Agere Systems Inc.

Jennifer Lynne Drown

Erik Cho Houge

Kim Elshot

Tingkwan Cheung

The present invention for a method and apparatus for detection of chemical mechanical planarization endpoint and device planarity comprises imparting at least one variation of an atomic mass of at least one material within the layer. The variation of the atomic mass within the layer is indicative of the layer thickness. The removal of the layer is monitored by detecting the variation in the atomic mass, and/or a change in concentration of the at least one material, during removal of the layer. Once the concentration of the material reaches a minimum threshold, or an atomic mass is detected at a minimum intensity, within a predetermined time duration, the removal of the layer is terminated. The variation in atomic mass, and/or concentration of materials within the layer is used to measure a planarity of the device.

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Orlando, FL, United States of America

Jennifer Lynne Drown