Patent · US Expired

Metal etch rate analyzer

US4260259A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
2References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 29, 1978
Grant dateApr 7, 1981
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 29, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B11/0675
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An improved interferometer system for detecting the etch rate of an opaque material, such as silicon or metal. The system includes means for producing two parallel beams of light, with one beam being directed to the surface of the opaque material, and the other beam being directed to the surface of an adjacent masking material of transparent nature. The rate of etch of the opaque material is detected from the interference pattern changes between the first beam and the second beam. The system utilizes a novel arrangement of beam splitters which results in equal path lengths for the respective beams and further includes a viewing light which is passed by a system of dichroic filters to enable observation of the focus spot.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.