摘要:
A scanning probe microscope and method having automated exchange and precise alignment of probe, wherein one or more additional stored probes (4) for installation onto a probe mount (32) are stored in a storage cassette (22) or a wafer, a selected probe is aligned to a detection system (11), and the aligned probe is then clamped against the probe mount. Clamping is performed using a clamp (68) which is disabled when removing a replacement probe from the storage cassette, enabled when installing the probe on the probe mount and disabled when releasing the probe at a later time for subsequent probe exchange. Probe alignment is automated using signal from the probe detection system or by determining probe positioning using pattern recognition processing of the probe image to allow probe removal and exchange without operator intervention. Techniques for error checking are employed to ensure proper probe installation and operation.
摘要:
A probe-based surface characterization or metrology instrument accounts for errors in the vertical positioning of its probe and errors in detecting the vertical position of its probe. These errors are accounted for by subtracting reference scan data from measurement scan data. The measurement scan data is obtained from an area that includes the feature of interest as well as a portion of a reference area that includes the feature of interest, as well as a portion of the reference area which is featureless. The reference scan data is obtained from an area that includes the reference area and that, preferably, excludes the features of interest. This procedure is particularly well-suited for measuring pole tip recession in a magnetic head.