Patents Assigned to Lasertec Corporation
  • Patent number: 9588421
    Abstract: Provided with a pellicle inspection apparatus that inspects a pellicle film of a mask provided with a pellicle and used in EUV lithography. The pellicle inspection apparatus includes: an illumination optical system that projects a converging illuminating beam toward the pellicle film; a light collection optical system including an object lens having an optical axis substantially orthogonal to the pellicle film and that collects scattering light outgoing from a foreign substance present on the pellicle film; and a detection system that detects the scattering light collected by the light collection optical system, wherein an incident angle ?2 of the illuminating beam with respect to the pellicle film satisfies Expression ?2??0>?1+23°, where ?0 is a collecting angle (half angle) of the illuminating beam, and ?1 is a maximum light-receiving angle (half angle) of the object lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Kiwamu Takehisa, Atsushi Tajima, Haruhiko Kusunose
  • Patent number: 9551672
    Abstract: Provided are a defect classifying method and an inspection apparatus which are capable of classifying a defect by distinguishing a basal plane dislocation, which is a killer defect in bipolar high-voltage elements, from other defects. The defect classifying method according to the present invention includes: projecting an illumination beam toward a silicon carbide substrate and forming a reflection image and a photoluminescence image; a first inspection step of detecting a defect image from the reflection image formed; a second inspection step of detecting a defect image from the photoluminescence image formed; and a defect classification step of classifying detected defects based on whether or not the defect image is detected and the shape of the detected defect image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Hirokazu Seki, Masamichi Shinoda, Toshiyuki Todoroki, Yoshihiro Nakano, Makoto Torizawa
  • Patent number: 9544558
    Abstract: Provided is a phase shift amount measuring apparatus and method capable of measuring a phase shift amount and a transmittance of a phase shift mask in one measurement step by using a miniaturized monitor pattern. The phase shift amount and transmittance of the monitor pattern are simultaneously measured using a shearing interferometer. The phase shift amount is obtained from a phase difference of interference light between light passing through the monitor pattern and light passing through a non-pattern area. The transmittance of the monitor pattern is obtained using an amplitude of interference light between light passing through the monitor pattern and light passing through the non-pattern area and an amplitude of interference light between light beams passing through the non-pattern area. The use of common interference images in measuring the phase shift amount and transmittance enables measurement of both the phase shift amount and the transmittance in one measurement operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Koyo Tada, Hiroto Nozawa, Hideo Takizawa
  • Patent number: 9240041
    Abstract: A defect inspection device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a light source, a detector that receives light from an illuminated region of a sample, a stage that changes a relative position between light from the light source and the sample in order to sequentially inspect a plurality of unit inspection regions, a comparator that compares a detection signal output from the detector with a threshold according to scanning in the stage, a mask position setting unit that sets a common position of the plurality of unit inspection regions as a mask position in order to mask the common position when the plurality of unit inspection regions are sequentially inspected, and a defect detection unit that detects a defect based on a comparison result in the comparison unit in another region than the mask position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Tamura, Hiroyuki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9117869
    Abstract: A chucking device is provided, the chucking device having low dusting characteristics and high detergent properties, and being capable of vacuum-sucking even a substrate having a large warpage, and a chucking method using the chucking device is also provided. The chucking device vacuum-sucks and holds a wafer. The chucking device includes a perforated plate having a plurality of through-holes and being mounted with a wafer, the through-holes penetrating through both sides of the perforated plate; a porous plate that supports a surface other than a mounting surface of the perforated plate, on which the wafer is mounted, transmits a vacuum state to the wafer through the plurality of through-holes, and has a pore to limit a flow rate; and a vacuum pump that exhausts an air through the pore of the porous plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: LASERTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Haruhiko Kusunose
  • Patent number: 9013787
    Abstract: A system including a microscope and an inspection apparatus in which an objective lens having a large numerical aperture is used for detecting a defect existing inside a sample. A light source apparatus produces linearly polarized light. The polarization maintaining fibers optically coupled to the light source apparatus project the linearly polarized light onto the sample surface as an illumination beam of P-polarized light at an incidence angle substantially equal to the Brewster's angle of the sample. The scattered light generated by the defect existing in the sample is emitted from the sample and is collected by the objective lens whose optical axis is perpendicular to the sample surface. Since the illumination beam of P-polarized light is projected at the incidence angle equal to the Brewster's angle of the sample, no surface reflection occurs and it is possible to use the objective lens having a large numerical aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhiko Kusunose, Takamasa Tsubouchi
