像を示す図、図７（Ｄ）は、透過光の強度を示すヒストグラムである。図６（Ａ）及び図７（Ａ）は、いずれもウェーハＷの表面を示す平面図であり、図６（Ａ）の検査面２には、ウェーハＷの表面から集光灯による目視検査にて確認できる欠陥はなかったが、その裏面には、図６（Ｂ）に示すスリップ欠陥ＤＦ３が集光灯による目視検査にて確認できた。同様に、図７（Ａ）の他の検査面２にも、ウェーハＷの表面から集光灯による目視検査にて確認できる欠陥はなかったが、その裏面には、図７（Ｂ）に示すスリップ欠陥ＤＦ３が目視にて確認できた。これらの結果からも理解できるように、ウェーハＷの裏面から表面にまでは達しないスリップ欠陥ＤＦ３，ＤＦ４に対する赤外線ＩＲの透過光ＴＬの強度のヒストグラムを生成すると、図６（Ｄ）及び図７（Ｄ）に示すとおり、いずれも２つのピークを示す結果が得られた。
6A is a plan view illustrating still another inspection surface 2 of the wafer W, FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an intensity image of transmitted light, and FIG. 6C is a difference in intensity of transmitted light. FIG. 6D shows an image, and FIG. 6D is a histogram showing the intensity of transmitted light. 7 (A) is a plan view showing still another inspection surface 2 of the same wafer W, FIG. 7 (B) is a diagram showing an intensity image of transmitted light, and FIG. FIG. 7D shows a difference image of the intensity, and FIG. 7D is a histogram showing the intensity of the transmitted light. 6A and FIG. 7A are plan views each showing the surface of the wafer W. The inspection surface 2 in FIG. 6B, a slip defect DF3 shown in FIG. 6B could be confirmed by visual inspection using a condensing lamp. Similarly, on the other inspection surface 2 in FIG. 7A, there was no defect that could be confirmed by visual inspection using a condensing lamp from the front surface of the wafer W, but on the back surface, as shown in FIG. 7B. The slip defect DF3 was visually confirmed. As can be understood from these results, when a histogram of the intensity of the transmitted light TL of the infrared IR with respect to the slip defects DF3 and DF4 that does not reach from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer W is generated, FIG. 6D and FIG. As shown in D), the results each showed two peaks.
図２、図４及び図５に示すように、ウェーハＷの裏面から表面にまで達するスリップ欠陥ＤＦ１，ＤＦ２に対する赤外線ＩＲの透過光ＴＬの強度のヒストグラムを生成すると、図２（Ｂ），図４（Ｄ）及び図５（Ｄ）に示すとおり、いずれも１つのピークを示すのは、以下の理由によるものと推察される。すなわち、こうしたスリップ欠陥ＤＦ１，ＤＦ２の場合、欠陥による内部応力は、ウェーハＷの裏面側にて開放され、ウェーハＷの内部においてのみ残留していると考えられる。このため、透過光の強度の頻度プロファイルは幅狭の比較的シャープな１つのピークとして現れるものと推察される。
As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, when histograms of the intensity of the transmitted light TL of the infrared IR with respect to the slip defects DF1 and DF2 reaching from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer W are generated, FIGS. As shown in (D) and FIG. 5 (D), it is presumed that one peak is shown for the following reasons. That is, in the case of such slip defects DF1 and DF2, it is considered that the internal stress due to the defect is released on the back surface side of the wafer W and remains only inside the wafer W. For this reason, it is presumed that the frequency profile of the transmitted light intensity appears as one narrow and relatively sharp peak.
これに対して、図３、図６及び図７に示すように、ウェーハＷの裏面から表面にまで達しないスリップ欠陥ＤＦ３，ＤＦ４に対する赤外線ＩＲの透過光ＴＬの強度のヒストグラムを生成すると、図３（Ｂ），図６（Ｄ）及び図７（Ｄ）に示すとおり、いずれも２つのピークを示すのは、以下の理由によるものと推察される。すなわち、こうしたスリップ欠陥ＤＦ３，ＤＦ４の場合、裏面の欠陥による内部応力は、ウェーハＷの表面側では開放されず、ウェーハＷの裏面及び内部の両方において残留していると考えられる。このため、透過光の強度の頻度プロファイルは幅広の比較的シャープでない２つのピークとして現れるものと推察される。
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7, when the histogram of the intensity of the transmitted light TL of the infrared IR with respect to the slip defects DF3 and DF4 that does not reach from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer W is generated. As shown in (B), FIG. 6 (D) and FIG. 7 (D), it is presumed that the two peaks are shown for the following reasons. That is, in the case of such slip defects DF3 and DF4, it is considered that the internal stress due to the defect on the back surface is not released on the front surface side of the wafer W but remains on both the back surface and the inside of the wafer W. For this reason, it is presumed that the frequency profile of the transmitted light intensity appears as two broad and relatively unsharp peaks.
