Patent · US Expired

Optics landing system and method therefor

US6828811B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
15References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 26, 2002
Grant dateDec 7, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 26, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B21/24
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A landing system is provided for accurate placing of collection optics in a microscope. In one example, a solid immersion lens (SIL) is used for light collection, and the landing system is operated to place the SIL in contact with an IC. A proximity sensor is used for determining the SIL's position with respect to the IC. The proximity sensor is attached to a z-motion stage. During the placement procedure, the navigation is performed in steps and at each step the compression of the SIL is measured relative to its uncompressed state. When a measured compression exceeds a preset threshold, a SIL landing is recognized. In one example, after a landing is recognized, a further compression is imparted to the SIL in order to place the SIL in a focusing distance to the objective lens.

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