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:
Aug. 31, 2004
Filed:
Apr. 10, 2002
Jennifer Lynne Drown, Orlando, FL (US);
Kim Elshot, Orlando, FL (US);
Erik Cho Houge, Orlando, FL (US);
Tingkwan Cheung, Singapore, SG;
Agere Systems, Inc., Allentown, PA (US);
Abstract
The present invention for a method and apparatus for detection of chemical mechanical planarization endpoint and device planarity comprises imparting at least one variation of an atomic mass of at least one material within the layer. The variation of the atomic mass within the layer is indicative of the layer thickness. The removal of the layer is monitored by detecting the variation in the atomic mass, and/or a change in concentration of the at least one material, during removal of the layer. Once the concentration of the material reaches a minimum threshold, or an atomic mass is detected at a minimum intensity, within a predetermined time duration, the removal of the layer is terminated. The variation in atomic mass, and/or concentration of materials within the layer is used to measure a planarity of the device.