Patent · US Expired

Wafer inspecting apparatus and method

US6241456A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
2References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 11, 2000
Grant dateJun 5, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 11, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S414/141
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

This invention provides a wafer inspecting apparatus which enables macroscopic inspection of the entire surface of a wafer. According to the wafer inspecting apparatus of this invention, the edge portion of a wafer 8 is held by suction with the distal ends of wafer holding portions 702 of a wafer holding arm 7, and first-time observation of the lower surface of the wafer 8 is performed. Then, the wafer 8 is transported onto a center table 6. The center table 6 is rotated through a predetermined angle. The edge portion of the wafer 8 is held by suction again with the distal ends of the wafer holding portions 702 of the wafer holding arm 7. Then, second-time observation of the lower surface of the wafer 8 is performed.

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