Patent · US Expired

Methods and systems for inspection of an entire wafer surface using multiple detection channels

US7130036B1 · kind B1 · utility

20Cited by
22References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 16, 2003
Grant dateOct 31, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 16, 2024

Classification

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

Abstract

Methods for inspecting a wafer are provided. One method includes directing light to a center portion and an edge portion of a wafer in a single scan. The method also includes detecting light scattered from the center portion using a first detection channel and detecting light scattered from the edge portion using a second detection channel. Another method for inspecting an edge portion of a wafer includes scanning the edge portion of the wafer with light. The method also includes separately detecting different portions of light scattered from the edge portion. In addition, the method includes separating light scattered from edge features in the edge portion from other light scattered from the edge portion. The method further includes detecting defects in the edge portion of the wafer using the other scattered light.

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