-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OhgkClxSbd0J+pfrumobvEmC19Kz/OuCbT/KfmUB+YWdLDSQIUfBcvod7Bu5rC4w
 FkDk4ofd8cHi1/6iy/+Tcw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001307741-05-000018.txt : 20050131
<SEC-HEADER>0001307741-05-000018.hdr.sgml : 20050131
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050131134946
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001307741-05-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050127
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050131
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050131

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DICROSTA ROBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001196445

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27965
		FILM NUMBER:		05561158

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RUDOLPH RD.
		STREET 2:		P.O. BOX 1000
		CITY:			FLANDERS
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07836

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUDOLPH TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001094392
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL [3823]
		IRS NUMBER:				223531208
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RUDOLPH RD
		CITY:			FLANDERS
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07836
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9736911300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE RUDOLPH RD
		CITY:			FLANDERS
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07836
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001094392</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RUDOLPH TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>rtec</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196445</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DICROSTA ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RUDOLPH TECHNOLOGIES INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE RUDOLPH ROAD, PO BOX 1000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FLANDERS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07836</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Global Customer Support</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each Restricted Stock Unit represents a contingent right to receive one (1) share of RTEC Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">20% of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Unit vest each year on the grant date.  Generally, vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person as soon as practicable after vesting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert DiCrosta</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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