Patent · US Expired

Methods and systems for determining a characteristic of polishing within a zone on a specimen from combined output signals of an eddy current device

US7175503B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
40References
47Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 4, 2003
Grant dateFeb 13, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB24B49/12
  • WIPO fieldMachine tools
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for characterizing polishing of a specimen are provided. One method includes scanning a specimen with an eddy current device during polishing to generate output signals at measurement spots across the specimen. The method also includes combining a portion of the output signals generated at the measurement spots located within a zone on the specimen. In addition, the method includes determining a characteristic of polishing within the zone from the combined portion of the output signals. In some instances, a zone may include a predetermined range of radial and azimuthal positions on the specimen. In one embodiment, the method may include determining a characteristic of polishing within more than one zone on the specimen. Some embodiments may include determining an additional characteristic of polishing from the characteristic of polishing within more than one zone on the specimen.

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