Patents by Inventor Vineet Dharmadhikari

Vineet Dharmadhikari 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: 7709794
    Abstract: To increase inspection throughput, the field of view (FOV) of an IR camera can be moved over the sample at a constant velocity. Throughout this moving, a modulation (e.g. optical or electrical) can be provided to the sample and IR images can be captured using the IR camera. Moving the FOV, providing the modulation, and capturing the IR images can be synchronized. The IR images can be filtered to generate the time delay LIT, thereby providing defect identification. In one embodiment, this filtering accounts for the number of pixels of the IR camera in a scanning direction. For the case of optical modulation, a dark field region can be provided for the FOV throughout the moving, thereby providing an improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Guoheng Zhao, Geordie Zapalac, Samuel Ngai, Mehdi Vaez-Iravani, Ady Levy, Vineet Dharmadhikari
  • Publication number: 20100073665
    Abstract: To increase inspection throughput, the field of view (FOV) of an IR camera can be moved over the sample at a constant velocity. Throughout this moving, a modulation (e.g. optical or electrical) can be provided to the sample and IR images can be captured using the IR camera. Moving the FOV, providing the modulation, and capturing the IR images can be synchronized. The IR images can be filtered to generate the time delay LIT, thereby providing defect identification. In one embodiment, this filtering accounts for the number of pixels of the IR camera in a scanning direction. For the case of optical modulation, a dark field region can be provided for the FOV throughout the moving, thereby providing an improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) during filtering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Guoheng Zhao, Geordie Zapalac, Samuel Ngai, Mehdi Vaez-Iravani, Ady Levy, Vineet Dharmadhikari
  • Publication number: 20100074515
    Abstract: To increase inspection throughput, the field of view of an infrared camera can be moved over the sample at a constant velocity. Throughout this moving, a modulation (such as optical or electrical) can be provided to the sample and infrared images can be captured using the infrared camera. Moving the field of view, providing the modulation, and capturing the infrared images can be synchronized. The infrared images can be filtered to generate the time delay lock-in thermography, thereby providing defect identification. In one embodiment, this filtering accounts for the number of pixels of the infrared camera in a scanning direction. For the case of optical modulation, a dark field region can be provided for the field of view throughout the moving, thereby providing an improved signal-to-noise ratio during filtering. Localized defects can be repaired by a laser integrated into the detection system or marked by ink for later repair in the production line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Guoheng Zhao, George H. Zapalac, JR., Samuel S.H. Ngai, Medhi Vaez-Iravani, Ady Levy, Vineet Dharmadhikari