Patents by Inventor Keith Serrels

Keith Serrels 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: 11353479
    Abstract: A pulsed-laser LADA system is provided, which utilizes temporal resolution to enhance spatial resolution. The system is capable of resolving CMOS pairs within the illumination spot using synchronization of laser pulses with the DUT clock. The system can be implemented using laser wavelength having photon energy above the silicon bandgap so as to perform single-photon LADA or wavelength having photon energy below the silicon bandgap so as to generate two-photon LADA. The timing of the laser pulses can be adjusted using two feedback loops tied to the clock signal of an ATE, or by adjusting the ATE's clock signal with reference to a fixed-pulse laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: FEI EFA, Inc.
    Inventors: Praveen Vedagarbha, Derryck Reid, Keith Serrels, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 11047906
    Abstract: Method to extract timing diagrams from synchronized single- or two-photon pulsed LADA by spatially positioning the incident laser beam on circuit feature of interest, temporally scanning the arrival time of the laser pulse with respect to the tester clock or the loop length trigger signal, then recording the magnitude and sign of the resulting fail rate signature per laser pulse arrival time. A Single-Photon Laser-Assisted Device Alteration apparatus applies picosecond laser pulses of wavelength having photon energy equal to or greater than the silicon band-gap. A Two-Photon Laser-Assisted Device Alteration apparatus applies femtosecond laser pulses of wavelength having photon energy equal to or greater than half the silicon band-gap at the area of interest. The laser pulses are synchronized with test vectors so that pass/fail ratios can be altered using either the single-photon or the two-photon absorption effect. A sequence of synthetic images with error data illustrates timing sensitive locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: DCG Systems, Inc., NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Erington, Daniel J. Bodoh, Keith Serrels, Theodore Lundquist
  • Publication number: 20200025799
    Abstract: A pulsed-laser LADA system is provided, which utilizes temporal resolution to enhance spatial resolution. The system is capable of resolving CMOS pairs within the illumination spot using synchronization of laser pulses with the DUT clock. The system can be implemented using laser wavelength having photon energy above the silicon bandgap so as to perform single-photon LADA or wavelength having photon energy below the silicon bandgap so as to generate two-photon LADA. The timing of the laser pulses can be adjusted using two feedback loops tied to the clock signal of an ATE, or by adjusting the ATE's clock signal with reference to a fixed-pulse laser source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: FEI EFA, Inc.
    Inventors: Praveen Vedagarbha, Derryck Reid, Keith Serrels, James S. Vickers
  • Publication number: 20190170818
    Abstract: Method to extract timing diagrams from synchronized single- or two-photon pulsed LADA by spatially positioning the incident laser beam on circuit feature of interest, temporally scanning the arrival time of the laser pulse with respect to the tester clock or the loop length trigger signal, then recording the magnitude and sign of the resulting fail rate signature per laser pulse arrival time. A Single-Photon Laser-Assisted Device Alteration apparatus applies picosecond laser pulses of wavelength having photon energy equal to or greater than the silicon band-gap. A Two-Photon Laser-Assisted Device Alteration apparatus applies femtosecond laser pulses of wavelength having photon energy equal to or greater than half the silicon band-gap at the area of interest. The laser pulses are synchronized with test vectors so that pass/fail ratios can be altered using either the single-photon or the two-photon absorption effect. A sequence of synthetic images with error data illustrates timing sensitive locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Kent Erington, Daniel J. Bodoh, Keith Serrels, Theodore Lundquist
  • Patent number: 10209274
    Abstract: A pulsed-laser LADA system is provided, which utilizes temporal resolution to enhance spatial resolution. The system is capable of resolving CMOS pairs within the illumination spot using synchronization of laser pulses with the DUT clock. The system can be implemented using laser wavelength having photon energy above the silicon bandgap so as to perform single-photon LADA or wavelength having photon energy below the silicon bandgap so as to generate two-photon LADA. The timing of the laser pulses can be adjusted using two feedback loops tied to the clock signal of an ATE, or by adjusting the ATE's clock signal with reference to a fixed-pulse laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: FEI EFA, Inc.
    Inventors: Praveen Vedagarbha, Derryck Reid, Keith Serrels, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 10191111
    Abstract: Method to extract timing diagrams from synchronized single- or two-photon pulsed LADA by spatially positioning the incident laser beam on circuit feature of interest, temporally scanning the arrival time of the laser pulse with respect to the tester clock or the loop length trigger signal, then recording the magnitude and sign of the resulting fail rate signature per laser pulse arrival time. A Single-Photon Laser-Assisted Device Alteration apparatus applies picosecond laser pulses of wavelength having photon energy equal to or greater than the silicon band-gap. A Two-Photon Laser-Assisted Device Alteration apparatus applies femtosecond laser pulses of wavelength having photon energy equal to or greater than half the silicon band-gap at the area of interest. The laser pulses are synchronized with test vectors so that pass/fail ratios can be altered using either the single-photon or the two-photon absorption effect. A sequence of synthetic images with error data illustrates timing sensitive locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: DCG Systems, Inc., NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Erington, Daniel J. Bodoh, Keith Serrels, Theodore Lundquist
  • Patent number: 9885878
    Abstract: A system and method for obtaining super-resolution image of an object. An illumination beam is directed through an optical axis onto the object to be imaged. Paraxial rays of the illumination beam are deflected away from the optical axis and into a beam dump. The non-paraxial rays are collected after being reflected by the object so as to generate an image only from the non-paraxial rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: FEI EFA, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Serrels
  • Publication number: 20160202313
    Abstract: A pulsed-laser LADA system is provided, which utilizes temporal resolution to enhance spatial resolution. The system is capable of resolving CMOS pairs within the illumination spot using synchronization of laser pulses with the DUT clock. The system can be implemented using laser wavelength having photon energy above the silicon bandgap so as to perform single-photon LADA or wavelength having photon energy below the silicon bandgap so as to generate two-photon LADA. The timing of the laser pulses can be adjusted using two feedback loops tied to the clock signal of an ATE, or by adjusting the ATE's clock signal with reference to a fixed-pulse laser source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Praveen Vedagarbha, Derryck Reid, Keith Serrels, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 9361533
    Abstract: A method of obtaining two orthogonally polarized super-resolution images is provided. A first diffraction-limited image is obtained using horizontally polarized light; a second diffraction-limited image is obtained using vertically polarized light; and, the first and second images are processed so as to yield a convoluted image having super diffraction-limited performance in both dimensions. Enhanced alignment of CAD image to acquired image is facilitated using the horizontally and vertically polarized images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: DCG SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Serrels, Prasad Sabbineni, James S. Vickers
  • Patent number: 9201096
    Abstract: A pulsed-laser LADA system is provided, which utilizes temporal resolution to enhance spatial resolution. The system is capable of resolving CMOS pairs within the illumination spot using synchronization of laser pulses with the DUT clock. The system can be implemented using laser wavelength having photon energy above the silicon bandgap so as to perform single-photon LADA or wavelength having photon energy below the silicon bandgap so as to generate two-photon LADA. The timing of the laser pulses can be adjusted using two feedback loops tied to the clock signal of an ATE, or by adjusting the ATE's clock signal with reference to a fixed-pulse laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: DCG SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Praveen Vedagarbha, Derryck Reid, Keith Serrels, James S. Vickers
  • Publication number: 20140307311
    Abstract: A system and method for obtaining super-resolution image of an object. An illumination beam is directed through an optical axis onto the object to be imaged. Paraxial rays of the illumination beam are deflected away from the optical axis and into a beam dump. The non-paraxial rays are collected after being reflected by the object so as to generate an image only from the non-paraxial rays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: DCG Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith Serrels
  • Publication number: 20140285227
    Abstract: Method to extract timing diagrams from synchronized single- or two-photon pulsed LADA by spatially positioning the incident laser beam on circuit feature of interest, temporally scanning the arrival time of the laser pulse with respect to the tester clock or the loop length trigger signal, then recording the magnitude and sign of the resulting fail rate signature per laser pulse arrival time. A Single-Photon Laser-Assisted Device Alteration apparatus applies picosecond laser pulses of wavelength having photon energy equal to or greater than the silicon band-gap. A Two-Photon Laser-Assisted Device Alteration apparatus applies femtosecond laser pulses of wavelength having photon energy equal to or greater than half the silicon band-gap at the area of interest. The laser pulses are synchronized with test vectors so that pass/fail ratios can be altered using either the single-photon or the two-photon absorption effect. A sequence of synthetic images with error data illustrates timing sensitive locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicants: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., DCG Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Serrels, Praveen Vedagarbha, Ted Lundquist, Kent Erington, Dan Bodoh
  • Publication number: 20130314116
    Abstract: A pulsed-laser LADA system is provided, which utilizes temporal resolution to enhance spatial resolution. The system is capable of resolving CMOS pairs within the illumination spot using synchronization of laser pulses with the DUT clock. The system can be implemented using laser wavelength having photon energy above the silicon bandgap so as to perform single-photon LADA or wavelength having photon energy below the silicon bandgap so as to generate two-photon LADA. The timing of the laser pulses can be adjusted using two feedback loops tied to the clock signal of an ATE, or by adjusting the ATE's clock signal with reference to a fixed-pulse laser source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Praveen Vedagarbha, Derryck Reid, Keith Serrels, James S. Vickers