IP Library Granted Patent US 8,253,112
Granted Patent B2
US 8,253,112 · App. 12/489,606 · Granted Aug 28, 2012

Lithography apparatus and focusing method for charged particle beam

Assignee: Nuflare Technology, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,253,112
App. No.
12/489,606
Granted
Aug 28, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lithography apparatus includes a unit irradiating a charged particle beam; first and second aperture plate members configured to shape the beam; first and second coils configured to be arranged between the unit and the first aperture plate member, to temporarily deflect the beam, to change a direction of the beam after the temporarily deflecting, and to deflect the beam to a position where the beam passes through the first aperture plate member by the changing; a lens configured to be arranged between the first and second aperture plate members and to control a focal position of the beam having passed through the first aperture plate member; and a unit configured to calculate a difference between positions of the beam on the second aperture plate member obtained by different sets of amounts of deflection at a same focal position when a combination of one of focal positions of the beam controlled by the lens and one of sets of amounts of deflection of the beam obtained by the first and second coils is changed.

Claims (31)

1. A focusing method for a charged particle beam comprising:

setting a lens value in an imaging lens;

setting first coil values in first and second alignment coils, wherein a charged particle beam is temporarily swung outside and then swung back to an opening center of a first aperture plate member by deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the first coil values have been set;

measuring a first position of the charged particle beam focused by the imaging lens in which the lens value has been set, on a second aperture plate member, wherein the charged particle beam having passed through the opening center of the first aperture plate member by deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the first coil values have been set is focused on a position which is different from a position on the second aperture plate member, by the imaging lens in which the lens value has been set;

setting second coil values in the first and second alignment coils, wherein the charged particle beam is temporarily swung outside and then swung back to the opening center of the first aperture plate member by deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the second coil values have been set and an amount of deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the second coil values have been set is different from an amount of deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the first coil values have been set;

measuring a second position of the charged particle beam focused by the imaging lens in which the lens value has been set, on the second aperture plate member, wherein the charged particle beam having passed through the opening center of the first aperture plate member by deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the second coil values have been set is focused on a position which is different from a position on the second aperture plate member, by the imaging lens in which the lens value has been set; and

calculating a difference between the first and second positions of the charged particle beam on the second aperture plate member;

wherein the lens value is variably changed, and a plurality of the differences are calculated depending on the lens values variably changed; and

further comprising: setting a lens value which corresponds to a minimum difference of the plurality of the differences, in the imaging lens.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second coils are arranged above the first aperture plate member.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the imaging lens is arranged between the first and second aperture plate members.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a current of the charged particle beam having passed through the second aperture plate member when amounts of deflection of the charged particle beam obtained by the first and second alignment coils are changed for each of focal positions of the charged particle beam controlled by the lens.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the difference between the first and second positions is calculated by using a current value of the charged particle beam detected and an amount of deflection of the charged particle beam obtained by a deflector.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a ratio of coil values is used when the first coil values are set in the first and second alignment coils.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein a coil value setting in one of the first and second alignment coils is calculated by multiplying the ratio by a current value of another of the first and second alignment coils.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the lens value is variably changed, a position focused by the imaging lens is adjusted to a focal position where the difference between the first and second positions is made smaller.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the difference between the first and second positions is calculated in directions of two-dimensional directions on the second aperture plate member.

10. A focusing method for a charged particle beam comprising:

setting first coil values in first and second alignment coils, wherein a charged particle beam is temporarily swung outside and then swung back to an opening center of a first aperture plate member by deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the first coil values have been set;

setting a lens value in an imaging lens; and

measuring a first position of the charged particle beam focused by the imaging lens in which the lens value has been set, on a second aperture plate member, wherein the charged particle beam having passed through the opening center of the first aperture plate member by deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the first coil values have been set is focused on a position which is different from a position on the second aperture plate member, by the imaging lens in which the lens value has been set;

wherein the lens value is variably changed, and a plurality of the first positions are calculated depending on the lens values variably changed;

further comprising:

setting second coil values in the first and second alignment coils, wherein the charged particle beam is temporarily swung outside and then swung back to the opening center of the first aperture plate member by deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the second coil values have been set and an amount of deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the second coil values have been set is different from an amount of deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the first coil values have been set;

setting the lens value in the imaging lens; and

measuring a second position of the charged particle beam focused by the imaging lens in which the lens value has been set, on the second aperture plate member, wherein the charged particle beam having passed through the opening center of the first aperture plate member by deflection of the first and second alignment coils in which the second coil values have been set is focused on a position which is different from a position on the second aperture plate member, by the imaging lens in which the lens value has been set;

wherein the lens value is variably changed, and a plurality of the second positions are calculated depending on the lens values variably changed;

further comprising:

calculating a plurality of differences, each of the plurality of differences being a difference between corresponding positions of the first and second positions on the second aperture plate member; and

setting a lens value which corresponds to a minimum difference of the plurality of the differences, in the imaging lens.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2009
From: IIZUKA, OSAMU; OHTOSHI, KENJI
To: NUFLARE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 022862/0691 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2008-164140 · Jun 24, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090314950A1 · Dec 24, 2009