Method and System for Charged Particle Microscopy with Improved Image Beam Stabilization and Interrogation
First Claim
1. A scanning electron microscopy apparatus comprising:
- an electron beam source configured to generate an electron beam;
a set of electron-optical elements to direct at least a portion of the electron beam onto a portion of the sample;
an emittance analyzer assembly;
a splitter element configured to direct at least a portion of at least one of secondary electrons or backscattered electrons emitted by a surface of the sample to the emittance analyzer assembly,wherein the emittance analyzer assembly is configured to image at least one of the secondary electrons or the backscattered electrons, wherein the emittance analyzer assembly includes;
a set of deflection optics;
a first electron-optic lens;
a first electron detector including a center aperture, wherein the first electron detector is configured to collect at least one of a portion of the secondary electrons or a portion of the backscattered electrons;
a first mesh element disposed downstream from the first electron detector;
a second mesh element disposed downstream from the first mesh element, wherein the first electron detector and the first mesh element form a deceleration region, wherein the first mesh element and the second mesh element form a drift region;
an energy filter disposed downstream from the second ground mesh element;
a second electron-optic lens; and
a second electron detector configured to collect at least one of an additional portion of the secondary electrons or an additional portion of the backscattered electrons.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scanning electron microscopy system with improved image beam stability is disclosed. The system includes an electron beam source configured to generate an electron beam and a set of electron-optical elements to direct at least a portion of the electron beam onto a portion of the sample. The system includes an emittance analyzer assembly. The system includes a splitter element configured to direct at least a portion secondary electrons and/or backscattered electrons emitted by a surface of the sample to the emittance analyzer assembly. The emittance analyzer assembly is configured to image at least one of the secondary electrons and/or the backscattered electrons.
13 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A scanning electron microscopy apparatus comprising:
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an electron beam source configured to generate an electron beam; a set of electron-optical elements to direct at least a portion of the electron beam onto a portion of the sample; an emittance analyzer assembly; a splitter element configured to direct at least a portion of at least one of secondary electrons or backscattered electrons emitted by a surface of the sample to the emittance analyzer assembly, wherein the emittance analyzer assembly is configured to image at least one of the secondary electrons or the backscattered electrons, wherein the emittance analyzer assembly includes; a set of deflection optics; a first electron-optic lens; a first electron detector including a center aperture, wherein the first electron detector is configured to collect at least one of a portion of the secondary electrons or a portion of the backscattered electrons; a first mesh element disposed downstream from the first electron detector; a second mesh element disposed downstream from the first mesh element, wherein the first electron detector and the first mesh element form a deceleration region, wherein the first mesh element and the second mesh element form a drift region; an energy filter disposed downstream from the second ground mesh element; a second electron-optic lens; and a second electron detector configured to collect at least one of an additional portion of the secondary electrons or an additional portion of the backscattered electrons. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An emittance analyzer assembly comprising:
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a set of deflection optics; a first electron-optic lens; a first electron detector including a center aperture, wherein the first electron detector is configured to collect at least one of a portion of the secondary electrons or a portion of the backscattered electrons; a first mesh element disposed downstream from the first electron detector; a second mesh element disposed downstream from the first mesh element, wherein the first electron detector and the first mesh element form a deceleration region, wherein the first mesh element and the second mesh element form a drift region; an energy filter disposed downstream from the second ground mesh element; a second electron-optic lens; and a second electron detector configured to collect at least one of an additional portion of the secondary electrons or an additional portion of the backscattered electrons. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for comprising:
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a first emittance analyzer assembly; and a second emittance analyzer assembly, wherein at least one of the first emittance analyzer assembly or the second emittance analyzer comprises; a set of deflection optics; a first electron-optic lens; a first electron detector including a center aperture, wherein the first electron detector is configured to collect at least one of a portion of the secondary electrons or a portion of the backscattered electrons; a first mesh element disposed downstream from the first electron detector; a second mesh element disposed downstream from the first mesh element, wherein the first electron detector and the first mesh element form a deceleration region, wherein the first mesh element and the second mesh element form a drift region; an energy filter disposed downstream from the second ground mesh element; a second electron-optic lens; and a second electron detector configured to collect at least one of an additional portion of the secondary electrons or an additional portion of the backscattered electrons.
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28. A system for comprising:
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a first emittance analyzer assembly; a second emittance analyzer assembly; and a third emittance analyzer assembly, wherein at least one of the first emittance analyzer assembly, the second emittance analyzer assembly or the third emittance analyzer assembly comprises; a set of deflection optics; a first electron-optic lens; a first electron detector including a center aperture, wherein the first electron detector is configured to collect at least one of a portion of the secondary electrons or a portion of the backscattered electrons; a first mesh element disposed downstream from the first electron detector; a second mesh element disposed downstream from the first mesh element, wherein the first electron detector and the first mesh element form a deceleration region, wherein the first mesh element and the second mesh element form a drift region; an energy filter disposed downstream from the second ground mesh element; a second electron-optic lens; and a second electron detector configured to collect at least one of an additional portion of the secondary electrons or an additional portion of the backscattered electrons.
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29. A scanning electron microscopy apparatus for mitigating errors caused by surface charging comprising:
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a primary electron beam source; a set of electron-optical elements to direct at least a portion of the primary electron beam onto a surface of the sample; an emittance analyzer assembly; and a controller including one or more processors configured to execute a set of program instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to; receive one or more surface potential measurements of the surface of the sample from the emittance analyzer assembly; determine whether the surface of the sample is charged above a selected potential threshold based on the one or more surface potential measurements; and upon determining the surface is charged above the selected threshold, direct at least one of the primary source or a flood source to provide a charge dose to the surface of the sample.
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30. A scanning electron microscopy apparatus for mitigating charge induced artifacts comprising:
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a primary electron beam source; a set of electron-optical elements to direct at least a portion of the primary electron beam onto a surface of the sample; a set of imaging optics configured to image at least one of secondary electrons or backscattered electrons emitted by the sample; and a gated integrator, wherein the gate integrator is configured to close a control loop defined between a surface of the sample and one of more of the set of imaging optics.
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31. A scanning electron microscopy apparatus for mitigating charged induced artifacts comprising:
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an electron beam source; a multi-beam aperture, wherein the electron source and the multi-beam aperture are configured to generate a plurality of electron beams; a set of multi-beam analyzer optics, wherein the set of multi-beam analyzer optics includes a multi-beam filter; and a gated integrator, wherein the gate integrator is configured to close a control loop defined between a surface of the sample and the multi-beam filter.
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Specification