Background: E-beam metrologies, both critical dimension scanning electron microscope metrology and defect scan metrology, have been playing a very critical role in gating patterning quality. SEM images can provide rich visual information for engineers to do qualitative and quantitative analyses. However, the low e-beam metrology tool throughput makes it impossible to obtain SEM images for larger area. Monte Carlo-based SEM image simulations or other SEM image simulations require postlithography or postetch pattern three-dimensional structures as prerequisite, and the simulation speed is not sufficiently fast for full chip implementation.
Aim: We aim to develop machine learning SEM models with sufficient accuracy and speed for full chip application in semiconductor manufacturing environment.
Approach: We have proposed a virtual SEM metrology solution based on U-Net neural network with physics-based feature maps as model input. With information in aerial image space encoded properly, SEM images of both postlithography and postetch can be predicted accurately enough for practical applications using our proposed virtual SEM metrology models. Equipped with GPUs, the machine learning-based SEM image models are fast enough to make it possible to realize full chip SEM generation from post-OPC data.
Results: Our machine learning SEM image models can predict SEM images with normalized cross correlation around 0.95 in reference to ground truth SEM images, each SEM image (512 × 512 in size) takes about 800 ms using single CPU, and the speed can be accelerated to about 10 ms with single GPU.
Conclusions: Using U-Net structure and physics-based feature maps as model inputs, machine learning-based SEM image models can be developed. The models are sufficiently accurate and fast to find their applications in semiconductor manufacturing, and they can be used as independent model for OPC data verification or generate SEM images as reference for SEM defect scan metrology.
Computational lithography has been playing a critical role in enabling the semiconductor industry. After source mask co-optimization (SMO), inverse lithography has become the ultimate frontier of computational lithography. Full chip implementation of rigorous inverse lithography remains impractical because of enormous computational hardware resource requirements and long computational time, the situation exacerbates for EUV computational lithography where mask 3D effect is more pronounced. One very promising technique to overcome the barrier is to take full advantage of the maturing machine learning techniques based on neural network architecture. Some success has been achieved using deep convolution neural network (DCNN) to obtain inverse lithography technology (ILT) solution with significantly less computational time. In DCNN, to extract features with sufficient resolution and nearly complete representation, the feature extract layers are very complicated and lack of physical meaning. More importantly, the training requires large number of well balanced samples, which makes the training more difficult and time consuming. To alleviate the difficulties relating to DCNN, we have proposed the physics based optimal feature vector design for machine learning based computational lithography. The innovative physics based feature vector design eliminates the need of feature extraction layers in neural network, only layers for mapping function construction are needed, which greatly reduces the NN training time and accelerates the NN model SRAF generation for full chip. In this paper, we will present our machine learning based inverse lithography results with adaptive and dynamical sampling scheme for neural network training.
The semiconductor manufacturing roadmap which generally follows Moore’s law requires smaller and smaller EPE (Edge Placement Error), and this places stricter requirements on OPC model accuracy, which is mainly limited by metrology errors, pattern coverage and model form. Current metrology errors are mainly related to SEM image noise and measurement difficulty in complex 2D patterns. And traditional model form improvement by adding empirical terms for PEB (Post Exposure Bake), NTD (Negative Tone Development) and PRS (Physical Resist Shrinkage) effects still cannot meet the accuracy spec because other physical and chemical effects are uncaptured. Fitting these effects also requires comprehensive pattern coverage during model calibration. Solely improving model form may overfit the metrology error, which is risky, while solely improving metrology ignores existing model errors: both factors are troublesome for OPC. In this paper, a new metrology (MXP, naming for Metrology of Extreme Performance) and deep learning (Newron, naming for a Deep Convolutional Neural Network model form) integrated solution is proposed, where MXP decreases the metrology errors and provides good pattern coverage with high-volume reliable CD and EP (Edge Placement) gauges, and Newron captures remaining complex physical and chemical effects embedded in high-volume gauges beyond the traditional model. This solution shows overall ~30% prediction accuracy improvement compared to baseline metrology and FEM+ (Focus Exposure Matrix) model flow in N14 NTD process, predicts SEM shape of critical weak points more accurately.
With semiconductor technology progressing beyond 5nm node, there is tremendous pressure on computational lithography to achieve both accuracy and speed. One very promising technique to accomplish this mission is to take full advantage of the maturing machine learning techniques based on neural network architecture. Some success has been achieved using convolution neural network (CNN) to obtain inverse lithography technology (ILT) solution with significantly less computational time. In general, CNN architecture consists of feature extraction layers and nonlinear mapping function construction layers. To train a CNN model requires a large amount of data and computational resource. To maintain certain intrinsic symmetries of imaging behavior, the feature extraction layers must be carefully engineered using weight sharing techniques or using well balanced training samples of different orientations, otherwise, feature extraction part will be skewed. It is therefore very desired to have a scheme that can obtain optimal feature vector for machine learning based computational lithography automatically without the need of feature extraction layers in CNN. In this paper, we will make an attempt to describe such a scheme and present our test results on machine learning based OPC and ILT solution. It should be understood that machine learning based computational lithography solutions do not possess the capability to replace conventional OPC or ILT completely due to its lack of required accuracy. However, it can provide an initial solution that is close enough to final OPC solution or ILT solution, therefore fast OPC and fast ILT can be realized.
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