以上のとおり、本実施形態のウェーハの検査装置及び検査方法によれば、透過光の強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルにより、ウェーハＷの裏面から表面まで達する欠陥であるか、裏面から表面にまで達しない欠陥であるかを識別することができる。これによって、例えば、熱処理後に生じたスリップ欠陥が、表面にまで達しているものなのか、裏面から表面にまで達していないものなのかを簡便に識別することが可能である。
As described above, according to the wafer inspection apparatus and the inspection method of the present embodiment, according to the frequency profile of the intensity of transmitted light or the difference in intensity, the defect is a defect that reaches from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer W, or from the back surface to the front surface. Defects that cannot be reached can be identified. Thus, for example, it is possible to easily identify whether the slip defect generated after the heat treatment has reached the front surface or has not reached the front surface from the back surface.
また本実施形態のウェーハの検査装置及び検査方法によれば、図３、図６及び図７に示すように、ウェーハＷの裏面から表面にまで達しないスリップ欠陥ＤＦ３，ＤＦ４に対し、その欠陥の深さは、透過光の強度に相関するものと推察されるので、透過光の強度が大きいほど、欠陥の深さが相対的に深いと判定することもできる。
According to the wafer inspection apparatus and the inspection method of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 7, slip defects DF3 and DF4 that do not reach from the back surface to the front surface of the wafer W are removed. Since the depth is presumed to be correlated with the intensity of the transmitted light, it can be determined that the greater the intensity of the transmitted light, the deeper the defect is.
なお、上述した実施形態では、主として検査対象たる欠陥が、裏面から検査面２まで達する欠陥であるか、その検査面２には欠陥はなく、裏面だけで検査面２まで達しない欠陥であるかを検査する場合を例に挙げたが、本技術を用いることによって、スリップ欠陥以外の欠陥についても別の特徴的な透過光の強度又は強度の差分の頻度プロファイルが得られることが判明している。たとえば、図８（Ａ）は、双晶欠陥の透過光の強度画像を示す図、図８（Ｂ）は、透過光の強度を示すヒストグラムである。図８（Ｂ）に示す通り、双晶欠陥の場合は、図４（Ｄ），図５（Ｄ），図６（Ｄ）及び図７（Ｄ）に示すスリップ欠陥とは明らかに異なった特徴を持つヒストグラムとなっている。よって、欠陥の種類ごとにヒストグラムの特徴を予め検査装置に記憶させておけば、それらと比較することにより、様々な欠陥を判別でき、さらに分類することができる。
In the above-described embodiment, whether the defect to be inspected is a defect that reaches the inspection surface 2 from the rear surface or a defect that the inspection surface 2 has no defect and does not reach the inspection surface 2 only on the rear surface. Has been described as an example, but it has been found that the use of the present technology can provide another characteristic transmitted light intensity or intensity difference frequency profile for defects other than slip defects. . For example, FIG. 8A is a diagram showing a transmitted light intensity image of a twin defect, and FIG. 8B is a histogram showing transmitted light intensity. As shown in FIG. 8 (B), in the case of twin defects, the features are clearly different from the slip defects shown in FIGS. 4 (D), 5 (D), 6 (D) and 7 (D). The histogram has. Therefore, if the characteristics of the histogram are stored in advance in the inspection apparatus for each type of defect, various defects can be determined and further classified by comparing them with those.
