1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to solid immersion lenses, especially to such solid immersion lenses to increase and optimize the spatial resolution and light collection efficiency of optical imaging and collection systems.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical spatial resolution is defined as the ability of an imaging system to clearly separate closely placed structures. Optical resolution is of particular importance for those who image objects in applications such as optical metrology, lithography and astronomy.
In an ideal world optical imaging elements would have infinite size where the maximum amount of light could be focused onto and/or collected from the object under investigation. The wave of nature of light combined with the limited aperture of optical elements lead to diffraction B the interference of light as it scatters from the discontinuity and recombines with the light was transmitted from other areas of the optical element.
In reality optical elements are limited size and light waves diffract as they travel through these elements and recombine from the aperture of these elements. Spatial resolution in real optical systems is adversely impacted by aberrations of the optical elements with finite aperture, fields of view and their material properties, amongst other factors.
There are many elements that need to be understood and compensated to optimize the performance of an optical system. Ideally optical elements would be impervious to the different wavelengths (color) of light and thereby not impact resolution and optical performance by chromatic aberrations. Ideally these elements would also be impervious between the light transmitted and focused at the areas close to their axis (paraxial), as opposed to those transmitted and focused further from their axis. This variation for radially symmetric elements is called spherical aberration. For a review of the aberrations, amongst others, their classification, and methods to properly compensate and optimize an optical imaging system the reader may refer to classical texts on optics.
In the following we will describe an optical element and method of use to enhance and increase the resolution capabilities of high-resolution imaging with minimal aberration correction to image objects and structures embedded in the material through the sample.
Even the best optimally designed optical system where the aberrations have been properly addressed and minimized the ultimate limitation is finite aperture size of the system leading to diffraction. Therefore we will focus our attention on diffraction-limited (resolution only limited by diffraction) optical systems. Various analytical expressions have been developed to define spatial resolution in a diffraction-limited system of an optical imaging system. These formulae and expressions all relate the fundamental properties of the illuminating light and the ability of the imaging system to couple into and collect light from the sample. For example, one way to use analytical expression for the resolution is to define the lateral spatial resolving power of an optical system is to resolve a grating of period T with a lens capable of focusing and collecting light within a half-cone θ0 (
T=αλ0/(n*sin θ0) (1)
Wherein λ0 is the wavelength of light in vacuum and An@ is the refractive index of the medium (i.e. for air n0=1, λ=λ0 the wavelength of light in air/vacuum. For a medium of refractive index n, λ=λ0/n). The proportionality constant, α, is defined by the resolution criteria, i.e. α=0.61 in the often-used Rayleigh resolution criterion, or α=0.5 for the Sparrow resolution criterion, amongst other oft used criterion. The maximum half-angle of the cone of light relates to the numerical aperture (NA), of the lens according to:
NA=n*sin θ0 (2)
Therefore one obtains the relationship:
T=αλ0/(NA) (3)
Consequently, efforts to increase spatial resolution have concentrated on either increasing the NA or using a light of a shorter wavelength. The NA can be increased by proper designing of the objective to increase the solid angle cone of light that is focused and collected to and from the sample, while reducing the wavelength is achieved by using a different illuminating source, for example, a laser light source or a narrow-filtered broad spectrum light source of for a shorter wavelength.
In the case where the structure under investigation is embedded in a material with an index of refraction n0, due to refraction, the half-cone angle inside the material (θ1) is related through half-cone angle in air (θ0) (
n0 Sin(θ0)=n1 Sin(θ1)(FIG. 10b) (4)
Although the (sinus of the) cone angle is reduced by a factor of n0/n1, the wavelength is also reduce by the same factor. Therefore the NA is conserved, and the effective resolution of the imaging system remains unchanged. However the off normal incident (axis) rays bending at the air-medium interface introduce spherical aberrations and axial coma, which in turn reduce the image fidelity and overall resolution.
It must also be noted that in any imaging system the ability to maximize coupling and collection light onto and from the sample under inspection is critical to the imaging performance. Since more light focused and collected from the area of interest translate into larger signal (information). When the area of interest is embedded in a material, light reflected from the sample and incident on the material-air interface outside of the critical angle (θ0=sin4(n0/n1)) is reflected back into the sample (total internal reflection) and is not collected.
In summary, the larger difference between the refractive indices of the imaging system and the embedded object the smaller the cone angle of focus and the higher the total internal reflection (loss of light from the sample). Therefore the goal is to reduce and compensate for the abrupt transition in refractive indices between the lens focusing element (i.e. microscope objective) and the embedded object. The optimum would be to ‘match’ the refractive indices.
