Les profileurs à stylet Dektak® de Bruker sont l'aboutissement de plus de cinq décennies d'avancées technologiques brevetées. Ils fournissent des mesures répétables, fiables et précises, allant des mesures traditionnelles de hauteur de pas et de caractérisation de rugosité de surface 2D jusqu'à la cartographie 3D avancée et aux analyses de contraintes de film. Les profileurs de surface Dektak ont été largement reconnus comme la référence en matière de mesure d'épaisseur, de contrainte, de rugosité de surface et de forme pour les films minces dans divers domaines d'application, de la recherche universitaire jusqu'au contrôle du processus des semi-conducteurs.
La marque Dektak est fière d'avoir créé le premier profileur destiné aux mesures de films minces, le premier profileur à microprocesseur, le premier profileur doté de fonctionnalités 3D, le premier profileur basé sur PC ainsi que le premier profileur automatisé sur 300 mm. Aujourd'hui, DektakXT poursuit cet héritage de " pionnier " en étant le premier profileur à stylet à mettre en œuvre une conception à arche unique, à proposer un changement de stylet facile et fiable, et à exploiter une architecture de traitement parallèle 64 bits pour obtenir des mesures et une efficacité opérationnelle optimales.
Stylus profilometers trace a low force, sharp tip across the surface to record height as a function of position. From that line trace, surface roughness, step height, waviness, and form can be calculated. Modern systems also support recipe based workflows for these measurements.
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Stylus profilers are typically used to measure Ra, Rq, Rz, step height, waviness, and form. Parameters like Ra, Rq, and Rz come from the filtered profile, while step height, waviness, and form are computed from leveled, standardized traces. Proper cutoff selection and leveling are essential so results are comparable across sites and operators.
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A stylus force of 1 mg combined with a 2 µm stylus tip will not cause any damage on the majority of surface materials. Sharper styli and very soft materials will require lower stylus forces to avoid scratches. Alternatively a greater stylus radius of up to 25 µm may be used on delicate materials.
Though the native measurement for stylus is a line profile, 3D maps are built by stitching multiple line traces across an area, providing areal visualization and statistics.
Stylus can be a good choice when sample surfaces are transparent or non-reflective surfaces, and when long scan lengths or large vertical ranges are needed. It is also often the most economical path to traceable roughness and step‑height metrology for growing labs. Optical methods often deliver faster 3D areal maps; AFM excels at ultra‑high lateral resolution over small fields of view.
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The sample is placed on a slider that slides over a highly polished flat glass block. The surface profile is measured by drawing the sample slider at constant speed underneath the stylus tip.
The vertical movement of the stylus tip is measured using LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer) technology, which converts the stylus displacement into a highly precise and linear electrical signal.
Benchtop systems can accommodate small coupons up to full 8” wafers, while production models support large wafers and panels up to 12” size with encoded stages and multi‑site automation. The maximum sample height is 50 mm. Exact limits depend on the model, stage travel, and accessories.
For step height, typical vertical repeatability is on the order of a few angstroms to ~1 nm under controlled conditions, with sub‑nanometer repeatability possible on optimized setups and certified standards. Some key variables affecting accuracy and repeatability are tip condition/geometry, applied force, sample fixturing, vibration/thermal stability, and analysis procedures.
The standard stylus force of a Dektak stylus profiler ranges from 1 to 15 mg. For very delicate materials the force range can be extended downward to 0.03 mg (N-Lite force range).
The Dektak diamond stylus tips have a cono-spherical shape with radii ranging from 25 µm down to very sharp 50 nm. Often, Dektak stylus profilers are equipped with a stylus tip with 2 µm radius which is the recommended stylus radius for roughness measurements.
Sharper styli may be used if higher lateral resolution is required, while styli with greater radii may be useful on very sensitive surfaces.
Dektak styli are easily exchanged within a minute with the included stylus exchange tool. No tiny screwdrivers, Allen wrenches, or tweezers needed. No recalibration needed: Stylus exchange does not affect the calibration of the vertical scale, force scale or optical view.
Every Dektak stylus profiler supports recipe-based workflows for measurement and data analysis. In addition to measurement and automated analysis, Dektak recipes support the acquisition of sample information (e.g., wafer ID and part number), automatic saving of data files using template-generated filenames, and reporting of analysis results (e.g., step heights and roughness) to database tables.
Dektak stylus profilers with motorized XY-stage also allow to generate and run multi-site automation recipes, complete with wafer registration with alignment features (manual or by optical pattern recognition) and automated analysis and database reporting.
Lateral resolution is limited by tip radius, so choosing an appropriate tip is important. Steep slopes and narrow features can be misrepresented if the tip cannot access them fully. Very soft or tacky films may require minimal force and specific tips; in some cases, an optical profilometer may bebetter suited.
Bruker provides applications consulting, troubleshooting, and best practice guidance, along with optional service plans for ongoing support, maintenance, and training.
Contact us to arrange a demonstration or submit samples for an evaluation tailored to your test geometry and materials.
Bruker offers upgrade options for users of legacy Dektak systems. Contact us to discuss your current system, measurement requirements, and available options for moving to a current Dektak platform.
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