１…ウェーハの検査装置
１１…赤外線照射部
１２…カメラ
１３…欠陥位置特定部
１４…強度検出部
１５…差分演算部
１６…プロファイル生成部
１７…判定部
２…検査面
２１…所定面積部分
Ｗ…ウェーハ
ＩＲ…赤外線
ＴＬ…透過光
ＤＦ１～ＤＦ４…スリップ欠陥 DESCRIPTION OFSYMBOLS 1 ... Wafer inspection apparatus 11 ... Infrared irradiation part 12 ... Camera 13 ... Defect position specification part 14 ... Intensity detection part 15 ... Difference calculation part 16 ... Profile generation part 17 ... Judgment part 2 ... Inspection surface 21 ... Predetermined area part W ... Wafer IR ... Infrared TL ... Transmitted light DF1 ~ DF4 ... Slip defect
１１…赤外線照射部
１２…カメラ
１３…欠陥位置特定部
１４…強度検出部
１５…差分演算部
１６…プロファイル生成部
１７…判定部
２…検査面
２１…所定面積部分
Ｗ…ウェーハ
ＩＲ…赤外線
ＴＬ…透過光
ＤＦ１～ＤＦ４…スリップ欠陥 DESCRIPTION OF
Claims (10)
- 被検査体であるウェーハの検査面に赤外線又はＸ線を照射し、
前記検査面を透過した前記赤外線又は前記Ｘ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、
前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定し、
前記特定された欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出し、
前記所定面積当たりの強度とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求め、
特定の欠陥に対するヒストグラムのプロファイルの特徴を予め記憶し、
前記記憶された特徴と、前記求められたヒストグラムのプロファイルとから欠陥を識別するウェーハの検査方法。 Irradiate the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected with infrared rays or X-rays,
By detecting the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared ray or the X-ray transmitted through the inspection surface, to create an in-plane distribution diagram of the intensity of the transmitted light,
Identify the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity,
At the position of the identified defect, to detect the intensity per predetermined area to divide the inspection surface,
Determine the profile of the histogram showing the relationship between the intensity per predetermined area and its frequency,
Storing in advance the characteristics of the histogram profile for a particular defect;
A wafer inspection method for identifying a defect from the stored features and the determined histogram profile. - 被検査体であるウェーハの検査面に赤外線又はＸ線を照射し、
前記ウェーハを透過した前記赤外線又は前記Ｘ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、
前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定し、
前記特定された欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出し、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分をそれぞれ求め、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求め、
特定の欠陥に対するヒストグラムのプロファイルの特徴を予め記憶し、
前記記憶された特徴と、前記求められたヒストグラムのプロファイルとから欠陥を識別するウェーハの検査方法。 Irradiate the inspection surface of the wafer to be inspected with infrared rays or X-rays,
Detecting the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared ray or the X-ray transmitted through the wafer, to create an in-plane distribution map of the intensity of the transmitted light,
Identify the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity,
At the position of the identified defect, to detect the intensity per predetermined area to divide the inspection surface,
Find the difference in intensity per the predetermined area,
Determine the profile of the histogram indicating the relationship between the difference in intensity per predetermined area and its frequency,
Storing in advance the characteristics of the histogram profile for a particular defect;
A wafer inspection method for identifying a defect from the stored features and the determined histogram profile. - 前記プロファイルのピーク数が１である場合には、ウェーハ裏面から前記検査面まで達するスリップ欠陥があると判定し、
前記プロファイルのピーク数が２である場合には、前記検査面に欠陥はなく、ウェーハ裏面から前記検査面まで達しないスリップ欠陥であると判定する請求項１又は２に記載のウェーハの検査方法。 If the peak number of the profile is 1, it is determined that there is a slip defect reaching from the back surface of the wafer to the inspection surface,
3. The wafer inspection method according to claim 1, wherein when the number of peaks in the profile is two, it is determined that there is no defect on the inspection surface and the slip defect does not reach the inspection surface from the back surface of the wafer. - 前記プロファイルのピーク数が２である場合において、前記検査面を透過した透過光の強度が大きいほど、ウェーハ裏面からのスリップ欠陥の深さが相対的に深いと判定する請求項３に記載のウェーハの検査方法。 4. The wafer according to claim 3, wherein, when the number of peaks in the profile is 2, the depth of a slip defect from the back surface of the wafer is relatively deeper as the intensity of transmitted light transmitted through the inspection surface is larger. 5. Inspection method.
- 前記ウェーハは、鏡面研磨後のウェーハ、熱処理後のウェーハ、エピタキシャルウェーハの少なくとも何れかを含む請求項１～４のいずれか一項に記載のウェーハの検査方法。 (5) The wafer inspection method according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the wafer includes at least one of a mirror-polished wafer, a heat-treated wafer, and an epitaxial wafer.
