Patent ID: 6241456
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: G01N,H01L,Y10S

Abstract:
A wafer inspecting apparatus comprising:wafer transfer means for picking up a desired wafer from a wafer holder holding a plurality of wafers;wafer support means for supporting the wafer picked up by said wafer transfer means, and rotating the supported wafer at least through a predetermined angle;wafer holding means, having a plurality of wafer holding portions extending toward a center of the wafer, for holding the wafer supported on said wafer support means by coming into contact with a lower surface of the wafer with said plurality of wafer holding portions, and turning the held wafer to observe the lower surface of the wafer; andcontrol means for causing the wafer holding means to turn the held wafer to observe the lower surface of the wafer, causing the wafer holding means to release the turned wafer on the wafer support means, causing the wafer support means to rotate the released wafer through a predetermined angle, and causing the wafer holding means to turn the rotated wafer to observe the lower surface of the wafer again.