US4999508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical film thickness measuring device for measuring two-layer film thicknesses using spectral reflectance
Assignee: Olympus Corp
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Filing: 1989-12-29
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Granted: 1991-03-12
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Expires: 2009-12-29
Abstract
Abstract The optical film thickness measuring device comprises a spectral reflectance measuring device for measuring spectral reflectance of two layers of a two-layer optical film, a memory device for storing, as reflectance data theoretical values of optical thickness and refractive index of each layer of the two-layer optical film as well as those of reflectance of the two-layer optical film, a data selecting device for selectively reading out the reflectance data corresponding to the measuring wavelengths for measured values of spectral reflectance and a film thickness deciding means for determining thickness of each layer of the two-layer optical film on the basis of the selected reflectance data and the measured spectral reflectance. This optical film thickness measuring device is capable of quickly and accurately measuring thickness of each layer of two-layer optical films.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazushi Hyakumura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 13:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/02; G01B11/06; G01B11/0616; G01B11/0625
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
An optical film thickness measuring device for measuring thickness of two layers of a two-layer film formed on a substrate, comprising a spectral reflectance measuring means for optically measuring spectral reflectance of the two-layer optical film at wavelengths different from one another, a memory means for preliminarily storing, as reflectance data, theoretical values of reflectance of said two-layer optical film determined for multiple number of pairs of the parameters (n 1 d 1 /λ and n 2 d 2 /λ) determined in conjunction with optical thickness values d 1 and d 2 , refractive indices n 1 and n 2 of the first layer and the second layer respectively of said two layer optical film, and wavelengths of a light for measuring spectral reflectance, a data selecting means for reading out, from said memory means, the reflectance data (n 1 d 1 /λ and n 2 d 2 /λ) corresponding to the values of at the measuring wavelengths of the measured spectral reflectance values obtained from said spectral reflectance measuring means, and a film thickness deciding means for determining thickness of each layer of said two-layer optical film on the basis of the selected reflectance data and the measured reflectance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
An optical film thickness measuring device for measuring thickness of two layers of a two-layer film formed on a substrate, comprising a spectral reflectance measuring means for optically measuring spectral reflectance of the two-layer optical film at wavelengths different from one another, a memory means for preliminarily storing, as reflectance data, theoretical values of reflectance of said two-layer optical film determined for multiple number of pairs of the parameters (n 1 d 1 /λ and n 2 d 2 /λ) determined in conjunction with optical thickness values d 1 and d 2 , refractive indices n 1 and n 2 of the first layer and the second layer respectively of said two layer optical film, and wavelengths of a light for measuring spectral reflectance, a data selecting means for reading out, from said memory means, the reflectance data (n 1 d 1 /λ and n 2 d 2 /λ) corresponding to the values of at the measuring wavelengths of the measured spectral reflectance values obtained from said spectral reflectance measuring means, and a film thickness deciding means for determining thickness of each layer of said two-layer optical film on the basis of the selected reflectance data and the measured reflectance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An optical film thickness measuring device according to claim 1 wherein said film thickness deciding means is adapted to select such values of the parameters (n 1 d 1 /λ and n 2 d 2 /λ) as to minimize the difference between said measured spectral reflectance and said reflectance data corresponding thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical film thickness measuring device according to claim 1 wherein said memory means is adapted to store the reflectance data at a plural number of wavelengths selected in such a manner that the ratios of pairs of neighboring wavelengths are equal to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
An optical film thickness measuring device according to claim 3 wherein said memory means stores the reflectance data corresponding to such values of the parameters (n 1 d 1 /λ and n 2 d 2 /λ) as to satisfy the following relationship: log(λ.sub.i+1 /λ.sub.i)=log[(n.sub.1 d.sub.1 +Δ.sub.1)/n.sub.1 d.sub.1 ] =log[(n.sub.2 d.sub.2 +Δ.sub.2)/n.sub.2 d.sub.2 ] wherein the reference symbols Δ 1 and Δ 2 represent constants having finite values respectively, and the reference symbols λ i and λ i+1 designate wavelengths of light neighboring to each other.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-03-11 | 1994-09-10 | 1995-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-11 | 1998-09-10 | 1999-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-11 | 2002-09-10 | 2003-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |