A critical dimension uniformity control method is provided. The method includes gathering a first CDU by a first critical dimension from a first wafer after being processed by a first surface process. The method includes determining a first calibration process based on the first CDU. The determining includes an intra dose correction step for correcting reticle-dependent deviation, a thru-slit dose sensitivity correction step for correcting time-dependent deviation, and an inter dose correction step for correcting process-dependent deviation. The method includes calibrating the first surface process by the first calibration process to determine a second surface process different from the first surface process.

A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a platen to support a polishing pad, the platen having a recess, a flexible membrane in the recess, and an in-situ vibration monitoring system to generate a signal. The in-situ acoustic monitoring system includes a vibration sensor supported by the flexible membrane and positioned to couple to an underside of the polishing pad.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates a process tool that includes a chamber housing defining a processing chamber. Within the processing chamber is a workpiece holder apparatus that is configured to hold a workpiece. A sonar sensor is arranged over the workpiece holder apparatus. The sonar sensor includes an emitter that is configured to produce sound waves traveling towards the workpiece holder apparatus. The sonar sensor also includes a detector that is configured to receive reflected sound waves from the workpiece holder apparatus or an object between the sonar sensor and the workpiece holder apparatus. Further, sonar sensor control circuitry is coupled to the sonar sensor and is configured to determine if a workpiece is present on the workpiece holder apparatus based on a sonar intensity value of the reflected sound waves received by the detector of the sonar sensor.

A method includes forming an inner chamber in a process chamber of a plasma processing apparatus, the inner chamber having smaller volume than the process chamber. At least one gas is introduced into the inner chamber, and flow of the at least one gas into the inner chamber is measured. The flow of the at least one gas is adjusted to a desired rate, and a wafer is processed by the at least one gas at the desired rate while the inner chamber is not formed.

A method of testing a semiconductor package is provided. The method includes forming a first metallization layer, wherein the first metallization layer includes a first conductive pad electrically connected to a charge measurement unit and a charge receiving unit; performing a first test against the charge measurement unit through the first conductive pad to determine whether breakdown occurs in the charge measurement unit; and in response to determining that no breakdown occurs in the charge measurement unit, forming a second dielectric layer over the first metallization layer, wherein a portion of the first conductive pad is exposed from the second dielectric layer.

A method and apparatus for improving film growth uniformity on a semiconductor substrate. The film growth uniformity is improved by adjusting the amount of power provided to the substrate by spot heaters as the substrate is rotated. Therefore, the amount of power provided to the substrate by the spot heaters changes as the portion of the substrate being heated by spot heater changes. The change in power provided by the spot heater is dependent on a temperature correction factor applied by the controller.

A pressure control device 20 includes a pressure control valve 25, a flow resistance 23 provided downstream of the pressure control valve, for restricting a gas flow, a first pressure sensor 21 for measuring a gas pressure between the pressure control valve and the flow resistance, a second pressure sensor 22 for measuring a gas pressure downstream of the flow resistance, and an arithmetic control circuit 26 connected to the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor. The pressure control device is configured to control the gas pressure downstream of the flow resistance by adjusting an opening degree of the pressure control valve based on an output of the second pressure sensor regardless of an output of the first pressure sensor control, and calculate the flow rate of the gas downstream of the flow resistance based on the output of the first pressure sensor and the output of the second pressure sensor.

A thermal processing system is provided. The thermal processing system can include a processing chamber and a workpiece disposed within the processing chamber. The thermal processing system can include a heat source configured to emit light towards the workpiece. The thermal processing system can further include a tunable reflective array disposed between the workpiece and the heat source. The tunable reflective array can include a plurality of pixels. Each pixel of the plurality of pixels can include an electrochromatic material configurable in a translucent state or an opaque state. When the electrochromatic material of a pixel is configured in the translucent state, the light at least partially passes through the pixel. Conversely, transmission of light through a pixel is reduced when the electrochromatic material of the pixel is configured in the opaque state.

A method includes determining a target etching depth for etching a plurality of dielectric regions in a wafer. The wafer includes a plurality of protruding semiconductor fins and the plurality of dielectric regions between the plurality of protruding semiconductor fins. The method further includes etching the plurality of dielectric regions, projecting a light beam on the wafer, and generating a spectrum from a reflected light reflected from the wafer, determining an end point for etching based on the spectrum. The end point is an expected time point. The plurality of dielectric regions are etched to the target etching depth. The etching of the plurality of dielectric regions is stopped at the end point.

A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus includes a platen to support a polishing pad, a carrier head to hold a substrate against a polishing surface of the polishing pad, a motor to generate relative motion between the platen and the carrier head so as to polish an overlying layer on the substrate, an in-situ vibration monitoring system including a light source to emit a light beam and a sensor that receives a reflection of the light beam from a reflective surface of the polishing pad, and a controller configured to detect exposure of an underlying layer due to the polishing of the substrate based on measurements from the sensor of the in-situ pad vibration monitoring system.