Patent · US Expired

X-Y Stage for a patterned wafer automatic inspection system

US4556317A · kind A · utility

86Cited by
3References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 22, 1984
Grant dateDec 3, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 22, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/70716
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An automatic patterned wafer inspection system includes macro and micro inspection stations having optical axes that are 10 inches apart on an X-Y crossed roller stage which provides 7 inches of travel in each of two directions along two orthogonal axes. A macro-micro transport arm is pivotally interconnected with the stage and supports a turntable with a vacuum chuck centrally located thereon. The transport arm is positioned to move the wafer from a position 5 inches to the left of center of the stage (the macro axis) to a position 5 inches to the right of the center of the stage (the micro axis). Repeatability of positioning of the arms is obtained by using a spring-loaded link to drive the transport arm against a hard stop located at the left and right of the stage. The turntable is mounted so as to have an outside edge adjacent the distal end of the transport arm. A vacuum chuck for holding the wafer is attached to the turntable. A belt and pulley drive is used to rotate the turntable when it is necessary for the wafer alignment.

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