Abstract: In one embodiment, a system to inspect an edge region of a wafer, comprises a surface analyzer assembly comprising a radiation targeting assembly that targets a radiation beam onto a surface of the wafer; a reflected radiation collection assembly to collect radiation reflected from a surface of the wafer; means for rotating the surface analyzer assembly about an edge surface of the wafer; and means for detecting one or more defects in the edge region of the wafer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system to inspect an edge region of a wafer, comprises a surface analyzer assembly comprising a radiation targeting assembly that targets a radiation beam onto a surface of the wafer; a reflected radiation collection assembly to collect radiation reflected from a surface of the wafer; means for rotating the surface analyzer assembly about an edge surface of the wafer; and means for detecting one or more defects in the edge region of the wafer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a surface analyzer system comprises a radiation targeting assembly to target radiation onto a surface, a reflected radiation collecting assembly that collects radiation reflected from the surface, and a signal processing module. The signal processing module generates an image of magnetic characteristics of the magnetic disk, wherein the image comprises a plurality of servo sector arcs, locates a sample of points on a plurality of the servo sector arcs, fits a circle to the sample of points on each of the plurality of servo sector arcs, and determines at least one pivot-to-gap measurement from the radius of the circles.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention includes receiving a disk having a servo pattern and automatically identifying the center of the servo pattern. The present invention also automatically identifies the center of the physical disk and then automatically identifying the variance between the servo center and physical disk center.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring lubricant thickness and degradation, carbon wear and carbon thickness, and surface roughness of thin film magnetic disks at angles that are not substantially Brewster's angle of the thin film (carbon) protective overcoat. A focused optical light whose polarization can be switched between P or S polarization is incident at an angle to the surface of the thin film magnetic disk. The range of angles can be from zero degrees from normal to near Brewster's angle and from an angle greater than Brewster's angle to 90 degrees. This range of angles allows the easy measurement of the change in lubricant thickness due to the interaction of the thin film head, the absolute lubricant thickness and degradation of the lubricant. It also allows the measurement of changes in carbon thickness and the absolute carbon thickness. The surface roughness can also be measured at any of the angles specified above.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring lubricant thickness and degradation, carbon wear and carbon thickness, and surface roughness of thin film magnetic disks at angles that are not substantially Brewster's angle of the thin film (carbon) protective overcoat. A focused optical light whose polarization can be switched between P or S polarization is incident at an angle to the surface of the thin film magnetic disk. The range of angles can be from zero degrees from normal to near Brewster's angle and from an angle greater than Brewster's angle to 90 degrees. This range of angles allows the easy measurement of the change in lubricant thickness due to the interaction of the thin film head, the absolute lubricant thickness and degradation of the lubricant. It also allows the measurement of changes in carbon thickness and the absolute carbon thickness. The surface roughness can also be measured at any of the angles specified above.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring lubricant thickness and degradation, carbon wear and carbon thickness, and surface roughness and debris on thin film magnetic disks at angles that are not substantially Brewster's angle of the thin film (carbon) protective overcoat in a high temperature environment. A focused optical light whose polarization can be switched between P or S polarization is incident at an angle to the surface of the thin film magnetic disk. The polarization switch can be accomplished using a temperature compensated quartz half plate. The range of angles can be from zero degrees from normal to near Brewster's angle and from an angle greater than Brewster's angle to 90 degrees. This range of angles allows the easy measurement of the change in lubricant thickness due to the interaction of the thin film head, the absolute lubricant thickness and degradation of the lubricant. It also allows the measurement of changes in carbon thickness and the absolute carbon thickness.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring lubricant thickness and degradation, carbon wear and carbon thickness, and surface roughness of thin film magnetic disks at angles that are not substantially Brewster's angle of the thin film (carbon) protective overcoat. A focused optical light whose polarization can be switched between P or S polarization is incident at an angle to the surface of the thin film magnetic disk. The range of angles can be from zero degrees from normal to near Brewster's angle and from an angle greater than Brewster's angle to 90 degrees. This range of angles allows the easy measurement of the change in lubricant thickness due to the interaction of the thin film head, the absolute lubricant thickness and degradation of the lubricant. It also allows the measurement of changes in carbon thickness and the absolute carbon thickness. The surface roughness can also be measured at any of the angles specified above.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring lubricant thickness and degradation, carbon wear and carbon thickness, and surface roughness of thin film magnetic disks at angles that are not substantially Brewster's angle of the thin film (carbon) protective overcoat. A focused optical light whose polarization can be switched between P or S polarization is incident at an angle to the surface of the thin film magnetic disk. The range of angles can be from zero degrees from normal to near Brewster's angle and from an angle greater than Brewster's angle to 90 degrees. This range of angles allows the easy measurement of the change in lubricant thickness due to the interaction of the thin film head, the absolute lubricant thickness and degradation of the lubricant. It also allows the measurement of changes in carbon thickness and the absolute carbon thickness. The surface roughness can also be measured at any of the angles specified above.

Abstract: Probe-point placement methods are described. A layout description, a netlist description and a cross-reference description of an IC are retrieved from storage. The data structures associate with each net name a list of polygons. Polygons of a selected net are broken into segments of a specified step size. Each segment is evaluated in accordance with a set of prober rules. Values produced by the prober rules are weighted and combined to obtain a prober score for each segment. The prober score indicates suitability of the corresponding net location for probing. If the best prober score indicates an optimal segment exists for probing, the coordinates of that segment are stored and used to direct a probe to the corresponding location of the IC. If the best prober score indicates no optimal segment exists for probing, each segment of the net is evaluated in accordance with a set of probe-point cutter rules.

Abstract: Probe-point placement methods are described. A layout description, a netlist description and a cross-reference description of an IC are retrieved from storage. The data structures associate with each net name a list of polygons. Polygons of a selected net are broken into segments of a specified step size. Each segment is evaluated in accordance with a set of prober rules. Values produced by the prober rules are weighted and combined to obtain a prober score for each segment. The prober score indicates suitability of the corresponding net location for probing. If the best prober score indicates an optimal segment exists for probing, the coordinates of that segment are stored and used to direct a probe to the corresponding location of the IC. If the best prober score indicates no optimal segment exists for probing, each segment of the net is evaluated in accordance with a set of probe-point cutter rules.