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:
Aug. 11, 1998

Filed:

Aug. 30, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:

Harold R Kaufman, Laporte, CO (US);

Raymond S Robinson, Fort Collins, CO (US);

James R Kahn, Fort Collins, CO (US);

Assignee:

Kaufman & Robinson, Inc., Ft. Collins, CO (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
324 713 ; 324459 ; 3133591 ;
Abstract

Ion-beam probes of the planar, screened, and multilayer types are shown and described. These probes can detect the arrival of energetic ions and, in the latter type, also detect the arrival of energetic neutral molecules. A specific improvement is the use of a multilayer collection surface behind an aperture to measure the angular distribution of the etching contributions of energetic ions and/or energetic neutral molecules. After use, this multilayer collection surface provides a permanent record of the measurement. The improvement is also suitable for the adverse thermal and ion-etching environment of an energetic ion beam. In one embodiment, the aperture size and distance from the collection surface are such that a theoretical analysis of etch depth behind a straight-edge mask can be used to analyze the experimental results. The etch contour can be accurately reproduced from the measurement of half-maximum half angle, as long as the assumed distribution is incorporated in the measurement process.


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