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:
Mar. 23, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 17, 2002
George R. Koch, Los Altos, CA (US);
Douglas Masnaghetti, San Jose, CA (US);
KLA-Tencor Corporation, San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
An embodiment of the present invention comprises a SEM wherein the entire imaging apparatus of the SEM is supported on air bearings. A multi-stage differentially pumped vacuum seal area provides a localized vacuum zone for wafer examination. A wafer leveling mechanism insures that the top surface of the wafer being examined is place and maintained in a position level with the surface upon which the air bearing supported SEM rests. In use, wafers being examined are loaded into the wafer leveling mechanism, which places and then holds their top surface flush with an examination table. The SEM is then moved on its air bearings and placed in appropriate position over the wafer. Any portion of the wafer can be examined simply by moving the SEM column in the appropriate direction.