Higher order intra-field alignment for intra-wafer lens and reticle heating control

Before each wafer exposure, the photo lithography scanner’s alignment system measures alignment marks to correct for placement errors and wafer deformation. To minimize throughput impact, the number of alignment measurements is limited. Usually, the wafer alignment does not correct for intrafield effects. However, after calibration of lens and reticle heating, residual heating effects remain. A set of wafers is exposed with special reticles containing many alignment marks, enabling intra-field alignment. Reticles with a dense alignment layout have been used, with different defined intra-field bias. In addition, overlay simulations are performed with dedicated higher order intra-field overlay models to compensate for wafer-to-wafer and across-wafer heating.