Vantage Technology today announced it has received a purchase order for
multiple SlurryScope™ Systems from a major IC production fab based in
Asia. The order came after Vantage’s real-time metrology tool was
evaluated on various lines that continuously piped undiluted slurry into
the wafer fab’s chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) systems. The
evaluation, which took place over several months, confirmed correlation
of the large particle count (LPC) in undiluted slurry with the level of
micro-scratches on production wafers.
“Our real-time metrology tool has been designed to instantly detect and
profile oversized particles in the 1.0-to-12.0+ micron ranges,”
confirmed Paul Magliocco, Vantage CEO. “By continuously measuring the
size and distribution of particles in undiluted slurry, our metrology
can be used to minimize wafer micro-scratches while optimizing slurry
and filter life cycles.” He noted that the SlurryScope also eliminates
the waste associated with the conventional practice of diluting slurries
before analyzing their particulate compositions.
“As leading IC fabs march to ever smaller geometries, with the 28nm node
in production, the need to monitor LPC becomes increasingly critical,”
asserted Magliocco. “Even more crucial to the customer is having a
real-time metrology tool that is consistent in charting accurate data
for the particle distribution.” Today’s announcement is a leading
indicator that major fabs will be inclined to install multiple
SlurryScope Systems to manage multiple slurry lines piped to the CMP
stage.
About Vantage Technology
Operating from headquarters in Campbell, California, Vantage Technology
Corporation was founded in 2010 by a cadre of Silicon Valley veterans
with extensive semiconductor test experience. Focused on developing
real-time micro-analytical metrology tools using advanced laser
technology, proprietary algorithms and multicore image processing
techniques, the company has targeted its first product at the
semiconductor industry. Called the SlurryScope™ System, this initial
real-time tool continuously detects large particle counts in undiluted
slurry. Early detection of oversized slurry particles enables timely
corrective action that can minimize defects and wafer micro-scratches
caused by particulate agglomeration at the chemical-mechanical
planarization (CMP) stage. For more information, visit www.VantageTechCorp.com.
