Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for making surface photovoltage measurements of a semiconductor

US5091691A · kind A · utility

82Cited by
6References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 7, 1988
Grant dateFeb 25, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/2656
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus for making ac surface photovoltage (SPV) measurements of a specimen of semiconductor material under dc bias voltage conditions includes a light source whose output beam is intensity modulated, an adjustable dc bias voltage source, a conductive base for supporting the specimen and a novel capacitance type reference electrode assembly for sensing the SPV signals. The reference electrode assembly includes in one embodiment a button made of insulating elastomeric material and attached to a rigid plate made of insulating material. A film made of insulating material and having a conductive coating on one side which serves as a reference electrode is attached to the button. When SPV measurements are being taken, the film is pressed against the specimen with pressure sufficient to hold the reference electrode in close compliance with the specimen, with pressure being applied to the plate from an external source and being transmitted from the rigid plate to the film through the elastomeric button.

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