Method and apparatus for determining surface roughness
First Claim
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1. A method for determining surface roughness of a semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying a controlled amount of liquid onto a surface of said semiconductor substrate to form a drop, said drop having an area and a contact angle;
(b) measuring the area of the drop; and
(c) correlating the area of the drop to roughness of said surface without determining the contact angle of the drop.
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Abstract
A method for monitoring surface roughness by applying a controlled amount of liquid onto a specimen surface to form a liquid protrusion. The diameter or area of the a liquid protrusion is measured and correlated to surface roughness. In an alternative embodiment, the contact angle between the specimen surface and the liquid protrusion is measured. Surface roughness is computed from the contact angle measurement and several known physical constants of the liquid and specimen surface.
47 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining surface roughness of a semiconductor substrate, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a controlled amount of liquid onto a surface of said semiconductor substrate to form a drop, said drop having an area and a contact angle; (b) measuring the area of the drop; and (c) correlating the area of the drop to roughness of said surface without determining the contact angle of the drop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for monitoring surface roughness comprising the steps of:
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(a) applying a drop of liquid onto a specimen surface to form a drop on the surface, said drop having a diameter and a contact angle; (b) measuring said diameter of said drop; (c) calculating an area of said specimen surface covered by said drop; and (d) correlating said area to roughness of said specimen surface without determining the contact angle of the drop. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for measuring surface roughness of a specimen comprising:
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a support for supporting said specimen; a liquid dispenser for applying a predetermined quantity of liquid onto a surface of said specimen to form a drop; means for determining an area of said surface covered by said drop; and means for correlating said area directly to roughness of said surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification