Patents by Inventor Songping Gao
Songping Gao 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).
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Patent number: 9518930Abstract: An optical collection and detection system for use in a surface inspection system for inspecting a surface of a workpiece. The surface inspection system has an incident beam projected through a back quartersphere and toward a desired location on the surface, which is a scanned spot having a known scanned spot size. The incident beam impinges on the surface to create scattered light that is collected by a collector module. The collector module includes collection optics for collecting and focusing the scattered light to form focused scattered light. A collector output slit is positioned at an output of the collector module, through which the collection optics focus the scattered light. The scattered light that is associated with the scanned spot forms an imaged spot at the collector output slit.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Neil Judell, Ian T. Kohl, Songping Gao, Richard E. Bills
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Publication number: 20150355051Abstract: An optical system includes a sample carrier receiving region configured to receive a sample carrier carrying a sample for processing, a source that emits an excitation signal having a wavelength within a first predetermined wavelength range, and a first set of optical components that direct the excitation signal along an excitation path to the sample carrier receiving region, wherein radiation having a wavelength within a second predetermined wavelength range is emitted from the sample carrier receiving region in response to receiving the excitation signal. The optical system further includes a detector configured to detect the emitted radiation and generates a signal indicative of a power of the detected radiation and a second set of optical components that directs the emitted radiation along a collection path to the detector. The optical system further includes a power meter that measures a power of the radiation emitted from the sample carrier receiving region and generates a signal indicative thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2015Publication date: December 10, 2015Applicant: ANALOGIC CORPORATIONInventor: Songping Gao
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Patent number: 9110023Abstract: An optical system includes a sample carrier receiving region configured to receive a carrier carrying a sample for processing, a source that emits an excitation signal having a wavelength within a first predetermined wavelength range, and a first set of optical components that direct the excitation signal along an excitation path to the sample carrier receiving region, wherein radiation having a wavelength within a second predetermined wavelength range is emitted from the sample carrier receiving region in response to receiving the excitation signal. The system further includes a detector configured to detect the emitted radiation and generates a signal indicative of a power of the detected radiation and a second set of optical components that directs the emitted radiation along a collection path to the detector and a power meter that measures a power of the radiation emitted from the sample carrier receiving region and generates a signal indicative thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: Analogic CorporationInventor: Songping Gao
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Patent number: 8624200Abstract: An optical detection system includes a sample carrier receiving region that receives a sample carrier carrying a sample. The system further includes a source that emits an excitation signal having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range. The excitation signal illuminates the sample carrier. A first sub-portion of the excitation signal is absorbed by the sample, which emits characteristic radiation in response thereto. A second sub-portion of the excitation signal traverses the sample carrier. The system further includes a detector that detects the characteristic radiation. The system further includes an absorber that absorbs the excitation signal traversing the sample carrier without being absorbed by the sample or sample carrier. The absorber absorbs at least 95% of the excitation signal traversing the sample carrier.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Analogic CorporationInventor: Songping Gao
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Publication number: 20130342833Abstract: An optical collection and detection system for use in a surface inspection system for inspecting a surface of a workpiece. The surface inspection system has an incident beam projected through a back quartersphere and toward a desired location on the surface, which is a scanned spot having a known scanned spot size. The incident beam impinges on the surface to create scattered light that is collected by a collector module. The collector module includes collection optics for collecting and focusing the scattered light to form focused scattered light. A collector output slit is positioned at an output of the collector module, through which the collection optics focus the scattered light. The scattered light that is associated with the scanned spot forms an imaged spot at the collector output slit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATIONInventors: Neil Judell, Ian T. Kohl, Songping Gao, Richard E. Bills
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Patent number: 8537350Abstract: A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The system features a variable polarization a polarizing relay assembly arranged to selectively permit the scattered light having a selected polarization orientation to pass along a detector optical axis to a light detection unit in the detection subsystem. The system also features a collector output width varying subsystem for varying the width of an output slit in response to changes in the location of the location scanned on the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Neil Judell, Ian T. Kohl, Songping Gao, Richard E. Bills
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Patent number: 8427637Abstract: An optical detection system includes a detector configured to detect a signal emitted from a sample carrier and generate an output indicative of the signal detected by the detector. The sample carrier emits the signal in response to the sample carrier being scanned by an excitation source, the emitted signal is indicative of a structural characteristic of the sample carrier, and the sample carrier includes bulk material, at least one material free chamber and a bulk material/chamber interface for each chamber. The optical detection system further includes a data evaluator that identifies the structural characteristic of the sample carrier based on the output of the detector and generates data indicative of the identified structural characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Analogic CorporationInventor: Songping Gao
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Publication number: 20130075626Abstract: An optical system includes a sample carrier receiving region configured to receive a carrier carrying a sample for processing, a source that emits an excitation signal having a wavelength within a first predetermined wavelength range, and a first set of optical components that direct the excitation signal along an excitation path to the sample carrier receiving region, wherein radiation having a wavelength within a second predetermined wavelength range is emitted from the sample carrier receiving region in response to receiving the excitation signal. The system further includes a detector configured to detect the emitted radiation and generates a signal indicative of a power of the detected radiation and a second set of optical components that directs the emitted radiation along a collection path to the detector and a power meter that measures a power of the radiation emitted from the sample carrier receiving region and generates a signal indicative thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 28, 2013Applicant: ANALOGIC CORPORATIONInventor: Songping Gao
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Publication number: 20130011928Abstract: An optical detection system (100) includes an optical element (116, 202, 502) that directs emission radiation (108), which traverses away from an optical collection path (122), to the path, wherein the emission radiation is emitted by a radiation sensitive material in a sample (204) under study in response to the material absorbing excitation radiation, and the emission radiation has a spectral characteristic that corresponds to the material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2010Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: ANALOGIC CORPORATIONInventor: Songping Gao
