Patent · US Expired

Methods and systems for preparing a sample for thin film analysis

US7190441B1 · kind B1 · utility

6Cited by
8References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 2004
Grant dateMar 13, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 19, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/67028
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods and systems for preparing a sample for thin film analysis are provided. One system includes an energy beam source configured to generate an energy beam. The system also includes an energy beam delivery subsystem configured to direct the energy beam to a sample and to modify the energy beam such that the energy beam has a substantially flat-top profile on the sample. The energy beam removes a portion of a contaminant layer on the sample to expose an analysis area of a thin film on the sample. One method includes generating an energy beam and modifying the energy beam such that the energy beam has a substantially flat-top profile. The method also includes directing the energy beam to a sample. The energy beam removes a portion of a contaminant layer on the sample to expose an analysis area of a thin film on the sample.

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