IP Library Granted Patent US 9,190,241
Granted Patent B2
US 9,190,241 · App. 14/220,358 · Granted Nov 17, 2015

Charged particle beam apparatus

Inventors: Zhongwei Chen (San Jose, CA); Jack Jau (Los Altos Hills, CA); Weiming Ren (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: HERMES-MICROVISION, INC.
H01J37/261H01J37/10H01J37/14H01J37/20H01J37/22H01J37/28H01J2237/04926H01J2237/1405H01J2237/24475H01J2237/2801H01J2237/2804
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,190,241
App. No.
14/220,358
Granted
Nov 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides apparatuses to inspect small particles on the surface of a sample such as wafer and mask. The apparatuses provide both high detection efficiency and high throughput by forming Dark-field BSE images. The apparatuses can additionally inspect physical and electrical defects on the sample surface by form SE images and Bright-field BSE images simultaneously. The apparatuses can be designed to do single-beam or even multiple single-beam inspection for achieving a high throughput.

Claims (15)

1. A method for inspecting a surface of a sample, comprising:

providing a primary electron beam to illuminate and scan said surface of said sample by oblique incidence;

providing a first detector, between an objective lens and said surface, to detect backscattered electrons generated from said surface of said sample and traveling towards an incidence side of said primary electron beam;

providing an electrode, above an illuminated area on said surface of said sample, to attract secondary electrons generated from said surface of said sample so as not to hit said first detector, and

providing a second detector, above said objective lens, to detect backscattered electrons generated from said surface of said sample and traveling towards said incidence side of said primary electron beam;

wherein said first detector has a through hole for said primary electron beam to pass through.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising providing a third detector to detect backscattered electrons generated from said surface of said sample and traveling towards a reflection side of said primary electron beam.

3. A method for inspecting a surface of a sample, comprising:

providing a primary electron beam to illuminate and scan said surface of said sample by oblique incidence;

providing a first detector, between an objective lens and said surface, to detect backscattered electrons generated from said surface of said sample and traveling towards an incidence side of said primary electron beam;

providing a grid electrode, above an illuminated area on said surface of said sample, to attract and make secondary electrons generated from said surface of said sample pass through;

providing a second detector to detect said secondary electrons passing through said grid electrode; and

providing a third detector, above said objective lens, to detect backscattered electrons generated from said surface of said sample and traveling towards said incidence side of said primary electron beam;

wherein said first detector has a through hole for said primary electron beam to pass through.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising providing a fourth detector to detect backscattered electrons generated from said surface of said sample and traveling towards a reflection side of said primary electron beam.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: HERMES MICROVISION, INC.
To: HERMES MICROVISION INCORPORATED B.V.
Reel/Frame 054866/0742 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2020
From: HERMES MICROVISION INCORPORATED B.V.
To: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
Reel/Frame 054870/0156 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2014
From: CHEN, ZHONGWEI; JAU, JACK; REN, WEIMING
To: HERMES-MICROVISION, INC.
Reel/Frame 033224/0334 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61804794 · Mar 25, 2013
Related Publication 20140291510A1 · Oct 2, 2014