APPARATUS FOR STEM SAMPLE INSPECTION IN A CHARGED PARTICLE BEAM INSTRUMENT
An apparatus for in-situ sample examination in a dual-beam FIB includes a cassette for holding probe tips inside the FIB, where the FIB has an X-Y plane and a port for a nano-manipulator probe shaft, and where the probe shaft is further capable of releasably holding a probe tip. The cassette has a base and at least one probe-tip station connected to the base. The probe-tip station has a slot for receiving a probe tip, where the probe-tip slot has an angle with respect to the base substantially equal to the angle of the port for the nano-manipulator probe shaft relative to the X-Y plane of the FIB. The cassette has a clamp with springy fingers located in the slot for receiving and releasably holding the probe tip. The apparatus is adapted to in-situ STEM examination of samples.
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The present application is a continuation-in-part of divisional application Ser. No. 12/896,281, filed Oct. 1, 2010, which divisional application claims the priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/041,217, filed Mar. 3, 2008, which patent application claims the priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/925,762, filed Apr. 23, 2007 and titled “Method and Apparatus for Cassette-Based In-Situ STEM Sample Inspection,” all which foregoing named applications are incorporated by reference into the present application.
TECHNICAL FIELDThis application relates to TEM sample preparation and inspection inside a charged-particle instrument, such as a dual-beam focused-ion beam microscope, called a “DB-FIB” in this application.
BACKGROUNDThe use of focused ion-beam (FIB) microscopes has become common for the preparation of specimens for later analysis in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) or scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), and the in-situ lift-out technique has become the method of choice for the preparation of a tiny sample for TEM inspection. TEM and STEM inspection offer fine image resolution (<0.1 nm), but require electron-transparent (<100 nm thick) sections of the sample. TEM and STEM inspection usually take place in a separate TEM or STEM device, which requires the transfer of a fragile TEM sample to another location. Dual-beam (DB-FIB) instruments are being more widely used for TEM sample preparation and inspection. The DB-FIB instrument combines high resolution imaging of the SEM with precision, site-specific ion milling of the FIB. The combination of SEM and FIB in the same chamber allows for the location, preparation and inspection of samples in the same microscope. The electron beam within the DB-FIB can substitute for a conventional STEM beam, and a transmitted electron detector, located beneath the sample in the DB-FIB enables in-situ STEM imaging of a sample. As a result, this system provides an increased throughput at reduced cost per sample for failure analysis and process control applications requiring STEM analysis. Applying in-situ lift-out technology in the DB-FIB provides a means for excising tiny samples from a specimen and positioning them on TEM sample holder or grid, using the special features of a nano-manipulator device, for later inspection within the DB-FIB. A suitable nano-manipulator system is the Omniprobe AutoProbe200™, manufactured by Omniprobe, Inc., of Dallas, Tex.
We describe a novel method and apparatus for the process of location, preparation and inspection of samples (120) inside a dual-beam FIB microscope (DB-FIB) using an in-situ probe tip replacement system and a cassette (200) for holding these samples (120). The field of application is not limited to an in-situ probe tip replacement system, dual-beam FIB systems, or to semiconductor samples; applications could include, for example, nano-mechanical systems or biological samples.
The method and apparatus of this application provide for higher throughput STEM inspection within the DB-FIB, because the sample does not have to be removed from the microscope. As shown in
Table 1 below shows the mathematical transformations that may be used to determine the correct angles for the DB-FIB sample stage (170) rotation and tilt required to orient the sample (120) for the operations described below. The exemplary calculations shown in Table 1 are a novel application of the well-known conversion from angle-axis representation to rotation-matrix representation. The reader may consult Craig, John J., “Introduction to Robotics Mechanics & Control,” Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1986, pp. 322-321, for details.
In Table 1, the location of the nano-manipulator probe shaft (110) in the DB-FIB chamber is expressed in terms of a first angle, representing a rotation of the nano-manipulator probe shaft (110) (Θ1 in the figures); a second angle, being the angle of the stage (170) tilt relative to the X-Y horizontal plane (165) (Θ2 in the figures); a third angle, being the angle between the projection in the X-Y plane (165) of the axis (115) of the nano-manipulator probe shaft (110) and the extension of the stage (170) tilt axis (175) nearest the front door (135) of the DB-FIB. (Θ3 in
We have found it convenient to use the following values for the angles described above for a Model 1540 Cross-Beam DB-FIB, manufactured by Carl Zeiss, Inc.:
-
- Θ2=0° (for stage tilt),
- Θ3=140° (relative to the extension of the stage tilt axis nearest the front door of the DB-FIB),
- Θ4=26.5° (for inclination of the probe shaft axis relative to DB-FIB X-Y plane).
