Patent ID: 6181416
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for imaging an internal characteristic of a semiconductor circuit device, comprising:a) Generating an optical beam with an illuminator, the optical beam having a wavelength selected such that the semiconductor circuit device passes the optical beam without undo absorption;b) Radiating the optical beam toward an imager, the semiconductor circuit device being disposed between the illuminator and the imager such that the optical beam passes through the semiconductor circuit device and the internal characteristic of the semiconductor circuit device imposes an angular deviation in the optical beam arriving at the imager, the imager operative to focus the optical beam into an image of the illuminator and another image of the semiconductor circuit device; andc) Detecting an intensity variation in the image of the semiconductor circuit device, the intensity variation being related to the angular deviation imposed on the optical beam by the internal characteristic of the semiconductor circuit device.