Patent · US Expired

X-ray confocal defect detection systems and methods

US7212607B1 · kind B1 · utility

4Cited by
3References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 2, 2006
Grant dateMay 1, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 2, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N23/083
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An x-ray confocal defect detection system comprises an x-ray source, a confocal component, and defect detectors and operates on a target portion of a semiconductor device. The x-ray source generates x-ray energy. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of formed layers. The target portion is a selected layer or portion of the plurality of formed layers. At least a portion of the x-ray is transmitted through the semiconductor device as transmitted x-ray. The confocal component receives the transmitted x-ray and passes target x-ray intensity from the target portion of the transmitted x-ray energy. Detectors receive the target x-ray from the confocal component from which defect analysis can be performed.

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