Patents by Inventor Galen L. Pfeiffer

Galen L. Pfeiffer 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: 8436994
    Abstract: A sample investigation system (ES) in functional combination with an alignment system (AS), and methodology of enabling calibration and very fast, (eg. seconds), sample height, angle-of-incidence and plane-of-incidence adjustments, with application in mapping ellipsometer or the like systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc
    Inventors: Martin M. Liphardt, Jeffrey S. Hale, Ping He, Galen L. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 8130375
    Abstract: A small internal volume cell having fluid entry, and exit ports wherein at least one bubble trap is present in a fluid pathway which is continuous with the fluid exit port. There further being present an input/output aperture, for entering and exiting electromagnetic radiation, positioned to allow causing an input beam of electromagnetic radiation to impinge on a sample substrate at a location thereon at which, during use, fluid contacts; and a mirror for directing electromagnetic radiation which reflects from said sample substrate, toward and out of said input/output aperture; as well as methodology of its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Galen L. Pfeiffer, Thomas E. Tiwald, Martin M. Liphardt
  • Publication number: 20110109906
    Abstract: A sample investigation system (ES) in functional combination with an alignment system (AS), and methodology of enabling calibration and very fast, (eg. seconds), sample height, angle-of-incidence and plane-of-incidence adjustments, with application in mapping ellipsometer or the like systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Martin M. Liphardt, Jeffrey S. Hale, Ping He, Galen L. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7872751
    Abstract: A sample investigation system (ES) in functional combination with an alignment system (AS), and methodology of enabling very fast, (eg. seconds), sample height, angle-of-incidence and plane-of-incidence adjustments, with application in mapping ellipsometer or the like systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Martin M. Liphardt, Jeffrey S. Hale, Ping He, Galen L. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7830512
    Abstract: An ellipsometer or polarimeter system and method for controlling intensity of an electromagnetic beam over a spectrum of wavelengths by applying control (P2) and beam (P) polarizers, optionally in combination with an intervening and control compensator (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Galen L. Pfeiffer, Martin M. Liphardt
  • Patent number: 7821637
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for controlling focus, angle of incidence and intensity of an electromagnetic beam over a spectrum of wavelengths, and methodology for optimizing investigation of samples which demonstrate low specular reflectance and/or are depolarizing of a polarized beam of electromagnetic radiation, such as solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Galen L. Pfeiffer, Martin M. Liphardt, James N. Hilfiker
  • Patent number: 7817266
    Abstract: A small internal volume cell having fluid entry, and exit ports wherein bubble traps are present in a bifurcated fluid pathway continuous with the fluid exit port. There further being present input and output apertures, for entering and exiting electromagnetic radiation, positioned to allow causing a beam of electromagnetic radiation to impinge on a sample substrate at a location thereon at which, during use, fluid contacts; as well as methodology of its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Galen L. Pfeiffer, Thomas E. Tiwald
  • Patent number: 7796260
    Abstract: A system and method of substantially achromatically controlling the intensity of a spectroscopic beam with application in spectrophotometers, reflectometers, ellipsometers, polarimeters or the like systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine D. Johs, Christopher A. Goeden, Galen L. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7633625
    Abstract: A rotating compensator spectroscopic ellipsometer or polarimeter system having a source of a polychromatic beam of electromagnetic radiation, a polarizer, a stage for supporting a material system, an analyzer, a dispersive optics and a detector system which comprises a multiplicity of detector elements, the system being functionally present in an environmental control chamber and therefore suitable for application in wide spectral range, (for example, 130-1700 nm). Preferred compensator design involves a substantially achromatic multiple element compensator systems wherein multiple total internal reflections enter retardance into an entered beam of electromagnetic radiation, and the elements thereof are oriented to minimize changes in the net retardance vs. the input beam angle resulting from changes in the position and/or rotation of the system of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Woollam, Blaine D. Johs, Craig M. Herzinger, Ping He, Martin M. Liphardt, Galen L. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7616319
    Abstract: A rotating compensator spectroscopic ellipsometer or polarimeter system having a source of a polychromatic beam of electromagnetic radiation, a polarizer, a stage for supporting a material system, an analyzer, a dispersive optics and a detector system which comprises a multiplicity of detector elements, the system being functionally present in an environmental control chamber and therefore suitable for application in wide spectral range, (for example, 130-1700 nm). Preferred compensator design involves a substantially achromatic multiple element compensator systems wherein multiple total internal reflections enter retardance into an entered beam of electromagnetic radiation, and the elements thereof are oriented to minimize changes in the net retardance vs. the input beam angle resulting from changes in the position and/or rotation of the system of elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: James D. Welch
