← Back to Patent Explorer
US5298970A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sample evaluating method by using thermal expansion displacement

Assignee: Kobe Steel Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-10-01
•
Granted: 1994-03-29
•
Expires: 2012-10-01
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract When evaluating defects, etc. of a sample by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of the sample, which is produced by irradiating thereto an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically modulated, a measuring beam having the displacement frequency F 1 is irradiated to the vibrating surface of the sample, and the reflection beam is interfered with a reference beam having the frequency F 2 . The beat wave signal E 1 (Beat frequency F b =F 1 -F 2 ) is converted to a binary signal E 2 . Then, the sample is evaluated by signals which are obtained by giving a suitable processing to the binary signals. In addition, the optic axes alignment is eliminated by utilizing the excitation beam itself concurrently as measuring beam.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hiroyuki Takamatsu
  • 👤 Yoshiro Nishimoto
  • 👤 Shingo Sumie

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 05:46
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/1717; G01J; G01J9/00; G01J9/04; G01N2021/1731; G01N2021/178; G01N2021/1782; G01N21/21

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 187 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of the sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically modulated at a frequency F, comprising the steps of: irradiating a surface position of the sample which is subjected to thermal expansion by irradiation of the excitation beam with a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 to produce a reflection beam; interfering said reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting said interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 of the electric signals E having a beat frequency Fb where Fb=F1-F2; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the beat wave signals E1 to binary signals E2 to prevent changes in reflectivity of said sample due to temperature change and plasma density change of said sample from influencing measurement of thermal expansion displacement; and extracting components of the frequency Fb-F or Fb+F from the binary signals E2, thereby causing the sample to be evaluated according to the amplitude and phase of the respective component.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 187 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of the sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically modulated at a frequency F, comprising the steps of: irradiating a surface position of the sample which is subjected to thermal expansion by irradiation of the excitation beam with a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 to produce a reflection beam; interfering said reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting said interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 of the electric signals E having a beat frequency Fb where Fb=F1-F2; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the beat wave signals E1 to binary signals E2 to prevent changes in reflectivity of said sample due to temperature change and plasma density change of said sample from influencing measurement of thermal expansion displacement; and extracting components of the frequency Fb-F or Fb+F from the binary signals E2, thereby causing the sample to be evaluated according to the amplitude and phase of the respective component.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 210 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of the sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically modulated at a frequency F, comprising the steps of: irradiating the surface of the sample which is subjected to thermal expansion by irradiation of the excitation beam with a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 to produce a reflection beam; interfering the reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting the interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 whose beat frequency Fb=F1-F2 from the electric signals E; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the binarized signals to binary signals E2 to prevent changes in reflectivity of said sample due to temperature change and plasma density change of said sample from influencing measurement of thermal expansion displacement; creating delay signals Eb, which are delayed from time τ from the binary signals E2; and obtaining a signal Vt by multiplying the binary signals E2 by the delay signals Eb, and extracting a signal component Va regarding the frequency F therefrom, thereby causing the sample to be evaluated according to the amplitude and phase of the signal component Va.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 210 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of the sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically modulated at a frequency F, comprising the steps of: irradiating the surface of the sample which is subjected to thermal expansion by irradiation of the excitation beam with a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 to produce a reflection beam; interfering the reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting the interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 whose beat frequency Fb=F1-F2 from the electric signals E; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the binarized signals to binary signals E2 to prevent changes in reflectivity of said sample due to temperature change and plasma density change of said sample from influencing measurement of thermal expansion displacement; creating delay signals Eb, which are delayed from time τ from the binary signals E2; and obtaining a signal Vt by multiplying the binary signals E2 by the delay signals Eb, and extracting a signal component Va regarding the frequency F therefrom, thereby causing the sample to be evaluated according to the amplitude and phase of the signal component Va.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 270 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of the sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically modulated at a frequency F, comprising the steps of: irradiating the surface of the sample which is subjected to thermal expansion by irradiation of the excitation beam with a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1, in order to produce a reflection beam; interfering the reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting the interference beam to electric signal E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 having beat frequency Fb=F1-F2 from electric signals E; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 in order to convert the beat wave signals to binary signals E2 to prevent changes in reflectivity of said sample due to temperature change and plasma density change of said sample from influencing measurement of thermal expansion displacement; multiplying the binary signals E2 by local oscillating signals Eb of frequency Fb to obtain a signal Vu; multiplying a signal E4 whose phase is different by 90° from the signal E2 by the local oscillating signals Eb of frequency Fb to obtain a signal Vn; extracting a component Vs of the frequency F from the signal Vu and extracting a component Vc of frequency F from the signals Vn; and operating on the components Vs and Vc to produce an output Vo having a variable concerning only the phase change P(t) of the measuring beam on account of the thermal expansion displacement of the sample, whereby the sample is evaluated according to the output Vo.