Patents Examined by Johm F. Niebling
  • Patent number: 6593231
    Abstract: A process of manufacturing an electron microscopic sample comprising the steps of: (a) forming a mask layer for covering an object region to be analyzed of a semiconductor layer and/or a conductive layer which have/has been patterned into a desired configuration; (b) reducing a periphery region surrounded the object region to be analyzed in a depth direction by using the mask layer; (c) removing the mask layer and forming an etch stop layer over the object region to be analyzed and the periphery region; and (d) polishing the semiconductor layer and/or the conductive layer in the object region to be analyzed down to the level of the surface of etch stop layer lying on the reduced periphery region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Endoh, Fujio Masuoka, Takuji Tanigami, Takashi Yokoyama, Noboru Takeuchi