  • Publication number: 20140333921
    Abstract: The field of view of an objective lens is divided into two areas, and a transmission image of a photomask and a composite image obtained by optically synthesizing a transmission image and a reflection image of the photomask are picked up in parallel. A drop image generated at an edge portion of a pattern portion in the composite image is deleted by limiter processing or masking processing, or is deleted by using primary-differentiated signals of a composite image signal and a transmission image signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: LASERTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hironobu SUZUKI, Katsuyoshi NAKASHIMA, Kazuhito YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8879055
    Abstract: The field of view of an objective lens is divided into two areas, and a transmission image of a photomask and a composite image obtained by optically synthesizing a transmission image and a reflection image of the photomask are picked up in parallel. A drop image generated at an edge portion of a pattern portion in the composite image is deleted by limiter processing or masking processing, or is deleted by using primary-differentiated signals of a composite image signal and a transmission image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Hironobu Suzuki, Katsuyoshi Nakashima, Kazuhito Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140189998
    Abstract: Provided are a chucking device having low dusting characteristics and high detergent properties and capable of vacuum-sucking even a substrate having a large warpage, and a chucking method using the same. A chucking device according to an aspect of the present invention vacuum-sucks and holds a wafer. The chucking device includes: a perforated plate having a plurality of through-holes and being mounted with a wafer, the through-holes penetrating through both sides of the perforated plate; a porous plate that supports a surface other than a mounting surface of the perforated plate, on which the wafer is mounted, transmits a vacuum state to the wafer through the plurality of through-holes, and has a pore to limit a flow rate; and a vacuum pump that exhausts an air through the pore of the porous plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventor: Haruhiko KUSUNOSE
  • Patent number: 8760642
    Abstract: Substrate inspection apparatus, in which the acquisition of the inspection data for a defect and the acquisition of the focus data of the objective lens are performed in parallel, includes an autofocus apparatus for controlling position of the objective lens along its optical axis. The autofocus apparatus includes a focus error detection unit and a focus control signal generation unit for generating a focus control signal for controlling the position of the objective lens for each scan line using a focus data signal composed of an objective position signal or the objective position signal to which a focus error signal is added. When “i” is assumed as a positive integer and “m” is as a natural number, the focus data signal which was acquired during the scanning period of i-th scan line is used to produce the focus control signal used to scan the (i+2m)-th scan line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Zenta Hori, Haruhiko Kusunose, Koichi Moriizumi
  • Publication number: 20140136132
    Abstract: Provided are an analysis apparatus and an analysis method which are capable of recognizing a local state change of an internal structure of a secondary battery. The analysis apparatus includes: an observation cell that houses a secondary battery; a charging and discharging controller that controls charging and discharging of the secondary battery; an image pickup device that captures color images of the secondary battery at a predetermined time interval; and a charging and discharging data detection unit that acquires charging and discharging data on the secondary battery during charging and discharging. Color image signals output from the image pickup device and charging and discharging data signals output from the charging and discharging data detection unit are supplied to a signal processing device. The signal processing device outputs a unit that temporally links time-series color image signals and time-series charging and discharging data signals, and designated analysis data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki MAEKAWA, Yoshihiro NISHIMURA, Seiji MORISHITA, Hisahiro YAMAOKA, Takumi HIRAKAWA, Makoto YONEZAWA
  • Publication number: 20130322735
    Abstract: A defect inspection device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a light source, a detector that receives light from an illuminated region of a sample, a stage that changes a relative position between light from the light source and the sample in order to sequentially inspect a plurality of unit inspection regions, a comparator that compares a detection signal output from the detector with a threshold according to scanning in the stage, a mask position setting unit that sets a common position of the plurality of unit inspection regions as a mask position in order to mask the common position when the plurality of unit inspection regions are sequentially inspected, and a defect detection unit that detects a defect based on a comparison result in the comparison unit in another region than the mask position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Tamura, Hiroyuki Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20130245971
