Patent · US Expired

Patterned wafer inspection using spatial filtering

US6686602B2 · kind B2 · utility

26Cited by
19References
68Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 15, 2002
Grant dateFeb 3, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/95623
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus for spatial filtering includes a Fourier lens, adapted to collect radiation emitted from a point and to separate the collected radiation into spatial components in a Fourier plane of the lens, and a programmable spatial filter, positioned at the Fourier plane. An image sensor is optically coupled to capture an image of the spatial components of the collected radiation in the Fourier plane, while the components are incident on the filter. A filter controller is coupled to receive and analyze the image captured by the image sensor and, responsive thereto, to control the spatial filter so as to block one or more of the spatial components.

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