Patent · US Active

Methods, systems and computer program products for characterizing structures based on interferometric phase data

US7633627B2 · kind B2 · utility

108Cited by
3References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 20, 2006
Grant dateDec 15, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 13, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2021/1787
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Structure profiles from optical interferometric data can be identified by obtaining a plurality of broadband interferometric optical profiles of a structure as a function of structure depth in an axial direction. Each of the plurality of interferometric optical profiles include a reference signal propagated through a reference path and a sample signal reflected from a sample reflector in the axial direction. An axial position corresponding to at least a portion of the structure is selected. Phase variations of the plurality of interferometric optical profiles are determined at the selected axial position. A physical displacement of the structure is identified based on the phase variations at the selected axial position.

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