Nanometrics Incorporated
(Nasdaq: NANO), a leading supplier of advanced process control metrology
systems used primarily in the manufacturing and packaging of semiconductors,
solar photovoltaics and high-brightness LEDs, today announced multiple orders
from new and existing HB-LED customers for RPMBlue™ and IVS185™
metrology systems, which will be used for photoluminescence (PL) mapping and
critical dimension and overlay control, respectively. These systems are scheduled
to be delivered and qualified in the fourth quarter of this year.
“We have continued to extend our leadership position in HB-LED metrology
and process control with our newest PL mapping system, the RPMBlue,” commented
Tom Ryan, Director of the Materials Characterization Business Unit at Nanometrics.
“Our customers in Asia are adopting the high-productivity RPMBlue to support
the rapidly-growing application of HB-LEDs for backlighting of notebook and
LCD televisions. This latest round of RPMBlue orders comes from end-device manufacturers
as well as a leading MOCVD reactor supplier. As the HB-LED process flow becomes
increasingly complex, it drives the requirement for improved control of overlay
and critical dimensions in the patterning process. Our IVS185 system, shipping
for the first time to an HB-LED customer, is a cost-effective solution that
incorporates both overlay and CD control in a single tool, with extendibility
across multiple substrate sizes.”
Nanometrics offers a comprehensive line of products and technologies for HB-LED
metrology and process control, including the RPMBlue for high-volume production
of LEDs used in LCD backlighting, the Vertex™ PL mapping system to support
leading-edge HB-LED process development, and the IVS185 overlay and CD system
for advanced LED patterning process control. These systems are used by over
90% of the top-tier HB-LED manufacturers in development and production.