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 270 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of the sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically modulated at a frequency F, comprising the steps of: irradiating the surface of the sample which is subjected to thermal expansion by irradiation of the excitation beam with a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1, in order to produce a reflection beam; interfering the reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting the interference beam to electric signal E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 having beat frequency Fb=F1-F2 from electric signals E; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 in order to convert the beat wave signals to binary signals E2 to prevent changes in reflectivity of said sample due to temperature change and plasma density change of said sample from influencing measurement of thermal expansion displacement; multiplying the binary signals E2 by local oscillating signals Eb of frequency Fb to obtain a signal Vu; multiplying a signal E4 whose phase is different by 90° from the signal E2 by the local oscillating signals Eb of frequency Fb to obtain a signal Vn; extracting a component Vs of the frequency F from the signal Vu and extracting a component Vc of frequency F from the signals Vn; and operating on the components Vs and Vc to produce an output Vo having a variable concerning only the phase change P(t) of the measuring beam on account of the thermal expansion displacement of the sample, whereby the sample is evaluated according to the output Vo.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 166 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of the sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically modulated, comprising the steps of: irradiating a surface position of the sample which is subjected to thermal expansion by irradiation of the excitation beam with a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 of which intensity is modulated with the frequency F to produce a reflection beam; interfering said reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting said interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 of the electric signals E having a beat frequency Fb where Fb=F1-F2; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the beat wave signals E1 to binary signals E2; and extracting components of the frequency Fb-F or Fb+F from the binary signals E2, thereby causing the sample to be evaluated according to the amplitude and phase of the respective component.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 166 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of the sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically modulated, comprising the steps of: irradiating a surface position of the sample which is subjected to thermal expansion by irradiation of the excitation beam with a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 of which intensity is modulated with the frequency F to produce a reflection beam; interfering said reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting said interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 of the electric signals E having a beat frequency Fb where Fb=F1-F2; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the beat wave signals E1 to binary signals E2; and extracting components of the frequency Fb-F or Fb+F from the binary signals E2, thereby causing the sample to be evaluated according to the amplitude and phase of the respective component.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 175 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of a sample, which is produced by irradiating thereto an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically (frequency: F) modulated, comprising the steps of: irradiating a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 of which intensity is modulated with the frequency F to produce a reflection beam; interfering said reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting said interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 of electric signals E habign a beat frequency Fb where Fb=F1-F2; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the beat wave signals E1 to binary signals E2; creating delay signals Eb which are delayed by time τ from said binary signals E2; and obtaining a signal Vt by multiplying the binary signals E2 by the delay signals Eb, and extracting a signal component Va regarding the frequency F therefrom, thereby causing the sample to be evaluated according to the amplitude and phase of the signal component Va.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 175 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of a sample, which is produced by irradiating thereto an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically (frequency: F) modulated, comprising the steps of: irradiating a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 of which intensity is modulated with the frequency F to produce a reflection beam; interfering said reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting said interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 of electric signals E habign a beat frequency Fb where Fb=F1-F2; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the beat wave signals E1 to binary signals E2; creating delay signals Eb which are delayed by time τ from said binary signals E2; and obtaining a signal Vt by multiplying the binary signals E2 by the delay signals Eb, and extracting a signal component Va regarding the frequency F therefrom, thereby causing the sample to be evaluated according to the amplitude and phase of the signal component Va.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 234 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of a sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically (frequency: F) modulated, comprising the steps of: irradiating a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 of which intensity is modulated with the frequency F to produce a reflection beam; interfering said reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting the interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 of the electric signals E having a beat frequency Fb where Fb=F1-F2; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the beat wave signals E1 to binary signals E2; multiplying the binary signals E2 by local oscillating signals Eb of frequency Fb to obtain a signal Vu; multiplying a signal E4 whose phase is different by 90° from the signal E2 by the local oscillating signals Eb of frequency Fb to obtain a signal Vn; extracting a component Vs of the frequency F from the signal Vu and extracting a component Vc of frequency F from the signals Vn; and operating on the components Vs and Vc to produce an output Vo having a variable concerning only the phase change P(t) of the measuring beam on account of the thermal expansion displacement of the sample, whereby the sample is evaluated according to the output Vo.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 234 words
A method for sample evaluating by measuring thermal expansion displacement on the surface of a sample, which is produced by irradiating the sample with an excitation beam of which intensity is cyclically (frequency: F) modulated, comprising the steps of: irradiating a measuring beam having an optical frequency F1 of which intensity is modulated with the frequency F to produce a reflection beam; interfering said reflection beam with a reference beam having an optical frequency F2; photoelectrically converting the interference beam to electric signals E; obtaining beat wave signals E1 of the electric signals E having a beat frequency Fb where Fb=F1-F2; binarizing the beat wave signals E1 and converting the beat wave signals E1 to binary signals E2; multiplying the binary signals E2 by local oscillating signals Eb of frequency Fb to obtain a signal Vu; multiplying a signal E4 whose phase is different by 90° from the signal E2 by the local oscillating signals Eb of frequency Fb to obtain a signal Vn; extracting a component Vs of the frequency F from the signal Vu and extracting a component Vc of frequency F from the signals Vn; and operating on the components Vs and Vc to produce an output Vo having a variable concerning only the phase change P(t) of the measuring beam on account of the thermal expansion displacement of the sample, whereby the sample is evaluated according to the output Vo.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3409369A Cited
US4752140A Cited
US4930894A Cited
US4948251A Cited
US4924477A Cited
US4989980A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-03-28 1997-09-27 1998-03-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-03-28 2001-09-27 2002-03-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-03-28 2005-09-27 2006-03-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag