Patent · US Expired

Laser beam induced phenomena detection

US6897664B1 · kind B1 · utility

18Cited by
3References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 2002
Grant dateMay 24, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/311
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Apparatus for and methods of inspection using laser beam induced alteration are provided. In one aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes a laser scanning microscope for directing a laser beam at a circuit structure and a source for biasing and thereby establishing a power condition in the circuit structure. A detection circuit is provided for detecting a change in the power condition in response to illumination of the circuit structure by the laser beam and generating a first output signal based on the detected change. A signal processor is provided for processing the first output signal and generating a second output signal based thereon. A control system is operable to scan the laser beam according to a pattern that has a plurality of pixel locations, whereby the laser beam may be moved to a given pixel location and allowed to dwell there for a selected time before being moved to another pixel location.

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