Patent ID: 7278301
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: G01B,G01Q,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for sensing a high aspect ratio feature on a surface of a sample employing a sensing tip of a profiler or scanning probe microscope, said method comprising the steps of: providing height information of the surface within a target area of the surface, wherein said height information is provided by measuring height of the surface at sampling locations in the target area; positioning the tip above one location of the surface in the target area using said height information; scanning the sensing tip across the surface; and controlling a distance between the surface and the tip using said information during the scanning so that the tip contacts the surface intermittently and so that the tip does not contact the surface laterally when the tip is scanned across the surface; wherein said controlling controls said distance so that the tip is scanned without substantially moving the tip and the surface laterally relative to each other when the tip and surface are in contact, wherein the tip does not penetrate said feature when scanning across the surface.