System for locating a feature of a surface

Details System for locating a feature of a surface System for locating a feature of a surface

1996-10-11

1999-02-02

Raevis, Robert

Measuring and testing

Surface and cutting edge testing

Roughness

G01N 2700

Patent

active

058668063

ABSTRACT:
A probe tip of a scanning probe microscope or a profilometer is scanned across a surface in a contact, non-contact, or intermittent contact mode to sense the presence of a feature to be located. The probe tip may be scanned along substantially parallel paths, spiral paths or in a sequence of random positions to locate the feature. After the feature has been located, a different searching sequence is employed in order to locate a center of the feature if such is desired. Then, the probe tip is scanned across the surface over the center of the feature in order to perform a measurement of the feature. For some particular features such as tungsten plugs, metal clusters or metal filled via holes of a surface, an electrical or magnetic parameter of the feature may be used for locating the feature after which the same or a different characteristic of the feature, such as geometric profile, can be measured.

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"A Stand-Alone Scanning Force and Friction Microscope," M. Hipp et al., Ultramicroscopy, 42-44(1992), pp. 1498-1503.

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