Patent · US Expired

Eddy current system for in-situ profile measurement

US7112960B2 · kind B2 · utility

62Cited by
27References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 31, 2003
Grant dateSep 26, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 27, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67253
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An eddy current monitoring system may include an elongated core. One or more coils may be coupled with the elongated core for producing an oscillating magnetic field that may couple with one or more conductive regions on a wafer. The core may be translated relative to the wafer to provide improved resolution while maintaining sufficient signal strength. An eddy current monitoring system may include a DC-coupled marginal oscillator for producing an oscillating magnetic field at a resonant frequency, where the resonant frequency may change as a result of changes to one or more conductive regions. Eddy current monitoring systems may be used to enable real-time profile control.

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