Patents by Inventor Noriyuki Kaneoka

Noriyuki Kaneoka has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11515121
    Abstract: In an electron beam device provided with two columns including an irradiation optical system and an imaging optical system, a photoelectron image for use in adjusting the irradiation optical system is made sharper. The electron beam device includes: an irradiation optical system which irradiates a sample placed on a stage with an electron beam; a light irradiation unit 50 which irradiates the sample with light containing ultraviolet rays; a sample voltage control unit 44 which applies a negative voltage to the sample so that, before the electron beam reaches the sample, the electron orbit inverts; and an imaging optical system which acquires a mirror electron image by forming an image of mirror electrons reflected by application of the negative voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiko Ogata, Hisaya Murakoshi, Masaki Hasegawa, Noriyuki Kaneoka, Katsunori Onuki
  • Patent number: 11193895
    Abstract: It is necessary to guarantee performance by quantitatively evaluating the defect detection sensitivity of an inspection device for using the mirror electron image to detect defect in a semiconductor substrate. The size and position of accidentally formed defects are random, however, and this type of quantitative evaluation has been difficult. This semiconductor substrate 101 for evaluation is for evaluating the defect detection sensitivity of an inspection device and comprises a plurality of first indentations 104 that are formed through the pressing, with a first pressing load, of an indenter having a prescribed hardness and shape into the semiconductor substrate for evaluation. Further, a mirror electron image of the plurality of first indentations of the semiconductor substrate for evaluation is acquired, and the defect detection sensitivity of an inspection device is evaluated through the calculation of the defect detection rate of the plurality of first indentations in the acquired mirror electron image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Ohira, Masaki Hasegawa, Tomohiko Ogata, Katsunori Onuki, Noriyuki Kaneoka
  • Patent number: 11107655
    Abstract: In order to optimize defect contrast in a charged particle beam device that inverts charged particles directly above a sample and observes the electrons, this charged particle beam device is provided with a charged particle source, an electron gun control device which applies a first voltage to the charged particle source, a substrate voltage control device which applies a second voltage to a sample, an image forming optical system which includes an imaging lens for imaging charged particles incident from the direction of the sample, a detector which includes a camera for detecting the charged particles, and an image processing device which processes the detected signal, wherein the imaging optical system is configured so as not to image secondary electrons emitted from the sample, but forms an image with mirror electrons bounced back by the electric field formed on the sample by means of the potential difference between the first and the second voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiko Ogata, Masaki Hasegawa, Katsunori Onuki, Noriyuki Kaneoka, Hisaya Murakoshi
  • Patent number: 11002687
    Abstract: A defect inspection device includes a sample support member, a negative voltage, an imaging element, an ultraviolet light source, a movement stage, and a control device. The control device controls the movement stage such that a portion of a linear part included in the image or a location on an extensional line of the linear part is positioned at a specific location in an irradiated region of the electron beam. The control device also repeats the control of the movement stage until an end of the linear part is positioned within the irradiated region of the electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Hasegawa, Katsunori Onuki, Noriyuki Kaneoka, Hisaya Murakoshi, Tomohiko Ogata
  • Patent number: 10923315
    Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide a charged particle beam apparatus that performs apparatus adjustment based on a proper evaluation of a beam. To achieve the abovementioned purpose, with the present invention, proposed is a charged particle beam apparatus comprising: an irradiation optical system including a lens for converging charged particle beams emitted from a charged particle source; and an imaging optical system for imaging the charged particles obtained by irradiating the charged particle beams toward a sample on an imaging element, wherein the charged particle beam apparatus comprises a control apparatus for controlling the lens, and the control apparatus evaluates for each lens condition the size of a specific brightness area obtained by the charged particle beam being made to reach the sample, and selects the lens condition for which the size information fulfills a designated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Hasegawa, Tomohiko Ogata, Noriyuki Kaneoka, Hisaya Murakoshi, Katsunori Onuki
  • Publication number: 20200340930
    Abstract: It is necessary to guarantee performance by quantitatively evaluating the defect detection sensitivity of an inspection device for using the mirror electron image to detect defect in a semiconductor substrate. The size and position of accidentally formed defects are random, however, and this type of quantitative evaluation has been difficult. This semiconductor substrate 101 for evaluation is for evaluating the defect detection sensitivity of an inspection device and comprises a plurality of first indentations 104 that are formed through the pressing, with a first pressing load, of an indenter having a prescribed hardness and shape into the semiconductor substrate for evaluation. Further, a mirror electron image of the plurality of first indentations of the semiconductor substrate for evaluation is acquired, and the defect detection sensitivity of an inspection device is evaluated through the calculation of the defect detection rate of the plurality of first indentations in the acquired mirror electron image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Kentaro OHIRA, Masaki HASEGAWA, Tomohiko OGATA, Katsunori ONUKI, Noriyuki KANEOKA
  • Publication number: 20200292466