- 被検査体であるウェーハの検査面に赤外線又はＸ線を照射する照射部と、
前記ウェーハを透過した前記赤外線又は前記Ｘ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定する欠陥位置特定部と、
前記特定された欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出する強度検出部と、
前記所定面積当たりの強度とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求めるプロファイル生成部と、
特定の欠陥に対するヒストグラムのプロファイルの特徴を予め記憶し、前記記憶された特徴と、前記プロファイル生成部により求められたヒストグラムのプロファイルとから欠陥を識別する判定部と、を備えるウェーハの検査装置。 An irradiation unit that irradiates an inspection surface of a wafer to be inspected with infrared rays or X-rays,
A defect that detects the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared ray or the X-ray transmitted through the wafer, creates an in-plane distribution map of the intensity of the transmitted light, and specifies the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity. A position identification unit,
At the position of the identified defect, an intensity detection unit that detects the intensity per predetermined area that divides the inspection surface,
A profile generation unit that obtains a profile of a histogram indicating a relationship between the intensity per predetermined area and the frequency thereof,
An inspection apparatus for a wafer, comprising: a feature for storing a profile of a histogram for a specific defect in advance; and a determining unit for identifying a defect from the stored feature and the profile of the histogram obtained by the profile generating unit. - 被検査体であるウェーハの検査面に赤外線又はＸ線を照射する照射部と、
前記ウェーハを透過した前記赤外線又は前記Ｘ線の透過光の強度を検出して、前記透過光の強度の面内分布図を作成し、前記強度の面内分布図から欠陥の位置を特定する欠陥位置特定部と、
前記特定された欠陥の位置において、検査面を区画する所定面積当たりの強度をそれぞれ検出するする強度検出部と、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分をそれぞれ求める差分演算部と、
前記所定面積当たりの強度の差分とその頻度との関係を示すヒストグラムのプロファイルを求めるプロファイル生成部と、
特定の欠陥に対するヒストグラムのプロファイルの特徴を予め記憶し、前記記憶された特徴と、前記プロファイル生成部により求められたヒストグラムのプロファイルから欠陥を識別する判定部と、を備えるウェーハの検査装置。 An irradiation unit that irradiates an inspection surface of a wafer to be inspected with infrared rays or X-rays,
A defect that detects the intensity of the transmitted light of the infrared ray or the X-ray transmitted through the wafer, creates an in-plane distribution map of the intensity of the transmitted light, and specifies the position of the defect from the in-plane distribution map of the intensity. A position identification unit,
At the position of the identified defect, an intensity detection unit that detects the intensity per predetermined area that divides the inspection surface,
A difference calculation unit for obtaining a difference in intensity per the predetermined area,
A profile generation unit that obtains a profile of a histogram indicating a relationship between the difference in intensity per predetermined area and the frequency,
A wafer inspection apparatus comprising: a feature of a histogram profile for a specific defect stored in advance; and a determination unit for identifying a defect from the stored feature and the histogram profile obtained by the profile generation unit. - 前記判定部は、
前記プロファイルのピーク数が１である場合には、ウェーハ裏面から前記検査面まで達するスリップ欠陥があると判定し、
前記プロファイルのピーク数が２である場合には、前記検査面に欠陥はなく、ウェーハ裏面から前記検査面まで達しないスリップ欠陥であると判定する請求項６又は７に記載のウェーハの検査装置。 The determination unit includes:
If the peak number of the profile is 1, it is determined that there is a slip defect reaching from the back surface of the wafer to the inspection surface,
8. The wafer inspection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein when the number of peaks in the profile is two, the inspection surface has no defect and is determined to be a slip defect that does not reach the inspection surface from the back surface of the wafer. 9. - 前記判定部は、前記プロファイルのピーク数が２である場合において、前記検査面を透過した透過光の強度が大きいほど、前記ウェーハ裏面からのスリップ欠陥の深さが相対的に深いと判定する請求項８に記載のウェーハの検査装置。 The determination unit, when the number of peaks in the profile is 2, determines that the depth of the slip defect from the back surface of the wafer is relatively deeper as the intensity of transmitted light transmitted through the inspection surface is larger. Item 9. A wafer inspection apparatus according to Item 8.
- 前記ウェーハは、鏡面研磨後のウェーハ、熱処理後のウェーハ、エピタキシャルウェーハの少なくとも何れかを含む請求項６～９のいずれか一項に記載のウェーハの検査装置。 The wafer inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the wafer includes at least one of a mirror-polished wafer, a heat-treated wafer, and an epitaxial wafer.
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| WO2021252826A1 (en) * | 2020-06-12 | 2021-12-16 | The Government Of The United States Of America, As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Surface profile mapping for evaluating iii-n device performance and yield |
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| US11125815B2 (en) * | 2019-09-27 | 2021-09-21 | Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. | Electro-optic waveform analysis process |
| JP7215445B2 (en) | 2020-02-20 | 2023-01-31 | 株式会社デンソー | battery module |
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Also Published As
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| CN112639451B (en) | 2024-04-30 |
| TW202012916A (en) | 2020-04-01 |
| TWI702388B (en) | 2020-08-21 |
| DE112019003985T5 (en) | 2021-04-22 |
| KR102482538B1 (en) | 2022-12-28 |
| KR20210002708A (en) | 2021-01-08 |
| JP2020026954A (en) | 2020-02-20 |
| JP7063181B2 (en) | 2022-05-09 |
| CN112639451A (en) | 2021-04-09 |
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