Patent ID: 6995847
Filing Date: 2006-02-07
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a surface quality of a substrate sample using a differential interference contrast microscope having an eyepiece, an eyepiece focus adjustment, a microscope focus adjustment, a light source, at least one of an aperture or reticule, a camera view, a prism, a reference sample, and differential interference optics, said method comprising: calibrating the focus of the eyepiece with the focus of the camera; determining a peak response ratio for the microscope through adjustment of phase between differential beams of the microscope; placing the substrate sample under the microscope; illuminating the substrate sample with the light source; focusing on the substrate sample with the microscope focus; adjusting a phase between differential beams to attain the peak response ratio; capturing at least one image of the substrate sample; and processing the images of the substrate sample to determine a level of surface structure on the substrate sample.