Non-contact hysteresis measurements of insulating films

Abstract

Non-contact methods for determining a property of an insulating film are provided. One method includes measuring an amount of hysteresis in the insulating film without contacting the insulating film. The method also includes determining the amount of hysteresis in the insulating film. Computer-implemented methods for data analysis are also provided. One computer-implemented method includes determining a single numeric value representing an amount of hysteresis in an insulating film from electrical characteristics of the insulating film. The electrical characteristics are measured without contacting the insulating film. In addition, systems that include a measurement system and a computer-usable carrier medium are provided. The measurement system is configured to measure an amount of hysteresis in an insulating film without contacting the insulating film. The carrier medium includes program instructions, which are executable on a computer system for determining the amount of hysteresis in the insulating film using measurements from the measurement system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.