An overlay measurement device measures an error between a first overlay mark and a second overlay mark respectively formed on different layers formed on a wafer. The device is configured to detect a height of the first overlay mark based on a change in the signal of the first detector according to a change in the relative position of the objective lens with respect to the wafer in the optical axis direction and detect a height of the second overlay mark based on a change in the signal of the second detector according to a change in the relative position of the objective lens with respect to the wafer in the optical axis direction.

A semiconductor device including: a first silicon layer including a first single crystal silicon and a plurality of first transistors; a first metal layer disposed over the first silicon layer; a second metal layer disposed over the first metal layer; a third metal layer disposed over the second metal layer; a second level including a plurality of second transistors, the second level disposed over the third metal layer; a fourth metal layer disposed over the second level; a fifth metal layer disposed over the fourth metal layer, where the fourth metal layer is aligned to first metal layer with a less than 40 nm alignment error; and a via disposed through the second level, where each of the second transistors includes a metal gate, and where a typical thickness of the second metal layer is greater than a typical thickness of the third metal layer by at least 50%.

A method of processing a wafer is provided. The method includes providing a reference plate below the wafer. The reference plate includes a reference pattern. The reference plate is imaged to capture an image of the reference pattern by directing light through the wafer. A first pattern is aligned using the image of the reference pattern. The first pattern is applied to a working surface of the wafer based on the aligning.

An apparatus for measuring a height of a substrate for processing in a lithographic apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first sensor for sensing a height of the substrate over a first area. The apparatus also comprises a second sensor for sensing a height of the substrate over a second area. The apparatus further comprises a processor adapted to normalize first data corresponding to a signal from the first sensor with a second sensor footprint to produce a first normalized height data, and to normalize second data corresponding to a signal from the second sensor with a first sensor footprint to produce a second normalized height data. The processor is adapted to determine a correction to a measured height of the substrate based on a difference between the first and second normalized height data.

An information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire process information about a substrate process, the process information including process data and a process condition, and a display control unit configured to control a display on a display apparatus based on the process information acquired by the acquisition unit, wherein the display control unit selectively displays, on the display apparatus, a first screen that displays the process data of a lot including a plurality of substrates on a lot-by-lot basis and a second screen that displays the process data of a first lot on a substrate-by-substrate basis, the first lot being a lot designated by a user from the lot displayed on the first screen.

The present application provides a method for avoiding a damage to an overlay metrology mark, forming a plurality of raised silicon structures on an active area of a scribe line area on a silicon substrate, forming first to third dielectric layers on the silicon structure, and forming an axial structure of a fin and a spacer on the first to third dielectric layers; forming a shallow trench isolation (STI) area on the silicon substrate between the axial structures; removing a portion of the silicon structure along the height thereof on the scribe line area, the height of the residual silicon structure is 150-300 angstroms higher than that of the STI area; forming a plurality of dummy gates on the residual silicon structure on the scribe line, then applying a dielectric layer to fill a gap between the dummy gates, polishing the dielectric layer to expose the top of the dummy gate.

A positioning apparatus includes a guide, a movable member capable of moving in a first direction while being guided by the guide, and a driver configured to drive the movable member in the first direction. The driver includes a feed screw extending in the first direction, a nut configured to threadably engage with the feed screw and move in the first direction along with a rotation of the feed screw, and a connecting device configured to connect the nut and the movable member. The connecting device includes a hollow rod with one end connected to the movable member and the other end connected to the nut, and the feed screw is inserted into a hollow portion of the rod.

An apparatus for and method of sensing multiple alignment marks in which the optical axis of a detector is divided into multiple axes each of which can essentially simultaneously detect a separate alignment mark to generate a signal which can then be multiplexed and presented to a single detector or multiple detectors thus permitting more rapid detection of multiple marks.

A method for operating a target processing system for processing a target (23) on a chuck (13), the method comprising providing at least a first chuck position mark (27) and a second chuck position mark (28) on the chuck (13); providing an alignment sensing system (17) arranged for detecting the first and second chuck position marks (27, 28), the alignment sensing system (17) comprising at least a first alignment sensor (61) and a second alignment sensor (62); moving the chuck (13) to a first position based on at least one measurement of the alignment sensing system (17); and measuring at least one value related to the first position of the chuck.

A method for operating a target processing system for processing a target (23) on a chuck (13), the method comprising providing at least a first chuck position mark (27) and a second chuck position mark (28) on the chuck (13); providing an alignment sensing system (17) arranged for detecting the first and second chuck position marks (27, 28), the alignment sensing system (17) comprising at least a first alignment sensor (61) and a second alignment sensor (62); moving the chuck (13) to a first position based on at least one measurement of the alignment sensing system (17); and measuring at least one value related to the first position of the chuck.