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:
Jul. 11, 2017

Filed:

Apr. 07, 2014
Applicant:

Kla-tencor Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);

Inventors:

Haiguang Chen, Mountain View, CA (US);

Jaydeep Sinha, Livermore, CA (US);

Sergey Kamensky, Campbell, CA (US);

Enrique Chavez, Tracy, CA (US);

Shouhong Tang, Santa Clara, CA (US);

Mark Plemmons, Livermore, CA (US);

Assignee:

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

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01B 9/02 (2006.01); G01N 21/95 (2006.01); G01N 21/956 (2006.01); G01B 11/30 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01N 21/9501 (2013.01); G01N 21/956 (2013.01); G01B 11/30 (2013.01); G01B 11/303 (2013.01); G01B 11/306 (2013.01);
Abstract

Interferometer systems and methods for providing improved defect detection and quantification are disclosed. The systems and methods in accordance with the present disclosure may detect surface defects on patterned or bare wafer surfaces and subsequently quantify them. In certain embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure, amplitude maps of the wafer surfaces are obtained and are utilized in addition/alternative to phase maps for wafer surface feature detection. Furthermore, local one-dimensional and/or two-dimensional unwrapping techniques are also disclosed and are utilized in certain embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure to provide height and depth information of the detected defects, further improving the detection capabilities of the measurement systems.


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