Patent ID: 6278809
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: G01B,G01N

Abstract:
A system for in situ characterization of thin films deposited on a substrate, comprising:a) a deposition chamber, including input means for introducing one or more process reactants into the chamber, output means for exhausting by-products from the chamber, and means for monitoring and controlling the environment within the chamber;b) means within the deposition chamber for supporting a substrate onto which a film is to be deposited;c) one or more optical fibers mounted within the deposition chamber so that the film deposited on the substrate is also deposited onto at least a portion of an optical fiber;d) a light source disposed outside of the deposition chamber and coupled to the optical fiber for transmitting light through the optical fiber to the film deposited on the fiber and establishing a light reflectance pattern from the film on the optical fiber, wherein the light source comprises a source of monochromatic light and a source of polychromatic light and means for transmitting both types of light through the optical fiber;e) detector means for detecting light reflected from the film on the optical fiber and for generating a signal representative of the reflected light; andf) means for analyzing the signal to characterize the film substantially in real time and to provide a feedback signal for controlling the environment of the chamber and the temperature of the substrate to achieve desired properties of the film.