Patents by Inventor Alexander Büttner

Alexander Büttner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7561263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for illuminating and inspecting a specular surface, comprising a light source, a collector optics for collecting the light from the light source, a homogenizing optics for transmitting the light from the collector optics having a first micro-lens array downstream of the collector optics, and a second micro-lens array downstream of the first micro-lens array, a Fourier optics for transmitting the light from the homogenizing optics onto the specular surface, an objective optics, and a detector for receiving an image, wherein the collector optics and the first micro-lens array project the light source onto the second micro-lens array and wherein the second micro-lens array and the Fourier optics project the first micro-lens array onto the specular surface, and wherein the objective optics projects the specular surface onto the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Vistec Semiconductor Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Lambert Danner, Michael Heiden, Alexander Buettner
  • Publication number: 20090034832
    Abstract: A device and a method for scanning the whole surface of a wafer are disclosed. The wafer is deposited on a table movable in the X-coordinate direction and in the Y-coordinate direction. A camera and at least one illumination source are arranged opposite the wafer. The camera is a line camera with a detector row, wherein the length of the detector row is less than the diameter of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: VISTEC Semiconductor Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Vollrath, Alexander Buettner, Christof Krampe-Zadler
  • Publication number: 20080144025
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a wafer, comprising at least one illuminator each arranged in an illumination beam path, wherein the at least one illuminator radiates an illumination spot onto a surface of the wafer and being a continuous light source; a detector arranged in a detection beam path has a predetermined spectral sensitivity and records data from the at least one illumination spot from the surface of the wafer; an imager generating a relative movement between the surface of the wafer and the detector, whereby in a meandering movement the illumination spot is passed across the entire surface of the wafer in the scanning direction; and the at least one illumination spot being detected in a plurality of different spectral ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Vistec Semiconductor Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Vollrath, Alexander Buettner, Christof Krampe-Zadler
  • Publication number: 20080144014
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a wafer, comprising a first illuminator for radiating an illumination beam in a first illumination beam path onto a surface of the wafer and being configured as continuous light source; a second illuminator for radiating an illumination light beam in a second illumination beam path onto a surface of the wafer and being configured as continuous light source; a first detector means defining a first detection beam path; a second detector means defining a second detection beam path, wherein the first and the second detector means have a predetermined spectral sensitivity and detect data of at least an illuminated area moveable in a scanning direction on the surface of the wafer in a plurality of different spectral ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: Vistec Semiconductor Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Vollrath, Alexander Buettner, Christof Krampe-Zadler
  • Publication number: 20080031509
    Abstract: The invention refers to an apparatus and a method for measuring the height profile of a semiconductor substrate. In particular, the present invention refers to a confocal wafer inspection apparatus and a method of recording the height profile of an entire wafer by the use of a dispersive element, in front of which there is a slot-shaped aperture, and a two-dimensional detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Vistec Semiconductor Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Heiden, Alexander Buettner
  • Publication number: 20070159700
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for illuminating and inspecting a specular surface, comprising a light source, a collector optics for collecting the light from the light source, a homogenizing optics for transmitting the light from the collector optics having a first micro-lens array downstream of the collector optics, and a second micro-lens array downstream of the first micro-lens array, a Fourier optics for transmitting the light from the homogenizing optics onto the specular surface, an objective optics, and a detector for receiving an image, wherein the collector optics and the first micro-lens array project the light source onto the second micro-lens array and wherein the second micro-lens array and the Fourier optics project the first micro-lens array onto the specular surface, and wherein the objective optics projects the specular surface onto the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: Vistec Semiconductor Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Lambart Danner, Michael Heiden, Alexander Buettner