An Evaluation of Multiple-input Dual-output Run-to-Run Control Scheme for Semiconductor Manufacturing

This paper provides an evaluation of an optimization-based, multiple-input double-output (MIDO) run-to-run (R2R) control scheme for general semiconductor manufacturing processes. The controller in this research, termed adaptive dual response optimizing controller (ADROC), can serve as a process optimizer as well as a recipe regulator between consecutive runs of wafer fabrication. In evaluation, it is assumed that the equipment model could be appropriately described by a pair of second-order polynomial functions in terms of a set of controllable variables. Of practical relevance is to consider a drifting effect in the equipment model since in common semiconductor practice the process tends to drift due to machine aging and tool wearing. We select a typical application of R2R control to chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) in semiconductor manufacturing in this evaluation, and there are five different CMP process scenarios demonstrated, including mean shift, variance increase, and IMA disturbances. For the controller, ADROC, an on-line estimation technique is implemented in a self-tuning (ST) control manner for the adaptation purpose. Subsequently, an ad hoc global optimization algorithm based on the dual response approach, arising from the response surface methodology (RSM) literature, is used to seek the optimum recipe within the acceptability region for the execution of next run. The main components of ADROC are described and its control performance is assessed. It reveals from the evaluation that ADROC can provide excellent control actions for the MIDO R2R situations even though the process exhibits complicated, nonlinear interaction effects between control variables, and the drifting disturbances.