IP Library Granted Patent US 7,989,782
Granted Patent B2
US 7,989,782 · App. 12/354,153 · Granted Aug 2, 2011

Apparatus and method for specimen fabrication

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,989,782
App. No.
12/354,153
Granted
Aug 2, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A specimen fabricating apparatus comprises: a specimen stage, on which a specimen is placed; a charged particle beam optical system to irradiate a charged particle beam on the specimen; an etchant material supplying source to supply an etchant material, which contains fluorine and carbon in molecules thereof, does not contain oxygen in molecules thereof, and is solid or liquid in a standard state; and a vacuum chamber to house therein the specimen stage. A specimen fabricating method comprises the steps of: processing a hole in the vicinity of a requested region of a specimen by means of irradiation of a charged particle beam; exposing the requested region by means of irradiation of the charged particle beam; supplying an etchant material, which contains fluorine and carbon in molecules thereof, does not contain oxygen in molecules thereof, and is solid or liquid in a standard state, to the requested region as exposed; and irradiating the charged particle beam on the requested region as exposed.

Claims (37)

1. A specimen fabricating apparatus comprising:

a specimen stage on which a specimen is placed;

a charged particle beam optical system to irradiate a charged particle beam onto the specimen;

a probe to extract a micro-sample separated from the specimen by irradiating the charged particle beam onto the specimen; and

an etchant material supplying source to supply an etchant material, which contains fluorine and carbon in molecules thereof, does not contain oxygen in molecules thereof, and is a solid or a liquid in a standard state.

2. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a sample-carrier on which the micro-sample is placed, and a unit for inclining the sample-carrier.

3. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the etchant material is F(CF 2 ) 12 F, (CF 2 ) 15 F 3 N, or I(CF 2 ) 8 I.

4. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the etchant material supplying source has a cartridge type construction which enables exchange of the etchant material.

5. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising a cartridge holder to fix the cartridge, and wherein the cartridge holder comprises means to heat the cartridge.

6. A specimen fabricating apparatus comprising:

a specimen stage on which a specimen is placed;

a charged particle beam optical system to irradiate a charged particle beam onto a specimen;

a probe to extract a micro-sample separated from the specimen by irradiating the charged particle beam onto the specimen; and

an etchant material supplying source to supply an etchant material, in molecules of which a ratio of fluorine to carbon in number is 2 or more and which is a solid or a liquid in a standard state, to the specimen.

7. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising a sample carrier on which the micro-sample is placed, and a unit for inclining the sample-carrier.

8. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the etchant material is F(CF 2 ) 12 F, (CF 2 ) 15 F 3 N, or I(CF 2 ) 8 I.

9. A specimen fabricating apparatus comprising:

a specimen stage on which a specimen is placed;

an ion-beam irradiating optical system to irradiate an ion-beam, onto the specimen;

an electron beam irradiating optical system to irradiate an electron beam onto the specimen;

an etchant material supplying source to supply an etchant material, which contains fluorine and carbon in molecules thereof, does not contain oxygen in molecules thereof, and is a solid or a liquid in a standard state; and

a vacuum chamber to house the specimen stage, the ion-beam irradiating optical system and the electron beam irradiating optical system.

10. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the electron beam irradiating optical system is obliquely provided relative to the specimen stage.

11. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising a probe to extract a micro-sample separated from the specimen by irradiating the ion-beam on the specimen and a probe rotating mechanism to rotate the probe.

12. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the etchant material is composed of molecules, of which a ratio of fluorine to carbon in number is 2 or more, and is a solid or a liquid in a standard state.

13. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the etchant material is F(CF 2 ) 12 F, (CF 2 ) 15 F 3 N, or I(CF 2 ) 8 I.

14. A specimen fabricating apparatus comprising:

a specimen stage on which a specimen is placed;

an ion-beam irradiating optical system to irradiate an ion-beam onto the specimen;

a probe to extract a micro-sample separated from the specimen by irradiating the ion-beam onto the specimen;

an electron beam irradiating optical system to irradiate an electron beam onto the micro-sample;

an etchant material supplying source to supply an etchant material for decorating a section of the micro-sample; and

a vacuum chamber to house the specimen stage, the ion-beam irradiating optical system and the electron beam irradiating optical system,

wherein the etchant material is composed of molecules, of which a ratio of fluorine to carbon in number is 2 or more, and is a solid or a liquid in a standard state.

15. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the electron beam irradiating optical system can irradiate the electron beam on the micro-sample perpendicularly to the section.

16. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a probe rotating mechanism to rotate the probe.

17. The specimen fabricating apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the etchant material contains fluorine and carbon in molecules thereof, does not contain oxygen in molecules thereof, and is a solid or a liquid in a standard state.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Mar 30, 2020
From: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052259/0227 →