Zeta™ - Solar Metallisation Optical Profiler

The Zeta™ - Solar is a dedicated optical profiler specifically designed for the unique requirements of advanced metallisation finger, contact pad, and busbar measurements. Advances in 3D imaging technology and an XY stage that accommodates solar cells up to 230mm x 230mm make the Zeta-Solar the ideal purpose-built metrology tool for end-of-line solar process development and process quality control.

Manufacturer

KLA

A global technology leader who make an impact by creating solutions that drive progress and transform industries. Collaboration is the key to their success. KLA provide leading-edge technology and devices using advanced inspection tools, metrology systems, and computational analytics. Their solutions accelerate tomorrow’s electronic devices. They enable evolution and innovation in the data era across key industries including automotive, mobile and data centre.

Key Features

  • Optimised height and width of finger and busbar measurements with statistical analysis and pass/fail identification
  • High dynamic range (HDR) optimised for ultra-low reflectivity textures
  • Automatic stitching for large Field of View (FOV) areas of busbars and contact pads
  • Programmable sample motion stage for next generation 230mm x 230mm solar cell processes
  • True Colour imaging of 3D solar surface
  • Industry-leading repeatability and reproducibility

Overview

This new Zeta model leverages advances in 3D imaging technology to simplify the imaging system and improve the cost of ownership to the highly competitive solar cell market. This optical profiler includes XY stage options to accommodate the latest generation solar cells up to 230mm x 230mm, as well as ½ cells and earlier generation solar cells. The software has been developed to seamlessly combine easy to-use Profilm software with the well-established metallisation measurements developed for other Zeta systems. Enhanced measurement mode analysis provides solar industry-specific metallisation measurements. The Zeta-Solar system is the ideal purpose-built metrology tool for end-of-the-line solar process development and process quality control.

Zeta-Solar Finger Analysis for Ag Finger and Ag/Cu Finger

(a) top-down image of Ag finger captured with HDR – evenly-spaced horizontal lines measure height profiles across the surface; (b) finger step height is automatically calculated using cursor pairs to define the texture surface height (red) and finger height (blue); (c) top-down image of Ag/Cu finger captured with HDR, showing Cu particles on the finger; (d) Ag/Cu finger height is automatically detected and calculated using the two cursor pairs.

Zeta-Solar Pad Measurement

Busbars will be replaced by 1x1mm silver pads in 0BB metallisation to reduce material cost and increase the light-absorption surface area. Zeta-Solar implements an advanced measurement mode to characterise this large region while automatically measuring the average height. Left: silver pad top-down image using the 5X objective. Right: 3D topography of the pad measured using the Zeta-Solar 50X objective.

Solar Process Metrology

Zeta optical profilers are the tools of record for measuring critical metrology steps throughout the solar manufacturing and development process: (1) Diamond wire measurement to monitor diamond saw lifetime; (2) measurement of wafer bow and wafer line marks; (3) pyramid measurement of solar texture monitors light absorption/efficiency; (4) metal finger, busbar, printed solar cell measurements monitor conduction capability; and (5) back electrode measurements monitor conduction to the inverter. Zeta-Solar is specifically targeted to measure the metallisation region of steps (4) and (5), facilitating the creation of large-scale solar factories utilising multiple measurement tools.

Large Sample Stage

Measure large format solar cells with the 230mm x 230mm format XY stage that accommodates next generation solar process lines in addition to legacy process lines.

Solar Metal Lines

Automated detection of solar metal line finger and busbar features. Zeta-Solar adjusts the light level automatically using High Dynamic Range (HDR) to capture both the antireflection surfaces and the highly reflective metal line surfaces in a single image that then uses autodetection algorithms for easy reporting.

Zeta-Solar Specifications

Maximum XY Sample Size 230mm x 230mm
Field of View Configurations Minimum 0.15mm x 0.16mm, Maximum 3.0mm x 3.2mm
Measurement repeatability* ≤ 1.0%
Measurement reproducibility* ≤ 1.0%

*Average of 15 measurements on a 50µm height textured step height standard.

Applications

Metallisation Finger Line Metrology

The Zeta-Solar is designed specifically to measure the electrically conductive metallisation features on solar cells, utilising high dynamic range (HDR) imaging capability to automatically detect and measure highly-reflective metallic lines on the very low reflectivity textured surface.

Metallisation Busbar Metrology

Busbars and larger features are measured by the Zeta-Solar by automatically stitching multiple region measurements for analysis of the entire area of interest. 3D topographic data can be generated using the measured Z height and/or True Colour imaging.

Bond/Contact Pad Metrology

Advanced pad features such as this contact pad are measured by the Zeta-Solar. Modern solar cells have extremely low reflective texture regions surrounding the pad and metallisation lines. Zeta-Solar leverages High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging to measure those narrower metal lines against the very low reflectivity textured surface.

True Colour Imaging

The Zeta-Solar optical profilometer captures True Colour 3D images with every pixel in focus. This feature can be used to distinguish boundaries between materials with different optical properties.

Downloads

Brochures

Zeta™ - Solar Brochure

View Brochure

Options

ProfilmOnline® Web Application

Filmetrics® ProfilmOnline® is a cloud-based 3D data visualisation and analysis platform developed as part of the Profilm software suite. ProfilmOnline is the place to share, store, view and analyse 3D data, whether you’re on your computer or a mobile device. Apps for Android and iOS operating systems are available and a wide variety of file formats is supported. Data can be encrypted for security.

Objective Lenses

The four-position manual turret holds objective lenses with magnifications ranging from 5X to 50X, to support nano-, micro- and macro-topography applications. The 5X objective is a Michelson interferometry objective. The 10X, 20X and 50X objectives are Mirau interferometry objectives.

Isolation Tables

The Zeta-Solar offers Accurion Nano30 Series active table top vibration isolation systems, which use electro-dynamic drive active vibration isolation in all six degrees of freedom.

Step Height Standards

The Zeta-Solar includes a custom-designed Cr on Si 10µm step height standard, consisting of an etched step with a chrome coating. A multi-step height standard is also available as an option, featuring 0.1µm, 2µm and 4µm steps.

Service Support

Comprehensive repairs and servicing

Annual Support Programs

Your metrology instrumentation is a major investment that is critical to your business operation and success. In today’s competitive climate, it is more important than ever to extend the functionality and peak performance of your metrology equipment years beyond the expiration of your factory warranty. CN Tech’s Support Programs will help ensure that your investment is protected, and that you and your instrument’s are always operating at peak performance.

With over 20 years’ experience servicing and repairing you can be assured that your system is in safe hands. The independent services we offer include system relocation, maintenance visits, parts and consumables, and break down interventions.

CN Tech’s Support Programs are an economical way to guarantee optimal working condition:

  • Annual Preventive Maintenance
  • Priority Technical Assistance
  • Preferred Parts Availability
  • On-Site User Training
  • Remote Diagnostics
  • No surprise repair expense and much more!

Support Contact Example

An example of our service and support contracts are shown below:

Brochures

Metrology & Instrumentation Annual Support Programs 2024/25

CN Tech's Support Programs will help ensure that your investment is protected, and that you and your instrument’s are always operating at peak performance.

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