Patent · US Expired

Method to detect non-spherical particles using orthogonally polarized light

US5637881A · kind A · utility

19Cited by
6References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 1995
Grant dateJun 10, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/21
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A structure and a method provide a quasi bright field particle sensor for the detection of non-spherical particles, using a laser beam of predetermined polarization. A phase shift caused by non-spherical particles passing through the laser beam is utilized to detect the presence of such particles. In one embodiment, a single laser beam is used to detect the concentration of non-spherical particles in the pump line receiving the exhaust gas from a process chamber.

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