Patent ID: 6620634
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of accurately measuring the composition of alloys comprised of elements of known and unknown compossitions that are sputter deposited in thin film form, comprising the steps of providing a first layer of the element of known composition, the first layer having a surface, adhering a second layer of the element of unknown composition on the surface, forming an opening in one of the layers by a step selected from the group consisting of forming the opening through the second layer sufficient to expose an area on the first layer of the known composition element and forming an other opening through the first layer sufficient to expose an area on the second layer of the unknown composition, scanning an electron beam between the exposed area and the layer through which the opening is formed, comparing X-ray spectra from the element of the composition in the exposed area with X-ray spectra from the element of the composition in the layer through which the opening is formed, and computing the compositions of the elements as a function of the X-ray spectra comparison.