Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for detecting particles on a substrate

US5608155A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
16References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 1995
Grant dateMar 4, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 30, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2015/1493
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The apparent size of sub-micron contaminant particles on a wafer surface is enlarged by selective condensation of a vapor on the particles. The substrate is located proximate to and spaced apart from a liquid vapor source which is heated. The vaporized liquid adheres to the particles, and after a predetermined period of time, condensation of vapor on the substrate is stopped, and the substrate is scanned for detecting the particles.

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