    Abstract: A defect coordinates measurement method includes a step of detecting detected coordinates of a fiducial mark and a defect of a mask blank placed on support pins, a step of detecting detected coordinates of the alignment mark of a reference mask placed on the support pins, a step of extracting a reference mark near the detected coordinates of the defect among the plurality of reference marks based on the detected coordinates of the defect of the mask blank and the alignment mark of the reference mask, a step of detecting detected coordinates of the extracted reference mark, and a step of calculating coordinates of the defect based on the detected coordinates of the reference mark and the detected coordinates of the defect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Haruhiko KUSUNOSE, Hiroki MIYAI
  • Publication number: 20130234597
    Abstract: The plasma shield device (13) comprises a hollow structure (40) made of monocrystal body of silicon carbide and having an inside space (40a) and a first and second openings (40b,40c) which are opposed to each other across the inside space. During operation of the plasma generation apparatus, the internal space of the hollow structure forms a discharge zone in which the plasma is generated. Discharge gas is supplied to the internal space of the hollow structure through the first opening and the EUV radiation is mainly emitted through the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: LASERTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruhiko KUSUNOSE, Kiwamu TAKEHISA, Tomohiro SUZUKI, Hiroki MIYAI
  • Patent number: 8503068
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation source apparatus which can generate a DUV radiation beam having a wavelength of 193.4 nm efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Sakuma
  • Publication number: 20130188251
    Abstract: A system including a microscope and an inspection apparatus in which an objective lens having a large numerical aperture is used for detecting a defect existing inside a sample. A light source apparatus produces linearly polarized light. The polarization maintaining fibers optically coupled to the light source apparatus project the linearly polarized light onto the sample surface as an illumination beam of P-polarized light at an incidence angle substantially equal to the Brewster's angle of the sample. The scattered light generated by the defect existing in the sample is emitted from the sample and is collected by the objective lens whose optical axis is perpendicular to the sample surface. Since the illumination beam of P-polarized light is projected at the incidence angle equal to the Brewster's angle of the sample, no surface reflection occurs and it is possible to use the objective lens having a large numerical aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: LASERTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: LASERTEC CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20120287424
    Abstract: Substrate inspection apparatus, in which the acquisition of the inspection data for a defect and the acquisition of the focus data of the objective lens are performed in parallel, includes an autofocus apparatus for controlling position of the objective lens along its optical axis. The autofocus apparatus includes a focus error detection unit and a focus control signal generation unit for generating a focus control signal for controlling the position of the objective lens for each scan line using a focus data signal composed of an objective position signal or the objective position signal to which a focus error signal is added. When “i” is assumed as a positive integer and “m” is as a natural number, the focus data signal which was acquired during the scanning period of i-th scan line is used to produce the focus control signal used to scan the (i+2m)-th scan line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: LASERTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Zenta HORI, Haruhiko KUSUNOSE, Koichi MORIIZUMI
  • Patent number: 8305681
    Abstract: The invention is directed to the provision of a wavelength conversion-type ultraviolet light source apparatus that can obtain a stable output. A light source apparatus according to one mode of the invention includes: a laser light source 1 which produces fundamental light L1; at least one nonlinear optical crystal 3 which takes the fundamental light L1 or a harmonic thereof as incident light and outputs wavelength-converted light L2; and polarization adjusting means 2 which is placed in an optical path of the incident light and causes an output of the wavelength-converted light L2 to change by changing its refractive index for a polarized component of the incident light. The polarization adjusting means 2 changes the amount of change of the refractive index in accordance with an electrical signal output from a photodetector 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Sakuma, Haruhiko Kusunose
  • Publication number: 20120026578
    Abstract: The present invention provides a radiation source apparatus which can generate a DUV radiation beam having a wavelength of 193.4 nm efficiently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: LASERTEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun SAKUMA
  • Patent number: 8069008
    Abstract: A via hole depth measurement apparatus generates a light beam of white light, divides the light beam into a measurement and reference beams, focuses the measurement beam and projects it onto a sample, reflects the reference beam and advances it along the original optical path, continuously changes a relative optical path length difference between optical path lengths of the measurement and reference beams, combining reflected light from the sample and from the reflected reference beam and generates an interference beam, changes a relative distance between an objective lens which focuses the measurement beam and the sample, detects a relative position between the objective lens and the sample, receives the interference beam and outputs an interference signal, and, and outputs recessed portion depth information based on displacement information based on the interference signal and the relative position between the objective lens and the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Lasertec Corporation
    Inventor: Haruhiko Kusunose