Patent · US Active

Alignment apparatus

US9607389B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
1References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 17, 2015
Grant dateMar 28, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 17, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2207/30204
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An alignment apparatus for aligning a wafer by optically detecting an alignment mark includes an imaging unit configured to image an imaging region extending across a circumferential edge of the wafer, an irradiation unit configured to irradiate light toward the imaging region, a reflection part configured to reflect toward the imaging region the light that is irradiated from the irradiation unit upwardly, and a control unit configured to detect the circumferential edge. The reflection part has a reflectance making a luminance difference between the outside of the wafer and the circumferential edge of the wafer in a luminance distribution pattern obtained by imaging the imaging region. The control unit detects the alignment mark and the circumferential edge based on the luminance distribution pattern.

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