IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,518,122
Granted Patent B2
US 7,518,122 · App. 11/600,646 · Granted Apr 14, 2009

Ion sources, systems and methods

Assignee: ALIS Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,518,122
App. No.
11/600,646
Granted
Apr 14, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

Ion sources, systems and methods are disclosed.

Claims (13)

1. A method, comprising:

exposing a sample to a focused ion beam;

generating a second ion beam by interacting a gas with a gas field ion source; and

exposing the sample to the second ion beam wherein the second ion beam is used to determine information that is used to select a location of the focused ion beam at the sample.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the focused ion beam comprises gallium ions.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cutting the sample with the focused ion beam.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second ion beam is used to image the sample.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second ion beam is used to image the sample after the focused ion beam cuts the sample.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a semiconductor article.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the article includes a circuit, and the method includes repairing the circuit.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the article includes a mask, and the method includes repairing the mask.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the focused ion beam and the second ion beam are used simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the focused ion beam and the second ion beam are used at different times.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2007
From: MANTZ, ULRICH; STEIGERWALD, MICHAEL
To: CARL ZEISS NTS GMBH
Reel/Frame 019239/0775 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2007
From: WARD, BILLY W.; NOTTE IV, JOHN A.; FARKAS III, LOUIS S.; PERCIVAL, RANDALL G.; HILL, RAYMOND
To: ALIS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019239/0779 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2007
From: CARL ZEISS NTS GMBH
To: ALIS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019239/0811 →
Continuity (15)
Continuation In Part 1138513600 · Mar 20, 2006
Continuation In Part 1160064600
Continuation In Part 1138521500 · Mar 20, 2006
Continuation In Part 1114710200 · Jun 7, 2005
Continuation In Part 1114674100 · Jun 7, 2005
Continuation In Part 1096624300 · Oct 15, 2004
Provisional Application 6051172600 · Oct 16, 2003
Provisional Application 6074195600 · Dec 2, 2005
Provisional Application 6078439000 · Mar 20, 2006
Provisional Application 6078438800 · Mar 20, 2006
Provisional Application 6078433100 · Mar 20, 2006
Provisional Application 6078450000 · Mar 20, 2006
Provisional Application 6079580600 · Apr 28, 2006
Provisional Application 6079920300 · May 9, 2006
Related Publication 20070187621A1 · Aug 16, 2007