The alignment marks formed in a scribe line of a semiconductor substrate
include at least one main mark, a first sub-mark and second sub-marks.
The first sub-mark is formed at a central portion of the main mark. The
second sub-marks are disposed symmetrically with respect to the first
sub-mark and are used for detecting asymmetry of the main mark by
measuring distances between respective side edges of the main mark and
the first sub-mark, and by measuring respective side edges between the
main mark and each of the second sub-marks. Alternatively, the alignment
marks include main outer and inner marks and a sub-mark disposed in
between the main outer and inner marks. In this case, the sub-mark is
used for detecting asymmetry of the main mark by measuring distances
between respective side edges of the main outer mark and the sub-mark,
and by measuring respective side edges between the main inner mark and
the sub-mark. Thus, accurate alignment information can be obtained
regardless of whether the main mark was inadvertently formed as
asymmetrical.