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. 18, 2015

Filed:

Sep. 30, 2009
Applicants:

Richard E. Bills, Tucson, AZ (US);

Neil Judell, Newtonville, MA (US);

Klaus R. Freischlad, Tucson, AZ (US);

James P. Mcniven, Vail, AZ (US);

Inventors:

Richard E. Bills, Tucson, AZ (US);

Neil Judell, Newtonville, MA (US);

Klaus R. Freischlad, Tucson, AZ (US);

James P. McNiven, Vail, AZ (US);

Assignee:

KLA-Tencor Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 21/88 (2006.01); G01N 21/21 (2006.01); G01N 21/47 (2006.01); G01N 21/55 (2014.01); G01N 21/95 (2006.01); G01N 21/956 (2006.01); G06T 7/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 21/8806 (2013.01); G01N 21/21 (2013.01); G01N 21/47 (2013.01); G01N 21/474 (2013.01); G01N 21/4738 (2013.01); G01N 21/55 (2013.01); G01N 21/88 (2013.01); G01N 21/95 (2013.01); G01N 21/9501 (2013.01); G01N 21/956 (2013.01); G06T 7/0004 (2013.01); G01N 2021/4707 (2013.01); G01N 2021/4711 (2013.01); G01N 2021/4792 (2013.01); G01N 2021/556 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8848 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8864 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8877 (2013.01); G01N 2021/8896 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0612 (2013.01); G01N 2201/105 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30148 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01);
Abstract

A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The optical collection and detection system features, in the front quartersphere, a light channel assembly for collecting light reflected from the surface of the workpiece, and a front collector and wing collectors for collecting light scattered from the surface, to greatly improve the measurement capabilities of the system. The light channel assembly has a switchable edge exclusion mask and a reflected light detection system for improved detection of the reflected light.


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