The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 17, 2026

Filed:

Aug. 18, 2023
Applicant:

Kla Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);

Inventors:

Chunhai Wang, Pleasanton, CA (US);

Guoheng Zhao, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Anatoly Romanovsky, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Yihua Hao, San Jose, CA (US);

Monica Ji, Miliptas, CA (US);

Assignee:

KLA Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 21/95 (2006.01); G01N 21/15 (2006.01); G01N 21/88 (2006.01); G01N 21/956 (2006.01); H01L 21/66 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 21/9501 (2013.01); G01N 21/15 (2013.01); G01N 21/88 (2013.01); G01N 21/95 (2013.01); G01N 2021/151 (2013.01); G01N 21/956 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0233 (2013.01); H01L 22/12 (2013.01);
Abstract

Methods and systems for inspecting a specimen are provided. One system includes an inspection subsystem configured for directing light to an area on the specimen and for generating output responsive to light from the area on the specimen. The system also includes a first gas flow subsystem configured for replacing a gas in a first local volume surrounding the area on the specimen with a first medium that scatters less of the light than the gas. In addition, the system includes a second gas flow subsystem configured for replacing the gas in a second local volume proximate the first local volume with a second medium different than the first medium. The system further includes a computer subsystem configured for detecting abnormalities on the specimen based on the output.


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