Patent ID: 7379826
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying a defect present on a surface of a semiconductor wafer being processed for production, comprising the steps of: providing a semiconductor wafer processing system including a semiconductor wafer scanning system for analyzing defects; providing a semiconductor wafer having a surface; fixing the semiconductor wafer upon a wafer stage of the semiconductor wafer scanning system; providing a contact potential difference sensor; engaging a positioning mechanism in communication with the contact potential sensor whereby the contact potential difference sensor is positionable in relation to the wafer stage via the positioning mechanism and the contact potential difference sensor is positioned in the in-line semiconductor wafer processing system; continuously scanning the contact potential difference sensor relative to the wafer; generating contact potential difference data from the contact potential difference sensor during at least the scanning of the semiconductor wafer relative to the sensor with the data being representative of changes of contact potential difference of the semiconductor wafer surface relative to the contact potential difference sensor; processing the contact potential difference data to form representative contact potential difference data representative of the semiconductor wafer surface; and processing the contact potential difference data to identify the defect.