Traditionally to compensate for this reduction in resolution and collection the air gap between the objective lens and sample is filled with a fluid with a refractive index matching to that of the material, “index-matching fluid”. In many microscopes built for biological studies, the specimen is under a cover glass with a refractive index close (˜1.5) to that of the sample. The index-matching fluid used to Abridge@ between the cover-glass and embedded specimen would match as nearly as possible to the refractive indices. The objective lens in this index-matching set-up is also designed and optimized to image through the higher index fluid.
The enhancement in resolution with liquid is limited by the index of refraction of the fluid being used. The index of refraction of silicon is approximately 3.5, whereas the index of refraction of index-matching fluids is approximately 1.6. If the interface between the lens and the object is removed, then the NA of the optics can take full advantage of the higher index of refraction of transparent solid material. For example, in the case of silicon, the index of refraction is approximately 3.5. In cases where matching the refractive index of the material is not possible (for reason such as availability of fluids with matching refractive index or operational and implementation considerations), the ‘matching’ is achieved with a solid material. Obviously a primary ‘index-matching’ candidate material would be an element constructed from the same material as that of the object under study.
Although the goals are similar for solid index matching and fluid index matching (increasing the coupling and collection of light into and out of the sample) there is a major difference in their implementation and constraints on the overall optical system. Whereas fluids are malleable and easily fill in the gap between the lens and object, solid immersion elements must be designed to physically fit in and optically match to the imaging system. With the flat sample-air interface and the goal to couple over the largest solid angle (and not simply to extend the light further into space) the traditional solid immersion optical element by its nature is designed with a flat (interface to the sample) and symmetric curved convex surface (away from the sample). This curved surface could be a cylinder (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,114) or a spherical design (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,234) and because of its curvature acts as a positive focusing lens, thereby aptly called solid immersion lens (SIL). The SIL is very similar to the first (looking from the sample) plano-convex focusing/collection element in many traditional microscopic objectives. Whereas liquid matching is only a light coupling mechanism, solid immersion has a fixed focusing aspect in addition.
Of course, one may use both immersion techniques, i.e., use solid immersion lens and index matching fluid. The use of the above techniques is disclosed in, for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,524,694, 3,711,186, and 3,912,378 and Modern Optical Engineering, Warren J. Smith, McGraw-Hill, pp. 230-236, 1966. More modern discussions of immersion lenses can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,004,307, 5,208,648, and 5,282,088. For a proper understanding of the novel and advantageous features of the present invention, the reader is especially encouraged to review the later three patents, and Solid Immersion Microscopy, M. Mansfield, Stanford University Doctoral Thesis G.L. Report 4949, March 1992.
Prior art solid immersion lenses are plano-convex. That is, the bottom surface, i.e., the surface facing the object, is flat, while the top surface, i.e., the surface facing the objective lens is convex.
The immersion lens, 110, depicted in
On the other hand, the flat surface of the lens, 120, depicted in
Another variation is depicted in
In usage, the lenses depicted in
The prior art immersion lenses suffer from the following problems:
First, since the bottom surface is flat, it is difficult to pinpoint the location of the focus point, i.e., it is hard to specify exactly what point on the object is being imaged. This is an important issue when imaging very small objects, such as electronic circuits embedded in semiconductor (i.e. Silicon, or GaAs) devices.
Second, since the bottom surface is flat, it has a large contact area. That is, as is known in the prior art, one method of index matching without the use of an index matching fluid is to simply make the immersion lens contact the object to be imaged. However, such contact should be minimized when imaging sensitive semiconductor devices in order to avoid introducing defects, such as contamination and scratching.
Third, since the sample=s surface may not be perfectly flat (as is the case with semiconductors), the flat surface of the lens will basically have only a three-point contact with the sample=s surface. Consequently, it is difficult to ensure that the flat surface of the immersion lens is Aparallel@ and optically coupled to the surface of the sample over the entire area of contact.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an immersion lens which embodies the advantages of the prior are immersion lenses, while avoiding certain disadvantages of the prior art immersion lenses.
The immersion lens of the present invention can be in the form of any of the prior art immersion lenses, especially those depicted in
Since the inventive bi-convex lens has a convex lower surface, it allows for accurate determination of the point of focus. Moreover, the convex lower surface minimizes the point of contact with the imaged object and avoids the tree-point contact problem. Additionally, the inventive lens provides additional coupling by using minimal pressure over the sample.
a-1c depict three solid immersion lenses according to the prior art.
a and 2b depict a first and second embodiments of the inventive solid immersion lens.
a-10b depict general prior art optical systems.
a depicts a first embodiment of the inventive bi-convex immersion lens 210. Specifically, the upper surface 212 is convex in the form of a hemisphere with Radial geometrical center at GC. The bottom surface 214 is convex, but having a radius of curvature that is much larger than that of the upper surface. The radius of curvature of the bottom surface, 214, is, for example, an order of magnitude larger than that of the upper surface 212. The lowest point of the bottom surface, 214, passes through the radial geometrical center, GC, of the upper surface.
