Patent ID: 6466642
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A chemical mechanical polishing apparatus configured to measure properties of a material layer on a workpiece during polishing of the workpiece, the apparatus comprising:a rotatable platen having an upper surface; a polishing pad mounted on the upper surface of the platen; an x-ray probe assembly, disposed proximate the platen, comprising: an x-ray emitter configured to generate and direct an incident x-ray beam onto a location on a surface of the workpiece as the workpiece is being polished on the polishing pad, wherefrom in response to the incident x-ray beam, a resultant fluorescent beam is produced; and an x-ray detector configured to receive the resultant fluorescent beam, wherein the resultant fluorescent beam is processed, wherein the resultant fluorescent beam is processed to determine the properties of the material layer at the location on the surface of the workpiece.