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a defect inspection device that can evaluate a defect having a long latent flaw with high precision. A defect inspection device of the present invention is characterized by being provided with: a sample support member that supports a sample irradiated by an electron beam emitted from an electron source; an imaging element at which an image of electrons (mirror electrons) reflected without reaching the sample is formed via a retarding electric field formed on the sample; an ultraviolet light source that emits an ultraviolet light toward the sample; a movement stage that moves the sample support member; and a control device that controls the movement stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Masaki HASEGAWA, Katsunori ONUKI, Noriyuki KANEOKA, Hisaya MURAKOSHI, Tomohiko OGATA
  • Publication number: 20200279714
    Abstract: In order to optimize defect contrast in a charged particle beam device that inverts charged particles directly above a sample and observes the electrons, this charged particle beam device is provided with a charged particle source, an electron gun control device which applies a first voltage to the charged particle source, a substrate voltage control device which applies a second voltage to a sample, an image forming optical system which includes an imaging lens for imaging charged particles incident from the direction of the sample, a detector which includes a camera for detecting the charged particles, and an image processing device which processes the detected signal, wherein the imaging optical system is configured so as not to image secondary electrons emitted from the sample, but forms an image with mirror electrons bounced back by the electric field formed on the sample by means of the potential difference between the first and the second voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Tomohiko OGATA, Masaki HASEGAWA, Katsunori ONUKI, Noriyuki KANEOKA, Hisaya MURAKOSHI
  • Publication number: 20200152415
    Abstract: In an electron beam device provided with two columns including an irradiation optical system and an imaging optical system, a photoelectron image for use in adjusting the irradiation optical system is made sharper. The electron beam device includes: an irradiation optical system which irradiates a sample placed on a stage with an electron beam; a light irradiation unit 50 which irradiates the sample with light containing ultraviolet rays; a sample voltage control unit 44 which applies a negative voltage to the sample so that, before the electron beam reaches the sample, the electron orbit inverts; and an imaging optical system which acquires a mirror electron image by forming an image of mirror electrons reflected by application of the negative voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Tomohiko OGATA, Hisaya MURAKOSHI, Masaki HASEGAWA, Noriyuki KANEOKA, Katsunori ONUKI
  • Patent number: 10522320
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to propose a charged particle beam device with which an imaging optical system and an irradiation optical system can be adjusted with high precision. In order to achieve this objective, provided is a charged particle beam device comprising: a first charged particle column which serves as an irradiation optical signal; a deflector that deflects charged particles which have passed through the inside of the first charged particle column toward an object; and a second charged particle column which serves as an imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiko Ogata, Masaki Hasegawa, Hisaya Murakoshi, Katsunori Onuki, Noriyuki Kaneoka
  • Publication number: 20190378685
    Abstract: A purpose of the present invention is to provide a charged particle beam apparatus that performs apparatus adjustment based on a proper evaluation of a beam. To achieve the abovementioned purpose, with the present invention, proposed is a charged particle beam apparatus comprising: an irradiation optical system including a lens for converging charged particle beams emitted from a charged particle source; and an imaging optical system for imaging the charged particles obtained by irradiating the charged particle beams toward a sample on an imaging element, wherein the charged particle beam apparatus comprises a control apparatus for controlling the lens, and the control apparatus evaluates for each lens condition the size of a specific brightness area obtained by the charged particle beam being made to reach the sample, and selects the lens condition for which the size information fulfills a designated condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Masaki HASEGAWA, Tomohiko OGATA, Noriyuki KANEOKA, Hisaya MURAKOSHI, Katsunori ONUKI
  • Publication number: 20190108969
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to propose a charged particle beam device with which an imaging optical system and an irradiation optical system can be adjusted with high precision. In order to achieve this objective, provided is a charged particle beam device comprising: a first charged particle column which serves as an irradiation optical signal; a deflector that deflects charged particles which have passed through the inside of the first charged particle column toward an object; and a second charged particle column which serves as an imaging optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Tomohiko OGATA, Masaki HASEGAWA, Hisaya MURAKOSHI, Katsunori ONUKI, Noriyuki KANEOKA
  • Publication number: 20190079025
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a defect inspection device with which it is possible to detect a latent flaw with a high precision or at a high speed. In order to fulfill this purpose, this defect inspection device is provided with: a sample support member that supports a sample irradiated by an electron beam emitted from an electron source; a negative voltage applying power source for forming a retarding electric field in relation to the electron beam that irradiates the sample supported by the sample support member; an imaging element at which an image of electrons reflected without reaching the sample is formed via the retarding electric field; an ultraviolet light source that emits an ultraviolet light toward the sample; and a computation processing device that processes an image generated on the basis of a signal obtained by the imaging element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Masaki HASEGAWA, Katsunori ONUKI, Noriyuki KANEOKA, Hisaya MURAKOSHI, Tomohiko OGATA
  • Patent number: 8779400
