Patent ID: 6788760
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
A method for characterizing thin films, the method comprising:scanning a first scan target in an integrated circuit device by using a particle beam generator configured to emit particles at a first energy, wherein the particles interact with a first layer comprising a first material and a second layer comprising a second material in the scan target, wherein the second layer lies beneath a first layer; detecting x-ray emissions associated with scanning at the first energy; scanning the first scan target by using the particle beam generator configured to emit particles at a second energy, the particles interacting with the first layer comprising the first material and the second layer comprising the second material in the scan target; detecting x-ray emissions associated with scanning at the second energy; and characterizing the second layer by using x-ray emissions from the first and second materials resulting from scans at the first and second energies.