In usage, it is advantageous to have to lowest point of the bottom surface come in contact with the object to be imaged, while the periphery of the bottom surface at a few tens of nanometers therefrom. However, lens 210 can also be used with a gap of up to about 200 nanometers from the object, wherein the gap is filled with either air or index matching material or fluid. In such a configuration, the periphery of the bottom surface would be a few tens of nanometers further from the object than the lowest point.
Since in the embodiment of
b depicts a modified embodiment of the SIL of
As can be understood from the above description, one advantage of the inventive immersion lens is that is provides a small and defined Apoint of contact@ so that the exact location being imaged can be accurately determined. The small and defined point of contact also minimizes any physical interactions between the lens and the object imaged, thereby minimizing the possibility of introducing defects onto the imaged object.
The radius of curvature of the bottom surface may be much larger than that of the upper surface. At any rate, the radius of curvature of the bottom surface should be less than that of the surface to be inspected. That is, if the surface to be inspected is flat, i.e., radius of curvature being infinity, then the bottom surface may have any radius of curvature that is less than infinity. On the other hand, if the surface to be inspected is curved, the radius of curvature of the bottom surface should be smaller than the radius of curvature of the inspected surface. This is demonstrated by the broken line 415 in
For advantageous results, the lens should be Acoupled@ (in direct contact) to the object so as to capture evanescent surface waves. In other words, the lens should be coupled to the object so that it captures rays propagating in the object at angles higher than the critical angle. Coupling can be achieved by physical contact between the SIL and the inspected object. However, in some applications the inventive SIL provide additional coupling capability when a force is exerted on the SIL so as to be pressed against the inspected object.
For example, in microscopy of entrenched structures, the areas of interest are embedded in thin and relatively malleable samples. In particular, in semiconductor IC optical metrology samples are typically thinned to approximately 50 to 150 microns. In flipchip packages these samples are bonded on a solder array that leads to a non-flat (wavy) and compliant structure, without compromising the electrical performance of the IC. Using the inventive SIL, one can exerted minimal force on the SIL to achieve enhanced collection efficiency.
For best optical coupling and imaging results, the index of refraction of the immersion lens should match that of the object being imaged. Examples for appropriate materials when inspecting objects in glass are: Schott-58 glass, Schott LaKN-22 and Schott LaSF-9. For IC applications in Silicon, a lens made of silicon will provide a matching index.
The inventive immersion lens has applications in the investigation of flip-chips. Specifically, it has been determined by the inventors that when a bi-convex immersion lens is used to probe a flip-chip by contacting the backside of the chip and exerting a relatively small pressure, the chip bends slightly; thereby assisting in coupling the lens to the chip. This bending has been tested and proved successful without damaging the chip, or altering its electrical and/or dynamic (timing) characteristics. Specifically, a bi-convex lens having the following dimensions was manufactured:
radius of top surface: 3 mm;
radius of bottom surface: ˜54 mm;
thickness/height: 2.9 mm
index of refraction (silicon): 3.5.
Adequate coupling was observed with either the top or bottom surface pressed against the chip at a reasonably non-destructive force. Accordingly, it was demonstrated that a SIL having a curved bottom surface enhances light collection efficiency from an IC. Of course, these dimensions are not limiting and are given only as a demonstrative example.
Light exiting the upper surface of the object is then captured by the immersion lens 520. The immersion lens 520 is made of a high index of refraction material (for example, that of the sample) and is optomechanically coupled to the object. Consequently, this effectively increases the numerical aperture of the (original non-SIL) objective 525 and captures rays propagating inside the object at angles larger than the critical angle. Thus, spatial resolution is increased and features of smaller size can be resolved inside the object.
The light passes from the immersion lens 520 into the objective 525, and then reflects from the mirror 530 towards the detector 545. The detector 545 may be an appropriate camera (i.e. CCD or vidicon array), an eyepiece, or both (using diffractive and/or reflective optics in a known manner).
