Defect reduction of patterned media templates and disks

Abstract

Imprint lithography has been shown to be an effective technique for the replication of nano-scale features. Acceptance of imprint lithography for manufacturing will require a demonstration of defect levels commensurate with cost-effective device production. This work summarizes the results of defect inspections of hard disks patterned using Jet and Flash Imprint Lithography (J-FIL TM ). Inspections were performed with optical based automated inspection tools.For the hard drive market, it is important to understand the defectivity of both the template and the imprinted disk. This work presents a methodology for automated pattern inspection and defect classification for imprint-patterned media. Candela CS20 and 6120 tools from KLA-Tencor map the optical properties of the disk surface, producing highresolution grayscale images of surface reflectivity and scattered light. Defects that have been identified in this manner are further characterized according to the morphology. The imprint process was tested after optimizing both the disk cleaning and adhesion layers processes that precede imprinting. An extended imprint run was performed and both the defect types and trends are reported.

Spiral Defect Reduction of Hard Disk Drive Media

“…It is resulted in high production cost and poor quality products. There are various applications of cost reduction through quality improvement in electronics as shown by failure analysis of ultrasonic pitting and carbon voids on magnetic recording disks [1] aimed to reduce carbon voids and ultrasonic power for improve disks quality, defect reduction of patterned media templates and disks [2] with respect to inspection methodology of hard disk pattern using jet and flash imprint lithography and characteristic and reduction of a new particle defect mode in sub-0.25 µm semiconductor process flow [3]. Six Sigma has been wildly and increasingly accepted in electronics and computer industries as a tool for the cost reduction through process improvement [4,5,6,7] due to its systematic procedures based on the statistical analysis [8].…”