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:
Sep. 23, 2008

Filed:

Feb. 19, 2007
Applicants:

Brian Brown, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Paul Franzen, West Linn, OR (US);

Inventors:

Brian Brown, Palo Alto, CA (US);

Paul Franzen, West Linn, OR (US);

Assignee:

Novellus Systems, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01B 11/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A method is provided for measuring edge exclusion on a workpiece that includes a wafer having a film disposed thereon. The method is performed by a CMP system employing a platen and a thickness sensor coupled to the platen and positioned to repeatedly travel a path over the edge of the film during polishing. The method comprises measuring the thickness of the workpiece during selected iterations of the probe path, and establishing from the wafer thickness measurements the length of time the probe is over the film (t) during the selected iterations. Edge exclusion is determined for at least one iteration utilizing a function related to t.


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