It should be appreciated, that the microscope exemplified in
A variation of the inventive lens is depicted in
Another application of the inventive SIL is in optical data storage systems. High numerical aperture is also desirable in optical storage applications, such as CD, CD-ROM and DVD, wherein it enhances the data readout of the storage system and allows increase in the data density. Such a system exemplified in
As further shown in
According to one manner of operation, the bottom surface of the carrier is brought into contact with the bottom surface of the flip chip, and is used to slide the immersion lens over the chip so as to be positioned in the appropriate places for tests. A first advantage of this feature is that the distance between the bottom surface of the lens and the surface of the chip is mechanically kept constant. A second advantage of this feature is that scratching and grinding of the bottom surface of the immersion lens against the chip is avoided. A third advantage is that the carrier dissipates heat from the device under test.
On the other hand, since the bottom of the lens does not contact the surface of the flip chip, light coupling is not optimal. Therefore, in an alternate embodiment, the bottom surface of the SIL extends beyond the bottom surface of the carrier. Using this arrangement, the SIL is Apicked and placed@ onto various locations on the flip-chip, and no sliding occurs in order to avoid scratches.
The reader=s attention is now directed back to
Stage 860 further includes manipulators 870 for fine Z adjustment. Specifically, the manipulators 870 are used to control the distance between the immersion lens and the objective 830 for focus adjustment and pressure control. The manipulators 870 may be controlled by a know per se autofocus system.
Another feature of the invention will now be described. Specifically, as can be seen in
In one embodiment, the upper convex surface of the lens is coated with an anti-reflectance material. Since the design of the lens makes all rays enter/exit the upper surface at 90 degrees, coating is drastically simplified since the thickness of the coating would be the same on the entire convex surface.
While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it is not limited to those embodiments. Specifically, various variations and modifications may be implemented by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the invention=s spirit and scope, as defined by the appended claims.
This Application is a continuation application of, and claims priority from application Ser. No. 10/883,542 filed Jul. 1, 2004, which is a Divisional Application of U.S. Application No. 10/440,866 filed May 19, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,778,327, which is a Divisional Application of U.S. Application No. 10/052,011 filed Jan. 16, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,086. The entire disclosures of the prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3436159 | Harrick | Apr 1969 | A |
3524694 | Klein et al. | Aug 1970 | A |
3711186 | O'Connor | Jan 1973 | A |
3912378 | Goto | Oct 1975 | A |
4002407 | Maeda | Jan 1977 | A |
4353618 | Hagner | Oct 1982 | A |
4625114 | Bosacchi | Nov 1986 | A |
4634234 | Baumann | Jan 1987 | A |
5004307 | Kino | Apr 1991 | A |
5125750 | Corle et al. | Jun 1992 | A |
5208648 | Batchelder et al. | May 1993 | A |
5220403 | Batchelder et al. | Jun 1993 | A |
5247392 | Plies | Sep 1993 | A |
5282088 | Davidson | Jan 1994 | A |
5475316 | Hurley et al. | Dec 1995 | A |
5497359 | Mamin | Mar 1996 | A |
5764613 | Yamamoto | Jun 1998 | A |
5852232 | Samsavar et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
5910940 | Guerra | Jun 1999 | A |
5939709 | Ghilain et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5940545 | Kash et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5948972 | Samsavar et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
6094413 | Guerra | Jul 2000 | A |
6229600 | Martynov | May 2001 | B1 |
6252412 | Talbot et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6270696 | Jain et al. | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6301055 | Legrand et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6381081 | Ford | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6411442 | Ota et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6441359 | Cozier et al. | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6462814 | Lo | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6487161 | Maruyama et al. | Nov 2002 | B2 |
6507433 | Mecham et al. | Jan 2003 | B2 |
6509750 | Talbot et al. | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6591121 | Madarasz et al. | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6621275 | Cotton et al. | Sep 2003 | B2 |
6744568 | Kitamura et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6818907 | Stark | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6822800 | Koreeda et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6831782 | Patton et al. | Dec 2004 | B2 |
20020135891 | Kimura et al. | Sep 2002 | A1 |
20030210057 | Cotton et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
20040212380 | Koyama et al. | Oct 2004 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
42 44 268 | Jul 1994 | DE |
0 977 192 | Feb 2000 | EP |
11-003534 | Jan 1999 | JP |
11-273132 | Oct 1999 | JP |
2000-171611 | Jun 2000 | JP |
2001-034998 | Feb 2001 | JP |
2002-236087 | Aug 2002 | JP |
WO 9741556 | Nov 1997 | WO |
WO 9858288 | Dec 1998 | WO |
WO 2005-043210 | May 2005 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070205795 A1 | Sep 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10440866 | May 2003 | US |
Child | 10883542 | US | |
Parent | 10052011 | Jan 2002 | US |
Child | 10440866 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 10883542 | Jul 2004 | US |
Child | 11746036 | US |