IP Library Granted Patent US 8,476,589
Granted Patent B2
US 8,476,589 · App. 13/539,291 · Granted Jul 2, 2013

Particle beam microscope

Inventors: Gerd Benner (Aalen, DE); Stefan Meyer (Aalen, DE); Steffen Niederberger (Gerstetten, DE); Dirk Preikszas (Oberkochen, DE)
Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
H01J37/244
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 8,476,589
App. No.
13/539,291
Granted
Jul 2, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A particle beam microscope comprises a magnetic lens 3 having an optical axis 53 and a pole piece 21 . An object 5 to be examined is mounted at a point of intersection 51 between an optical axis 53 and the object plane 19 . First and second X-ray detectors 33 have first and second radiation-sensitive substrates 35 arranged such that a first elevation angle β 1 between a first straight line 55 1 extending through the point of intersection 51 and a center of the first substrate 35 1 and the object plane 19 differs from a second elevation angle β 2 between a second straight line 55 2 extending through the point of intersection 51 and a center of the second substrate 35 2 and the object plane 19 by more than 14°.

Claims (34)

1. A particle beam microscope having a beam path, the microscope comprising:

a magnetic lens having an optical axis and at least one front pole piece arranged in the beam path along the optical axis at a distance upstream of an object plane;

an object holder, which is configured for mounting an object to be inspected at a point of intersection between the optical axis and the object plane;

a vacuum enclosure defining a vacuum space and having an opening, wherein the front pole piece of the magnetic lens and the object are located within the vacuum space; and

an X-ray detection unit;

wherein the X-ray detection unit comprises:

a detector mount;

a first X-ray detector mounted on the detector mount and having a first radiation-sensitive substrate;

a second X-ray detector mounted on a detector mount and having a second radiation-sensitive substrate;

a flange mounted on and sealed against the vacuum enclosure, wherein the flange carries the detector mount such that at least one of a portion of the flange and the detector mount extend through the opening of the vacuum enclosure;

wherein the first and second X-ray detectors are arranged such that a first elevation angle between a first straight line extending through the point of intersection and a center of the first substrate and the object plane differs from a second elevation angle between a second straight line extending through the point of intersection and a center of the second substrate and the object plane by more than 14°; and

wherein the flange and the opening have a diameter such that the X-ray detection unit can be removed from the particle beam microscope without dismantling the vacuum enclosure.

2. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein a central axis of the flange is oriented towards the point of intersection between the optical axis and the object plane.

3. The particle beam microscope according to claim 2 , wherein a central axis of the flange intersects the point of intersection between the optical axis and the object plane.

4. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first elevation angle is within a range from −45° to −7° and the second elevation angle is within a range from +7° to +45°.

5. The particle beam microscope according to claim 4 , wherein a distance of the first and second radiation-sensitive substrates from the point of intersection is between 12 mm and 20 mm.

6. The particle beam microscope according to claim 5 , wherein a distance of the first and second radiation-sensitive substrates from the point of intersection is less than 12 mm.

7. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detection unit further comprises: a third X-ray detector mounted on the detector mount and having a third radiation-sensitive substrate, and a fourth X-ray detector mounted on the detector mount and having a fourth radiation-sensitive substrate.

8. The particle beam microscope according to claim 7 , wherein the third and first X-ray detectors are arranged such that a first circumferential angle about the optical axis between a third straight line extending through the point of intersection and a center of the third substrate and the first straight line is greater than 14°; and

wherein the fourth and second X-ray detectors are arranged such that a second circumferential angle about the optical axis between a fourth straight line extending through the point of intersection and a center of the fourth substrate and the second straight line is greater than 14°.

9. The particle beam microscope according to claim 8 , wherein a third elevation angle between the third straight line and the object plane is equal to the first elevation angle; and

wherein a fourth elevation angle between the fourth straight line and the object plane is equal to the second elevation angle.

10. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the detector mount is displaceable relative to the flange such that the first and second X-ray detectors are displaceable from a measuring position near the point of intersection to a parking position farther away from the point of intersection.

11. The particle beam microscope according to claim 10 , further comprising a displaceable shutter plate which is arranged between the first and second radiation-sensitive substrates and the point of intersection when the first and second X-ray detectors are positioned in the parking position, and which is not arranged between the first and second radiation-sensitive substrates and the point of intersection when the first and second X-ray detectors are positioned in the measuring position.

12. The particle beam microscope according to claim 10 , wherein a distance of the first and second radiation-sensitive substrates from the point of intersection is between 12 mm and 20 mm when the first and second X-ray detectors are positioned in the measuring position.

13. The particle beam microscope according to claim 10 , wherein a distance of the first and second radiation-sensitive substrates from the point of intersection is less than 12 mm when the first and second X-ray detectors are positioned in the measuring position.

14. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second substrates each have a substrate area of greater than 5 mm 2 .

15. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second radiation-sensitive substrates each have a substrate area of less than 50 mm 2 .

16. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second X-ray detectors are silicon drift detectors.

17. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second X-ray detectors comprises at least one Peltier element configured to cool the radiation-sensitive substrate.

18. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the magnetic lens comprises a rear pole piece arranged in the beam path downstream of the object plane at a distance of less than 50 mm from the object plane.

19. The particle beam microscope according to claim 1 , wherein the microscope comprises plural X-ray detection units distributed about the optical axis;

wherein the vacuum enclosure has plural openings; and

wherein at least one of a portion of the flange and the detector mount of each of the plural X-ray detection units extend through one of the plural openings of the vacuum enclosure.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Jun 2, 2013
From: CARL ZEISS NTS GMBH
To: CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH
Reel/Frame 030529/0564 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 12, 2012
From: BENNER, GERD; MEYER, STEFAN; NIEDERBERGER, STEFFEN; PREIKSZAS, DIRK
To: CARL ZEISS MICROSCOPY GMBH
Reel/Frame 028942/0493 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2010 056 321 · Dec 27, 2010 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 13337268 · Dec 26, 2011
Related Publication 20120326032A1 · Dec 27, 2012