- Thus resulting in the following computed values as shown in Table 1 below:
- Θ1=104.4° (for desired probe shaft rotation)
- Θ5=10.1° (for desired stage rotation).
The angle Θ1 is a function of Θ2-Θ4, and Θ5 is a function of Θ1-Θ4. So, in this example, given a stage (170) tilt angle of 0°, and a probe shaft inclination of 26.5°, a stage (170) rotation of approximately 10.1° will orient the sample (120), so that the sample (120), after lift-out, can be made substantially perpendicular to the vertical electron beam (100) simply by rotating the nano-manipulator probe shaft (110) by 104.4° (Θ1 in the figures).
The reader should understand that the angles stated above for Θ2, Θ3, and Θ4 are exemplary only for the model of DB-FIB stated, and other angles could be used as input to the procedures set out in Table 1 to calculate the rotation of the nano-manipulator shaft (110) required to bring the sample (120) into the proper orientation for STEM imaging, both for the Zeiss DB-FIB, and instruments of other manufacturers. The pre-determined angles most convenient for a particular DB-FIB can be easily determined from the construction of the particular DB-FIB. Thus Θ2, the stage tilt is conveniently set to zero; and Θ3, the projection of the axis (115) of the probe shaft (110) relative to the axis (175) of the tilt of the stage (170), and Θ4, the inclination of the probe shaft (110) are determined by the location of the probe port and its angle with respect to the X-Y plane on the particular DB-FIB.
These calculations and operations to orient the sample stage (170) and the probe shaft (110) are preferably carried out by a programmable computer connected to suitable actuators, as described in the patent applications incorporated by reference into this application. Computer control of motors or actuators inside FIB instruments is known in the art.
As shown in
As shown in
The cassette (200) disclosed comprises a cassette base (230) and one or more probe tip stations (220, 221). The cassette (200), as depicted in
To ensure the stability of the probe tip (130) in the probe tip slot (270), a tape or film (260) with adhesive is preferably attached to the divider portion (245) to releasably capture the probe tip collar (300). A suitable material for the tape (260) is KAPTON film, with acrylic or silicone adhesive layers on both sides, available from the DuPont Corporation. The tape (260) is consumable and requires periodic replacement. The particular embodiment shown in
To load the probe tip (130) into a cassette probe-tip station (220), the probe tip (130), with sample (120) attached and releasably held by the gripper (150) on the probe shaft (110), is maneuvered to the vicinity of the cassette (200) by the nano-manipulator (140). The cassette (200) is mounted on the specimen stage (170) or a substage (280) in a position, so that the probe tip slot (270) is oriented at the correct angle relative to the specimen (160) surface. The probe tip (130) is moved to the probe tip slot (270) until the collar (300) is located exactly above the collar cavity (265) in the probe tip station (220). Then the probe tip (130) is lowered so the collar (300) is placed entirely inside the collar cavity (265). The nano-manipulator (140) continues moving along the probe tip (130) axis (115) so the collar (300) contacts the adhesive tape (260) and stays attached to it while the nano-manipulator (140) continues its movement, disengaging the gripper (150) from the probe tip (130). This situation is depicted in
A third embodiment of the cassette (400) is depicted in
A first clamp (465) is made of plastic or metal so as to be springy. The clamp (465) is sized to fit into a cavity (560) in the base (410) of the cassette (400) and be held there with screws (460) or other removable fasteners. The cavity (560) and the saddle (440) are preferably machined into the base (410). The first clamp (465) as shown has two fingers (470); there is a flat (475) on one finger (470) for orientation of the first collar (520). The first saddle fixture (440) has slots (490) to receive a first probe tip (540). The cassette (400) is shown in
The second saddle (450) is similar to the first saddle (440). The second clamp (480), also made of a springy material, has substantially equally sized fingers (485) to assist in gripping the round second collar (530). The second saddle (450) likewise comprises slots (455) to receive a second probe tip (550).
