Patent · US Active

Ellipsometer focusing system

US9243999B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
9References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 4, 2013
Grant dateJan 26, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 14, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B7/28
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ellipsometer includes an integrated focusing system with a beam splitter between the sample and the ellipsometer detector. The beam splitter provides a portion of the radiation to a lens system that magnifies any deviation from a best focus position by at least 2×. The focusing system includes a 2D sensor, where the spot of light focused on the sensor is 50 percent or smaller than the sensor. The focusing system may further include a compensator to correct optical aberrations caused by the beam splitter. A processor receives an image signal and finds the location of the spot from which focus error can be determined and used to correct the focal position of the ellipsometer. The processor compensates for movement of the spot caused by rotating optics. Additionally, a proportional-integral-derivative controller may be used to control exposure time and/or gain of the camera.

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