Patent ID: 7804934
Filing Date: 2010-09-28
Classification: G01B,G01N,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method for inspection of a sample, comprising: directing an excitation beam to impinge on an area of a planar sample that comprises a feature having sidewalls perpendicular to a plane of the sample, the sidewalls having a thin film thereon, wherein the area of the planar sample comprises a first region having one or more recesses formed in a first pattern in a surface layer thereof; directing the excitation beam to impinge on a second region of the planar sample having a second pattern of recesses, which is different from the first pattern; measuring an intensity of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) emitted from the sample responsively to the excitation beam; and assessing a thickness of the thin film on the sidewalls based on the intensity by comparing first and second intensities of the XRF emitted from the first and second regions, respectively.