    Abstract: An ion beam machining and observation method relevant to a technique of cross sectional observation of an electronic component, through which a sample is machined by using an ion beam and a charged particle beam processor capable of reducing the time it takes to fill up a processed hole with a high degree of flatness at the filled area. The observation device is capable of switching the kind of gas ion beam used for machining a sample with the kind of a gas ion beam used for observing the sample. To implement the switch between the kind of a gas ion beam used for sample machining and the kind of a gas ion beam used for sample observation, at least two gas introduction systems are used, each system having a gas cylinder, a gas tube, a gas volume control valve, and a stop valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Shichi, Satoshi Tomimatsu, Kaoru Umemura, Noriyuki Kaneoka, Koji Ishiguro
  • Publication number: 20130284593
    Abstract: An ion beam machining and observation method relevant to a technique of cross sectional observation of an electronic component, through which a sample is machined by using an ion beam and a charged particle beam processor capable of reducing the time it takes to fill up a processed hole with a high degree of flatness at the filled area. The observation device is capable of switching the kind of gas ion beam used for machining a sample with the kind of a gas ion beam used for observing the sample. To implement the switch between the kind of a gas ion beam used for sample machining and the kind of a gas ion beam used for sample observation, at least two gas introduction systems are used, each system having a gas cylinder, a gas tube, a gas volume control valve, and a stop valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Hiroyasu SHICHI, Satoshi TOMIMATSU, Kaoru UMEMURA, Noriyuki KANEOKA, Koji ISHIGURO
  • Patent number: 8481980
    Abstract: An ion beam machining and observation method relevant to a technique of cross sectional observation of an electronic component, through which a sample is machined by using an ion beam and a charged particle beam processor capable of reducing the time it takes to fill up a processed hole with a high degree of flatness at the filled area. The observation device is capable of switching the kind of gas ion beam used for machining a sample with the kind of a gas ion beam used for observing the sample. To implement the switch between the kind of a gas ion beam used for sample machining and the kind of a gas ion beam used for sample observation, at least two gas introduction systems are used, each system having a gas cylinder a gas tube, a gas volume control valve, and a stop valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Shichi, Satoshi Tomimatsu, Kaoru Umemura, Noriyuki Kaneoka, Koji Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 8431891
    Abstract: An ion beam processing apparatus includes an ion beam irradiation optical system that irradiate a rectangular ion beam to a sample held on a first sample stage, an electron beam irradiation optical system that irradiates an electron beam to the sample, and a second sample stage on which a test piece, extracted from the sample by a probe, is mounted. An angle of irradiation of the ion beam can be tilted by rotating the second sample stage about a tilting axis. A controller controls the width of skew of an intensity profile representing an edge of the rectangular ion beam in a direction perpendicular to a first direction in which the tilting axis of the second sample stage is projected on the second sample stage surface so that the width will be smaller than the width of skew of an intensity profile representing another edge of the ion beam in a direction parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Shichi, Satoshi Tomimatsu, Noriyuki Kaneoka, Kaoru Umemura, Koji Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 7777183
    Abstract: A charged particle beam system, a sample processing method, and a semiconductor inspection system enable an accurate detection of a particle in a film without causing LMIS contamination and allow observation with an electron microscope quickly. A particle 65 causing a defect in a film 66 that has been detected with a separate optical inspection system is detected with an optical microscope 43 based on position information acquired by the separate optical inspection system. A sample 31 is processed with a nonmetal ion beam 22 so as to allow observation of the particle 65 with an electron microscope image or an ion microscope image, or ultimate analysis of the particle 65 with an EDX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Kaneoka, Kaoru Umemura, Koji Ishiguro
  • Publication number: 20100176297
    Abstract: An ion beam processing apparatus includes an ion beam irradiation optical system that irradiate a rectangular ion beam to a sample held on a first sample stage, an electron beam irradiation optical system that irradiates an electron beam to the sample, and a second sample stage on which a test piece, extracted from the sample by a probe, is mounted. An angle of irradiation of the ion beam can be tilted by rotating the second sample stage about a tilting axis. A controller controls the width of skew of an intensity profile representing an edge of the rectangular ion beam in a direction perpendicular to a first direction in which the tilting axis of the second sample stage is projected on the second sample stage surface so that the width will be smaller than the width of skew of an intensity profile representing another edge of the ion beam in a direction parallel to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Shichi, Satoshi Tomimatsu, Noriyuki Kaneoka, Kaoru Umemura, Koji Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 7700931
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ion beam processing technology for improving the precision in processing a section of a sample using an ion beam without making a processing time longer than a conventionally required processing time, and for shortening the time required for separating a micro test piece without breaking the sample or the time required for making preparations for the separation. An ion beam processing apparatus is structured so that an axis along which an ion beam is drawn out of an ion source and an ion beam irradiation axis along which the ion beam is irradiated to a sample mounted on a first sample stage will meet at an angle. Furthermore, the ion beam processing apparatus has a tilting ability to vary an angle of irradiation, at which the ion beam is irradiated to the sample, by rotating a second sample stage, on which a test piece extracted from the sample by performing ion beam processing is mounted, about the tilting axis of the second sample stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tchnologies Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Shichi, Satoshi Tomimatsu, Noriyuki Kaneoka, Kaoru Umemura, Koji Ishiguro