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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 17, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2001
Applicant:
Inventors:
Richard H. Livengood, San Jose, CA (US);
Paul Winer, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Gary Woods, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Michael DiBattista, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Assignee:
Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 2/166 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 2/166 ;
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the removal of material from a semiconductor substrate in an integrated circuit fabrication process is disclosed. The method and apparatus utilize a light source or charged particle beam (electron or ion beam) to induce a current in at least one P-N junction formed in the semiconductor substrate. The induced current is monitored during the removal of material and the process is stopped or endpointed in response to the induced current making a predetermined transition.