IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,990,312
Granted Patent B2
US 11,990,312 · App. 17/679,303 · Granted May 21, 2024

Specimen machining device and specimen machining method

Inventors: Shogo Kataoka (Tokyo, JP); Koji Todoroki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
H01J37/20H01J37/30H01J2237/20214
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,990,312
App. No.
17/679,303
Granted
May 21, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A specimen machining device includes an ion source which irradiates a specimen with an ion beam, a first rotating body (specimen holder) that holds the specimen and is rotatable about a first axis serving as a rotation axis, and a second rotating body on which the first rotating body is disposed and which is rotatable about a second axis serving as a rotation axis different from the first axis. The specimen machining device irradiates the specimen with the ion beam while moving the specimen by the rotation of the first rotating body and the rotation of the second rotating body.

Claims (56)

1. A specimen machining device comprising:

an ion source which irradiates a specimen with an ion beam;

a first rotating body that holds the specimen and is rotatable about a first axis serving as a rotation axis; and

a second rotating body on which the first rotating body is disposed and which is rotatable about a second axis serving as a rotation axis different from the first axis,

wherein

the first axis and the second axis are parallel to each other,

the specimen is moved by combining a first rotation of the specimen caused by rotation of the first rotating body with a second rotation of the specimen caused by rotation of the second rotating body, and

the specimen which is being moved by a combination of the first and second rotations is irradiated with the ion beam.

2. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein

the specimen has a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side from the first surface,

the specimen is irradiated with the ion beam from the side of the first surface,

the first surface is disposed on the first axis,

a distance between the first surface and the second axis is variable, and

a machining range of the specimen is changed by changing the distance between the first surface and the second axis.

3. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein

the specimen has a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side from the first surface,

the specimen is irradiated with the ion beam from the side of the first surface,

the first surface is disposed on the second axis,

a distance between the first surface and the first axis is variable, and

a machining range of the specimen is changed by changing the distance between the first surface and the first axis.

4. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein

a distance between the first axis and the second axis is variable, and

a machining range of the specimen is changed by changing the distance between the first axis and the second axis.

5. The specimen machining device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

an input unit that receives an input of information about the machining range of the specimen; and

an arithmetic unit that calculates the distance between the first axis and the second axis, based on the information about the machining range.

6. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein a machining range of the specimen is changed by changing a range of a tilt angle of the specimen with respect to an optical axis of the ion beam by the rotation of the first rotating body and the rotation of the second rotating body.

7. The specimen machining device according to claim 6 , further comprising:

an input unit that receives an input of information about the machining range of the specimen; and

an arithmetic unit that determines the range of the tilt angle of the specimen, based on the information about the machining range.

8. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein a rotation speed of the first rotating body is different from a rotation speed of the second rotating body.

9. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein a rotation speed of the first rotating body periodically changes.

10. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein a rotation speed of the second rotating body periodically changes.

11. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein

the first rotating body stops rotating for a predetermined time at each predetermined rotation angle, and

the second rotating body rotates at least one cycle in the predetermined time during which the first rotating body stops rotating.

12. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein the first rotating body and the second rotating body swing.

13. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , further comprising a shield that is disposed on the specimen and partially blocks the ion beam,

wherein the specimen is irradiated with the ion beam through the shield.

14. The specimen machining device according to claim 13 , wherein the shield is detachable.

15. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , wherein

the specimen has a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side from the first surface, and

a state in which the specimen is irradiated with the ion beam from the side of the first surface and a state in which the specimen is irradiated with the ion beam from the side of the second surface are switchable by rotating the second rotating body.

16. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , further comprising a tilt mechanism for tilting a surface of the specimen with respect to an optical axis of the ion beam.

17. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a camera for observing a machining region of the specimen;

a moving mechanism for moving the specimen; and

a moving-mechanism control unit for controlling the moving mechanism, based on an image acquired by the camera.

18. The specimen machining device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a moving mechanism for moving the specimen; and

a moving-mechanism control unit that acquires information about an elapsed time from start of machining and controls the moving mechanism, based on the information on the elapsed time.

19. A specimen machining method in a specimen machining device that irradiates a specimen with an ion beam to machine the specimen, the method comprising:

irradiating the specimen with the ion beam while moving the specimen by a rotation of a first rotating body that holds the specimen and rotates about a first axis serving as a rotation axis and a rotation of a second rotating body on which the first rotating body is disposed and which rotates about a second axis serving as a rotation axis different from the first axis,

wherein

the first axis and the second axis are parallel to each other, and

the specimen is moved by combining a first rotation of the specimen caused by rotation of the first rotating body with a second rotation of the specimen caused by rotation of the second rotating body.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 24, 2022
From: KATAOKA, SHOGO; TODOROKI, KOJI
To: JEOL LTD.
Reel/Frame 059239/0029 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-031185 · Feb 26, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220277925A1 · Sep 1, 2022