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Publication number: 20120313009Abstract: An optical detection system includes a sample carrier receiving region that receives a sample carrier carrying a sample. The system further includes a source that emits an excitation signal having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range. The excitation signal illuminates the sample carrier. A first sub-portion of the excitation signal is absorbed by the sample, which emits characteristic radiation in response thereto. A second sub-portion of the excitation signal traverses the sample carrier. The system further includes a detector that detects the characteristic radiation. The system further includes an absorber that absorbs the excitation signal traversing the sample carrier without being absorbed by the sample or sample carrier. The absorber absorbs at least 95% of the excitation signal traversing the sample carrier.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: ANALOGIC CORPORATIONInventor: Songping Gao
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Publication number: 20120250003Abstract: An optical detection system includes a detector configured to detect a signal emitted from a sample carrier and generate an output indicative of the signal detected by the detector. The sample carrier emits the signal in response to the sample carrier being scanned by an excitation source, the emitted signal is indicative of a structural characteristic of the sample carrier, and the sample carrier includes bulk material, at least one material free chamber and a bulk material/chamber interface for each chamber. The optical detection system further includes a data evaluator that identifies the structural characteristic of the sample carrier based on the output of the detector and generates data indicative of the identified structural characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: ANALOGIC CORPORATIONInventor: Songping Gao
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Publication number: 20120013898Abstract: A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The system features a variable polarization a polarizing relay assembly arranged to selectively permit the scattered light having a selected polarization orientation to pass along a detector optical axis to a light detection unit in the detection subsystem. The system also features a collector output width varying subsystem for varying the width of an output slit in response to changes in the location of the location scanned on the workpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATIONInventors: Neil Judell, Ian Thomas Kohl, Songping Gao, Richard Earl Bills
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Patent number: 8059268Abstract: A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The system features a variable polarization a polarizing relay assembly arranged to selectively permit the scattered light having a selected polarization orientation to pass along a detector optical axis to a light detection unit in the detection subsystem. They system also features a collector output width varying subsystem for varying the width of an output slit in response to changes in the location of the location scanned on the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Neil Judell, Ian T. Kohl, Songping Gao, Richard E. Bills
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Patent number: 7839495Abstract: A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The system features a variable scan speed beam scanning subsystem, preferably using an acousto-optic deflector, with beam compensation, so that variable scanning speeds can be achieved. Also included are methods and systems for improving the signal to noise ratio by use of scatter reducing complements, and a system and method for selectively and repeatedly scanning a region of interest on the surface in order to provide additional observations of the region of interest.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2009Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Bruce Baran, Chris L. Koliopoulos, Songping Gao, Richard E. Bills, Michael Murphree
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Publication number: 20100149527Abstract: A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The system features a variable scan speed beam scanning subsystem, preferably using an acousto-optic deflector, with beam compensation, so that variable scanning speeds can be achieved. Also included are methods and systems for improving the signal to noise ratio by use of scatter reducing complements, and a system and method for selectively and repeatedly scanning a region of interest on the surface in order to provide additional observations of the region of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2009Publication date: June 17, 2010Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATIONInventors: Bruce Baran, Chris L. Koliopoulos, Songping Gao, Richard Earl Bills, Michael Murphree
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Publication number: 20100110420Abstract: A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The system features a variable polarization a polarizing relay assembly arranged to selectively permit the scattered light having a selected polarization orientation to pass along a detector optical axis to a light detection unit in the detection subsystem. They system also features a collector output width varying subsystem for varying the width of an output slit in response to changes in the location of the location scanned on the workpiece.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2009Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATIONInventors: Neil Judell, Ian Thomas Kohl, Songping Gao, Richard Earl Bills
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Patent number: 7623227Abstract: A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The system features a variable polarization a polarizing relay assembly arranged to selectively permit the scattered light having a selected polarization orientation to pass along a detector optical axis to a light detection unit in the detection subsystem. They system also features a collector output width varying subsystem for varying the width of an output slit in response to changes in the location of the location scanned on the workpiece.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2005Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Neil Judell, Ian Thomas Kohl, Songping Gao, Richard Earl Bills
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Patent number: 7557910Abstract: A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The system features a variable scan speed beam scanning subsystem, preferably using an acousto-optic deflector, with beam compensation, so that variable scanning speeds can be achieved. Also included are methods and systems for improving the signal to noise ratio by use of scatter reducing complements, and a system and method for selectively and repeatedly scanning a region of interest on the surface in order to provide additional observations of the region of interest.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: KLA-Tencor CorporationInventors: Bruce Baran, Chris L. Koliopoulos, Songping Gao, Richard Earl Bills, Michael Murphree
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Publication number: 20070252977Abstract: A surface inspection system, as well as related components and methods, are provided. The surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The system features a variable scan speed beam scanning subsystem, preferably using an acousto-optic deflector, with beam compensation, so that variable scanning speeds can be achieved. Also included are methods and systems for improving the signal to noise ratio by use of scatter reducing complements, and a system and method for selectively and repeatedly scanning a region of interest on the surface in order to provide additional observations of the region of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2005Publication date: November 1, 2007Inventors: Bruce Baran, Chris Koliopoulos, Songping Gao, Richard Bills, Michael Murphree
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Publication number: 20060192950Abstract: A surface inspection system includes a beam source subsystem, a beam scanning subsystem, a workpiece movement subsystem, an optical collection and detection subsystem, and a processing subsystem. The processing subsystem has a channel formation capability for forming selected channels and developing channel output associated with each selected channel, with the channel output developed from collector output associated with at least one collection and detection module.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2005Publication date: August 31, 2006Inventors: Neil Judell, Songping Gao, Timothy Tiemeyer