Multi-beam multi-column electron beam inspection system
First Claim
1. An electron optics assembly for a multi-column electron beam inspection system comprising:
- a single focus electrode mounting plate, a multiplicity of mounting plate apertures extending through said mounting plate, such that there is a corresponding mounting plate aperture for each column; and
a multiplicity of independently alignable focus electrodes coupled to said mounting plate, such that there is a corresponding independently alignable focus electrode for each column.
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Abstract
An electron optics assembly for a multi-column electron beam inspection tool comprises a single accelerator structure and a single focus electrode mounting plate for all columns; the electron optical components are one per column and are independently alignable. The accelerator structure comprises first and final accelerator electrodes with a set of accelerator plates in between; the first and final accelerator plates have an aperture for each column and the accelerator plates have a single aperture such that the electron optical axes for all columns pass through the single aperture. Independently alignable focus electrodes are attached to the focus electrode mounting plate, allowing each electrode to be aligned to the electron optical axis of its corresponding column. There is one electron gun per column, mounted on the top of the single accelerator structure. In other embodiments, the electron guns are mounted to a single gun mounting plate positioned above the accelerator structure.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An electron optics assembly for a multi-column electron beam inspection system comprising:
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a single focus electrode mounting plate, a multiplicity of mounting plate apertures extending through said mounting plate, such that there is a corresponding mounting plate aperture for each column; and
a multiplicity of independently alignable focus electrodes coupled to said mounting plate, such that there is a corresponding independently alignable focus electrode for each column. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electron optics assembly for a multi-column electron beam inspection system comprising:
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a single gun mounting plate, a multiplicity of gun mounting plate apertures extending through said gun mounting plate, such that there is a corresponding gun mounting plate aperture for each column; and
a multiplicity of electron guns positioned above and coupled to said gun mounting plate at corresponding gun mounting plate apertures, such that there is a corresponding electron gun for each column. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An accelerating structure for a multi-column electron beam inspection system comprising:
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a first accelerator electrode, a multiplicity of first electrode apertures extending through said first electrode, such that there is a corresponding first electrode aperture for each column;
a final accelerator electrode, a multiplicity of final electrode apertures extending through said final electrode, such that there is a corresponding final electrode aperture for each column;
a set of accelerator plates positioned between said first and final accelerator electrodes, a single accelerator aperture extending through said accelerator plates, such that the optic axes for all columns pass through said aperture; and
a multiplicity of independently alignable beam defining discs coupled to said final accelerator plate, such that there is a corresponding independently alignable beam defining disc for each column. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification