Patent ID: 7136168

Claim:
A method, comprising: a) measuring a first set of interferometer fringe line disturbances detected on a pixilated detector against pre-determined measurement scale information in order to generate a first set of profiles that describe the topography of a sample that is placed upon a sample stage associated with said interferometer, said pre-determined measurement scale information comprising a per-pixel unit of sample height that is used during said measuring to convert said first set of disturbances into said first set of profiles said first set of profiles mapping to traces that run over a first axis of said sample and said sample stage, said traces having a recognized spacing between one another along a second axis of said sample and said sample stage; b) adjusting the relative position of said traces to said sample so as to create a second set of fringe line disturbances; c) measuring said second set of interferometer fringe line disturbances against said pre-determined measurement scale information in order to generate a second set of profiles that describe the topography of said sample; and d) interleaving said first set of profiles and said second set of profiles to create a topography description of said sample having a resolution along said second axis that is smaller than said spacing.