What
is the PC-Scope?
The PC-Scope is a
fully-integrated, computer-controlled optical
microscopy system designed to eliminate the
ergonomic problems associated with long-term
microscope use while significantly reducing the
cost of ownership.
PC-Scope benefits?
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- Productivity improvement
- An independent assessment by a
semiconductor manufacturing facility
determined that the PC-Scope raises
productivity by at least 100%. Using a
PC-Scope system to perform quality
assurance inspection of devices, the
facility estimated that it could easily
double its throughput and that a 300%
increase was more likely (assuming
optimization of their process to take
advantage of some key capabilities of the
PC-Scope). The ease of use and the
ability to capture and transmit high
resolution images with user-inputted
annotation and store and compile
inspection data for pareto diagrams would
shorten the work cycle significantly. It
would also increase the effectiveness of
the review process by associating
inspection results with processing
metrics. By placing the microscope inside
the clean room and the personal computer
outside, inspectors could perform their
duties without having to enter the cleanroom. This would reduce the number of
personnel actually performing their work
inside the cleanroom, reducing human
contaminants proportionately.
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- Employee health and welfare
- Conventional microscope design tradeoffs
usually result in a system poorly suited
to human operation, in which the operator
must maintain a rigid and unnatural
posture for extended periods of time. Researchers
have determined that about 80 percent of
microscopists experience headaches or
musculoskeletal pain and 75 percent
complain of eye strain. One study
reported an OSHA injury rate of 19 for a
sample of microscope operators while
another indicated a high incidence of
career "dropout" between the
fifth and tenth years of practice. The
research that supports these published
works indicates that most microscopists
cannot successfully operate the optical
microscope for an entire career without
incurring debilitating injuries. And, if
special sample handling procedures are
required, personnel clothing
considerations can significantly increase
the difficulty of use and the associated
physical stress.
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- With the PC-Scope, the operator uses a
mouse connected to a personal computer to
control the microscope while observing
the true-color image on a high-resolution
color monitor. Precision positioning of
the sample is done under computer
control. The operator can specify x,y
coordinate of a feature to move the stage
automatically to put that feature into
the field-of-view of a 100x objective
lens (on-screen magnification is 4000x).
The physical operation of the PC-Scope is
even less stressful than normal personal
computer operation since a mouse, instead
of a keyboard, is used as the primary
input device. With the appropriate
pointing device, the system can be used
by people with major mobility
disabilities with no loss of
productivity.
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- Reduced capital expenditures
- The purchase price of a fully-functional
system is significantly less than that of
a conventional microscope with a
motorized stage and provides improved
throughput due to its ease of use and
data compilation capabilities. The system
includes a 200mm x 200mm stage with a
vacuum chuck for holding a wafer, a high
resolution video imaging system, a
personal computer with monitor, and a
microscope with 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100x
lenses. Lens selection, image focusing,
stage x,y travel & rotation, and
aperture and field diaphragms are
controlled from the screen of the
personal computer.
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- Made in the USA.
- The patented PC-Scope, designed by TriTek
Corp., is built in their Northern
Virginia laboratory and uses
state-of-the-art imaging optics from
Olympus Optical Co., LTD of Japan.
TriTek
personnel provide in-line installation,
and all parts and labor carry a 12-month,
on-site warranty. TriTek also offers an
extended service plan for post-warranty
maintenance.
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- Employee Training
- TriTek offers a qualitative microscopy
training program written by a
professional with 25 years of
semiconductor industry experience. The
curriculum covers light optics, personal
computer construction & operation,
microscope construction & operation,
introductory electronics, basic computer
logic circuits, and detailed descriptions
of generic semiconductor manufacturing
processes and techniques.
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- The objective of the training program is
to provide employees with skills that
will prepare them for entry level product
inspection positions in a semiconductor
manufacturing facility. Subsequent
on-the-job training, specific to the
actual manufacturing process, should be
minimal. For customers desiring deeper
application-specific training, the course
can be augmented with customer-provided
material or instruction. Confidentiality
of proprietary material is guaranteed.
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- The course is offered for up to 6
students for a nominal fee for a single
system purchase and is complimentary with
the purchase of 4 PC-Scopes. The series
of lectures and laboratory exercises is
presented over a 2-week period on the
customer's premises.
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