US Patent No: 6,161,294

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Overhead scanning profiler

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Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for surface profile measurements of large samples. The sample is held by a stationary chuck, while a four-axis (X, Y, Z and theta axis) positioning assembly manipulates and positions an overhead scan assembly and measurement stylus to perform the profilometry. To observe the sample surface in the vicinity of the measurement stylus, an illumination and imaging capability is also provided. Backlash and error are reduced in the Z axis assembly through use of cams and cam followers, and in the scan assembly through use of multiple tensioned wires, with low-friction sliding elements. The apparatus reduces vibration and supports heavy (up to 400 kg) samples while allowing accurate profile measurements.

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First Claim

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
SLOAN TECHNOLOGIES, INCORPORATEDSANTA BARBARA, CA1

International Classification(s)

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  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Bland, Loren L Carpinteria, CA 8 63
Cunningham, Timothy Groton, MA 11 243
Naumann, Walter Santa Barbara, CA 1 15
Rizos, Robert G Santa Barbara, CA 2 47
Short, Gilbert Santa Barbara, CA 1 15

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
TENCOR INSTRUMENTS (3)
4,391,044 Metrology instrument for measuring vertical profiles of integrated circuits and the like 16 1981
4,755,746 Apparatus and methods for semiconductor wafer testing 154 1985
5,309,755 Profilometer stylus assembly insensitive to vibration 19 1992
 
AMBIOS TECHNOLOGY, INC. (1)
5,466,935 Programmable, scanned-probe microscope system and method 11 1995
 
GIDDINGS & LEWIS MACHINE TOOLS, LLC (1)
4,945,501 Method for determining position within the measuring volume of a coordinate measuring machine and the like and system therefor 165 1989
 
HUNTRON, INC. (1)
5,003,254 Multi-axis universal circuit board test fixture 39 1989
 
ISHIKAWAJIMA-HARIMA HEAVY INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. (1)
4,689,491 Semiconductor wafer scanning system 53 1985
 
KAWAI MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MFG. CO., LTD. (1)
4,450,746 Flute chorus generator for a polyphonic tone synthesizer 5 1982
 
LEHMKUHL, ROBERT A. (1)
4,778,313 Intelligent tool system 28 1987
 
PHASE METRICS (1)
5,675,082 Goniometer loader for testing the height of a disk drive head gimbal assembly 12 1995
 
RAYTHEON COMPANY (1)
5,731,708 Unpackaged semiconductor testing using an improved probe and precision X-Y table 58 1995
 
ROBOTICS, INC. (1)
4,306,464 Multi-directional mechanical positioning apparatus 7 1977
 
SII NANOTECHNOLOGY INC. (1)
5,453,616 Probe microscope having error correction piezoelectric scanner 7 1994
 
TOKYO SEIMITSU CO., LTD. (1)
5,339,531 Coordinate measuring machine 7 1993

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
CASCADE MICROTECH, INC. (12)
7,554,322 Probe station 5 2005
7,639,003 Guarded tub enclosure 2 2007
8,069,491 Probe testing structure 0 2007
7,550,984 Probe station with low noise characteristics 3 2007
7,616,017 Probe station thermal chuck with shielding for capacitive current 0 2007
7,688,062 Probe station 0 2007
7,969,173 Chuck for holding a device under test 1 2007
7,626,379 Probe station having multiple enclosures 1 2007
7,595,632 Wafer probe station having environment control enclosure 5 2008
7,688,091 Chuck with integrated wafer support 1 2008
7,876,115 Chuck for holding a device under test 1 2009
8,319,503 Test apparatus for measuring a characteristic of a device under test 0 2009
 
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD. (1)
D668974 Dimension measuring apparatus with image 0 2011
 
KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION (1)
8,285,418 Dual scanning stage 0 2010
 
WERTH MESSTECHNIK GMBH (1)
7,051,449 Coordinate measuring device 2 2004