    Inventors: John A. Woollam, Blaine D. Johs, Craig M. Herzinger, Ping He, Martin M. Liphardt, Galen L. Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20090231700
    Abstract: An ellipsometer or polarimeter system and method for controlling intensity of an electromagnetic beam over a spectrum of wavelengths by applying control (P2) and beam (P) polarizers, optionally in combination with an intervening and control compensator (C).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Galen L. Pfeiffer, Martin M. Liphardt
  • Patent number: 7535566
    Abstract: An electromagnetic beam chromatic shifting and directing means for use in reflectively directing a spectroscopic beam of electromagnetic radiation while simultaneously de-emphasizing intensity in a first range of wavelengths, (eg. the Visible wavelengths), and simultaneously relatively emphasizing intensity in another wavelength range, (eg. UV wavelengths).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine D. Johs, Galen L. Pfeiffer, Jeffrey S. Hale, Christopher A. Goeden, Brian D. Guenther, Martin M. Liphardt, Ping He
  • Publication number: 20090103093
    Abstract: A sample investigation system (ES) in functional combination with an alignment system (AS), and methodology of enabling very fast, (eg. seconds), sample height, angle-of-incidence and plane-of-incidence adjustments, with application in mapping ellipsometer or the like systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Martin M. Liphardt, Jeffrey S. Hale, Ping He, Galen L. Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 7508510
    Abstract: System for and Method of analyzing a sample at substantially the exact same small spot thereon with a plurality of wavelengths using a lens system which provides the same focal length at at least two wavelengths at various positions thereof with respect to a sample, including analyzing data obtained at those wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: J.A. Wooliam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Galen L. Pfeiffer, Martin M. Liphardt, Blaine D. Johs, Craig M. Herzinger, Christopher A. Goeden, Ping He, John A. Woollam, James D. Welch
  • Publication number: 20090027679
    Abstract: A small internal volume cell having fluid entry, and exit ports wherein bubble traps are present in a bifurcated fluid pathway continuous with the fluid exit port. There further being present input and output apertures, for entering and exiting electromagnetic radiation, positioned to allow causing a beam of electromagnetic radiation to impinge on a sample substrate at a location thereon at which, during use, fluid contacts; as well as methodology of its use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Galen L. Pfeiffer, Thomas E. Tiwald
  • Patent number: 7349092
    Abstract: A system for determination of optical constants of liquids, including provision for reducing stress induced effects while obtaining data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc
    Inventors: Thomas E. Tiwald, John A. Woollam, Galen L. Pfeiffer, Blaine D. Johs, Craig M. Herzinger
  • Patent number: 7327456
    Abstract: Disclosed are improvements in ellipsometer and the like systems capable of operating in the Vacuum-Ultra-Violet (VUV) to Near Infrared (NIR) wavelength range, and methodology of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Woollam, Steven E. Green, Ping He, Blaine D. Johs, Craig M. Herzinger, Galen L. Pfeiffer, Brian D. Guenther, Martin M. Liphardt, Gerald T. Cooney
  • Patent number: 7317529
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing and enhancing electromagnetic radiation beam radial energy homogeneity and intensity vs. wavelength content, for reliably directing electromagnetic radiation emitted by a source thereof in a common direction, for achromatically reducing spot size on a sample (eg. liquid cavity containing lenses and low aberration 1:1 imaging systems modified to perform as spatial filters), and for directing different wavelengths into different detectors, in ellipsometer, polarizer or the like systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Martin M. Liphardt, Ping He, Blaine D. Johs, Galen L. Pfeiffer, James D. Welch, John A. Woollam
  • Patent number: 7301631
    Abstract: A system for stabilizing the angle of incidence a beam of electromagnetic radiation from a vertically oriented Arc lamp onto a horizontally oriented sample surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Blaine D. Johs, Ping He, Galen L. Pfeiffer, Steven E. Green, Christopher A. Goeden, Martin M. Liphardt
  • Patent number: 7274450
    Abstract: A sample sequestering system which allows access to a subspace in a chamber encompassed generally enclosed space, for use in entering and removing a sample when the subspace is opened to atmosphere. Sufficient purge gas is flowed from within the generally enclosed space into the subspace discourage atmospheric contaminates from entering into the subspace. Contained within the generally enclosed space is a spectrophotometer, ellipsometer or polarimeter or the like system which operates at wavelengths, (eg. UV), which are adversely affected, (eg. absorbed), by typical atmospheric contents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: J.A. Woollam Co., Inc
    Inventors: Steven E. Green, Ping He, Galen L. Pfeiffer, Brian D. Guenther, Gerald T. Cooney, John A. Woollam, Martin M. Liphardt, Blaine D. Johs, Craig M. Herzinger