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:
Jul. 20, 1993

Filed:

May. 06, 1992
Applicant:
Inventors:

Walter L Smith, Livermore, CA (US);

Clifford G Wells, Pleasanton, CA (US);

Allan Rosencwaig, Danville, CA (US);

Assignee:

Therma-Wave, Inc., Fremont, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
374-5 ; 374-7 ; 356237 ;
Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for evaluating thermal and electrical characteristics of a sample. An intensity modulated pump beam is focused onto the surface of a sample at one spot. A non-modulated probe beam is focused onto the sample at a second spot, spaced laterally and vertically from the first spot. The distance between the two spots is at least two microns. The modulated power of the reflected probe beam that is in phase with the pump beam modulation frequency is monitored to provide information about the characteristics of the sample. The apparatus is particularly useful in evaluating the integrity of metal lines and vias in a semiconductor sample.


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