The first and second clamps (465, 480) partially surround the slots (490, 455) defined by the saddles (440, 450), as shown in the figures.
The second clamp (480) is held in the second cavity (570) with removable fasteners, such as screws (460). It is advantageous to be able to remove and replace the clamps (465, 480) when they become worn or lose the capacity to grip a probe tip (540, 550) with a spring force.
The base (410) of this embodiment of the cassette (400) has openings (500, 510) adjacent to each probe tip (540, 550) when the same are held in the first saddle (440) or second saddle (450) to allow access to the sample lamella in a secondary off-line process using the ShortCut™ apparatus, manufactured by Omniprobe, Inc. Mounting holes (420) and an alignment hole (430) are preferably provided in the base (410) for accurately mounting the cassette (400) to a sub-stage (281) as described above or to the anvil (not shown) in the off-line ShortCut™ process. This embodiment of the cassette (400) allows STEM examination of a specimen (120) similarly to that described above for the first and second embodiments.
The wedge shape (405) at the left end of the cassette (400) and the detent (415) at the right end together provide another mounting scheme where a spring-loaded ball plunger (not shown) engages the detent (415) and forces the wedge shape (405) into a receiving angle on a cassette holder to secure the cassette (400) in place on a FIB stage. The mounting holes (420) are used one at a time, depending on which probe tip is being processed, with the center hole (430) for locating the cassette (400) on the ShortCut™ anvil.
Fourth EmbodimentA fourth embodiment of the cassette (400) is depicted in
As with the previously-described embodiments, the angle of the slots (455, 490) relative to the plane of the cassette (400) in this third embodiment is Θ4, the same as the angle of the probe shaft (110) relative the DB-FIB X-Y plane. This geometry assures that the orientation of the sample (120) will be the same as that resulting after the sample (120) is rotated according to the calculations discussed above. The angle Θ4 is shown in
In an alternative procedure, the TEM lift-out sample (120) can be excised from the specimen (160) without selective thinning to produce an electron transparent portion (125). The selective thinning can be later performed after the TEM sample (120) has been lifted out of its trench (121).
Step 341 is depicted in
A decision may be made at step 346 either to perform an immediate or preliminary STEM analysis or to place the probe tip (130) with the TEM sample (120) attached, into the cassette (200). If the decision is to perform the immediate STEM analysis, the process continues in steps 353 through 358 followed by the transfer of the TEM sample (120) attached to a TEM grid (not shown) outside the FIB (step 365).
After the preliminary STEM in-situ analysis on the TEM sample (120), attached to the probe tip (130), held by the nano-manipulator (140), has been performed in step 354, a decision may be made in step 355 to continue the in-situ procedure, and to proceed with the additional STEM analysis on a TEM sample (120). In step 356, the TEM sample (120) is attached to a TEM sample grid, located elsewhere on the specimen stage (170), using material deposition in the DB-FIB or other methods known in the art, followed with the separation of the probe tip (130) from the TEM sample (120) in the step 357. The additional in-situ STEM analysis of the TEM sample (120) can be performed in step 358, followed with the transfer of the TEM sample (120) attached to the TEM sample grid, outside the FIB in step 365.
Alternatively, in step 355 the decision can be made not to perform additional in-situ STEM analysis. In this case, in step 347, the probe tip (130) with the TEM sample (120) attached to it is deposited into a cassette (200) for further procedures.
Or, if the other decision has been made in step 346, the probe tip (130) can be placed into the cassette (200) immediately at step 347. Then, in the step 348, the choice is made whether to continue with the lift-out procedure for another sample (in this case the process would continue at the initial step 340), or to proceed to STEM analysis of samples (120) already placed into a cassette (200) in step 349. The specimen stage (170) is manipulated accordingly (lowered or raised) in step 349 and the in-situ STEM analysis of one or more samples is performed in step 350. The image obtained is checked for quality in step 351. If the quality is not satisfactory, the TEM sample (120) can be re-thinned tilting the stage (170) and/or the cassette (200) to the desired orientation (step 352).
