Patents Represented by Law Firm Hamrick, Hoffman et al.
  • Patent number: 4556317
    Abstract: An automatic patterned wafer inspection system includes macro and micro inspection stations having optical axes that are 10 inches apart on an X-Y crossed roller stage which provides 7 inches of travel in each of two directions along two orthogonal axes. A macro-micro transport arm is pivotally interconnected with the stage and supports a turntable with a vacuum chuck centrally located thereon. The transport arm is positioned to move the wafer from a position 5 inches to the left of center of the stage (the macro axis) to a position 5 inches to the right of the center of the stage (the micro axis). Repeatability of positioning of the arms is obtained by using a spring-loaded link to drive the transport arm against a hard stop located at the left and right of the stage. The turntable is mounted so as to have an outside edge adjacent the distal end of the transport arm. A vacuum chuck for holding the wafer is attached to the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: KLA Instruments Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Sandland, Curt H. Chadwick, Howard I. Dwyer