Malfunction detection in plasma etching process using EPD signal trace

EPD 신호검출에 의한 플라즈마식각공정의 이상검출

EPD(End Point Detection) is used to decide etching degree of layer which must be removed at wafer etching process in plasma etching process which is one of the most important process in semiconductor manufacturing. In this thesis, the method which detects malfunction of etching process in real-time will be discussed. Several EPD signal traces are collected in normal plasma etching condition and used as reference EPD signal traces. Critical points can be detected by applying differentiation and zero-crossing techniques to reference EPD signal. Mean and standard deviation of critical parameters which is memorized from reference EPD signal are calculated and these determine the lower and higher limit of control chart. And by applying statical control chart to EPD signals which are collected in real etching process malfunctions of process are detected in real-time. By means of applying this method to the real etching process we prove our method can accurately detect the malfunction of etching process and can compensate disadvantage of current industrial method.