After a satisfactory quality image is obtained, the process can be continued in step 359 with the choice to perform TEM analysis in a separate, standalone TEM or STEM instrument. If the choice is “No,” the cassette (200) is transferred outside the DB-FIB for any necessary further procedures (step 365). If the choice is “Yes,” then in step 360 the probe tip (130) with the TEM sample (120) attached to it is captured again with the gripper (150) and returned to its original orientation in step 361 using rotation of the probe shaft (110) as described above, followed with the adjustment of the TEM grid orientation in step 362. Then in step 363 the TEM sample (120) can be attached to the TEM grid using material deposition in the DB-FIB, or other conventional methods, followed with the separation of the probe tip (130) from the TEM sample (120) in step 364. Thereafter, the TEM grid with the TEM samples attached to it can be transferred outside the DB-FIB for further investigation in step 365.
This embodiment comprises a set of repeated operations and is appropriate for an automated procedure. It can be the part of the probe-tip exchange procedure described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,381,971, which in turn is the part of the automated lift-out procedure described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,414,252. The method described is not limited to DB-FIB instruments with a fixed relationship between the electron (100) and ion (190) beam columns. The method can be practiced on an instrument with the ability to tilt one or both beams relative to the specimen stage (170).
The method described can be also used in an apparatus for lift-out where a laser beam (180) is used in addition to or instead of the ion beam. An embodiment is shown in
Since those skilled in the art can modify the specific embodiments described above, we intend that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.
Claims
1. A cassette for holding probe tips inside a charged particle beam instrument, where the charged particle beam instrument has an X-Y plane and a port for a nano-manipulator probe shaft, where the probe shaft is further capable of releasably holding a probe tip; the cassette comprising:
- a base;
- at least one probe-tip station connected to the base;
- the probe-tip station having a slot for receiving a probe tip;
- the probe-tip slot having an angle with respect to the base substantially equal to the angle of the port for the nano-manipulator probe shaft relative to the X-Y plane of the charged particle beam instrument;
- a clamp; the clamp partially surrounding the slot; the clamp having a plurality of springy fingers for receiving and releasably holding the probe tip in the slot.
2. The cassette of claim 1 comprising a plurality of probe-tip stations.
3. The cassette of claim 1, where the probe tip to be received has a collar; the cassette further comprising:
- the springy fingers of the clamp being sized to receive and releasably hold the collar of the probe tip in the slot.
4. The cassette of claim 3, further comprising:
- the collar having a flat portion;
- at least one springy finger of the clamp configured with a flat corresponding to the flat of the collar.
5. The cassette of claim 1, where the slot is defined by a saddle;
- where the saddle is attached to the base.
6. The cassette of claim 1 where each probe tip station comprises a cavity in the base;
- the cavity sized to receive the clamp.
7. The cassette of claim 6 where the clamp is removably held in the cavity by screws.
8. The cassette of claim 1, where the slot is defined by a saddle; the cassette further comprising:
- the saddle and the clamp being integral with the exception of a gap between the saddle and the springy fingers of the clamp.
9. A cassette for holding probe tips inside a charged particle beam instrument, where the charged particle beam instrument a port for a nano-manipulator probe shaft, where the probe shaft is further capable of releasably holding a probe tip; the probe tip having a collar; the cassette comprising:
- a base;
- at least one probe-tip station connected to the base;
- the probe-tip station having a slot for receiving a probe tip;
- a clamp; the clamp partially surrounding the slot; the clamp having a plurality of springy fingers for receiving and releasably holding the collar of the probe tip in the slot;
- the probe-tip station having a cavity in the base, where the cavity is sized to receive and releaseably hold the clamp.
10. The cassette of claim 9 comprising a plurality of probe-tip stations.
11. The cassette of claim 9, further comprising:
- the collar having a flat portion;
- at least one springy finger of the clamp configured with a flat corresponding to the flat of the collar.
12. The cassette of claim 9, where the slot is defined by a saddle;
- where the saddle is attached to the base.
13. The cassette of claim 9 where the clamp is removably held in the cavity by screws.
Type: Application
Filed: May 4, 2011
Publication Date: Aug 25, 2011
Applicant: OMNIPROBE, INC. (Dallas, TX)
Inventor: Gonzalo Amador (Dallas, TX)
Application Number: 13/100,419
International Classification: G01N 21/00 (20060101);