Patent assignee · IL · COMPANY

NOVA MEASURING INSTRUMENTS INC.

186Patents
116Active
186Granted
52Portfolio score

Filing activity: Apr 1, 1994 → May 17, 2024 · 28 expiring within 5 years

Most-cited patents

PatentTitleAreaCited byStatus
US5604344A Autofocussing microscope having a pattern imaging system Physics 141 Expired
US5517312A Device for measuring the thickness of thin films Physics 112 Expired
US6657736B1 Method and system for measuring patterned structures Physics 100 Expired
US6476920B1 Method and apparatus for measurements of patterned structures Electricity 100 Expired
US6166801A Monitoring apparatus and method particularly useful in photolithographically processing substrates Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies 94 Expired
US5764365A Two-dimensional beam deflector Physics 77 Expired
US5682242A Method and apparatus for determining a location on a surface of an object Physics 73 Expired
US6100985A Method and apparatus for measurements of patterned structures Electricity 70 Expired
US6974962B2 Lateral shift measurement using an optical technique Electricity 70 Expired
US6045433A Apparatus for optical inspection of wafers during polishing Electricity 66 Expired
US6704920B2 Process control for micro-lithography Electricity 61 Expired
US6038029A Method and apparatus for alignment of a wafer Physics 54 Expired
US5867590A Method and apparatus for determining a location on a surface of an object Physics 54 Expired
US6556947B1 Optical measurements of patterned structures Electricity 49 Expired
US6426502B1 Apparatus for integrated monitoring of wafers and for process control in the semiconductor manufacturing and a method for use thereof Electricity 39 Expired
US6281974A Method and apparatus for measurements of patterned structures Electricity 39 Expired
US6212961A Buffer system for a wafer handling system Electricity 37 Expired
US6424417B1 Method and system for controlling the photolithography process Physics 36 Expired
US6650424B2 Method and system for measuring in patterned structures Electricity 27 Expired
US6292265A Method and apparatus for monitoring a chemical mechanical planarization process applied to metal-based patterned objects Electricity 27 Expired
US6603529B1 Monitoring apparatus and method particularly useful in photolithographically processing substrates Physics 26 Expired
US6815947B2 Method and system for thickness measurements of thin conductive layers Physics 24 Expired
US7292341B2 Optical system operating with variable angle of incidence Physics 23 Expired
US8142965B2 Method and system for measuring in patterned structures Physics 22 Active
US6407809B1 Optical inspection system and method Physics 20 Expired

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Counts and citation impact are objective bibliographic measures.