Patents Examined by Hanway Chang
  • Patent number: 11355310
    Abstract: A method is carried out with the aid of a particle beam microscope which includes a particle beam column for producing a beam of charged particles, the particle beam column having an optical axis. Furthermore, the particle beam microscope includes a holding device for holding the extracted micro-sample. The method includes holding the extracted micro-sample and an adjacent hinge element via the holding device. The micro-sample adopts a first spatial orientation relative to the optical axis. The method also includes producing a bending edge in the hinge element by way of irradiation with a beam of charged particles such that the adjacent micro-sample is moved in space and the spatial orientation of the micro-sample is altered. The method further includes holding the micro-sample in a second spatial orientation relative to the optical axis, wherein the second spatial orientation differs from the first spatial orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Doemer, Andreas Schmaunz
  • Patent number: 11350514
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generation apparatus includes a chamber device, a concentrating mirror, an exhaust port, and a central gas supply port. The exhaust port is formed at the chamber device and is formed on the side lateral to a focal line and opposite to the reflection surface with respect to the plasma generation region. The central gas supply port is formed on the side opposite to the exhaust port with respect to the plasma generation region on the supply line passing through the exhaust port, the plasma generation region, and an inner side of a peripheral portion of the reflection surface. The central gas supply port supplies the gas toward the exhaust port along the supply line through the plasma generation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventors: Koichiro Koge, Atsushi Ueda, Takayuki Osanai
  • Patent number: 11350513
    Abstract: A stop is configured to be arranged in a constriction of an EUV illumination light beam between an EUV light source for EUV illumination light and an EUV illumination optical unit. The stop has a beam entrance section, a beam exit section and an intervening beam tube section. The entrance section has a cross section that decreases in the propagation direction of the EUV illumination light beam. The cross section of the exit section increases in the propagation direction. The cross section of the tube section is constant. An inner wall of the beam tube section is embodied as reflective for the EUV illumination light. The result is a stop that can have a defined predetermination of the illumination light beam in conjunction with a good thermal loading capacity of the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Patra
  • Patent number: 11348772
    Abstract: A sample support is a sample support for sample ionization, including: a substrate formed with a plurality of through holes opening to a first surface and a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface; a conductive layer provided not to block the through hole in the first surface; and a frame body provided in a peripheral portion of the substrate to surround an ionization region in which a sample is ionized when viewed in a thickness direction of the substrate, in which a marker for recognizing a position in the ionization region is provided in the frame body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Miu Takimoto, Takayuki Ohmura, Masahiro Kotani
  • Patent number: 11340531
    Abstract: A method of controlling an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system is disclosed. The method includes irradiating a target droplet with EUV radiation, detecting EUV radiation reflected by the target droplet, determining aberration of the detected EUV radiation, determining a Zernike polynomial corresponding to the aberration, and performing a corrective action to reduce a shift in Zernike coefficients of the Zernike polynomial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ting-Ya Cheng, Han-Lung Chang, Shi-Han Shann, Li-Jui Chen, Yen-Shuo Su
  • Patent number: 11333981
    Abstract: A target image capturing device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a delay circuit configured to receive a timing signal from outside and output a first trigger signal at a timing delayed by a first delay time from the reception of the timing signal; an illumination light source configured to emit light based on the first trigger signal; an image capturing unit including a light amplification unit and disposed to capture an image of a shadow of a target to be observed, which is generated when the target is irradiated with the light emitted from the illumination light source; a processing unit configured to perform image processing including processing of measuring a background luminance from the image captured by the image capturing unit; and a control unit configured to perform control to adjust a gain of the light amplification unit based on the background luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventor: Hirokazu Hosoda
  • Patent number: 11335532
    Abstract: As a device for correcting positive spherical aberration of an electromagnetic lens for a charged particle beam, a spherical aberration correction device combining a hole electrode and a ring electrode is known. In this spherical aberration correction device, when a voltage is applied between the hole electrode and the ring electrode, the focus of the charged particle beam device changes due to the convex lens effect generated in the hole electrode. Therefore, in a charged particle beam device including a charged particle beam source which generates a charged particle beam, a charged particle beam aperture having a ring shape, and a charged particle beam aperture power supply which applies a voltage to the charged particle beam aperture, the charged particle beam aperture power supply is configured to apply, to the charged particle beam aperture, a voltage having a polarity opposite to a polarity of charges of the charged particle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignees: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation, Japan Fine Ceramics Center
    Inventors: Tsunenori Nomaguchi, Shunichi Motomura, Tadahiro Kawasaki, Takeharu Kato, Ryuji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11328897
    Abstract: A charged particle beam device according to the present invention changes a signal amount of emitted charged particles by irradiating the sample with light due to irradiation under a plurality of light irradiation conditions, and determines at least any one of a material of the sample or a shape of the sample according to the changed signal amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minami Shouji, Natsuki Tsuno, Yasuhiro Shirasaki, Muneyuki Fukuda, Satoshi Takada
  • Patent number: 11328921
    Abstract: A quadrupole mass filter includes: four electrodes arranged to surround a central axis and constituting a quadrupole; attachment portions to which a plurality of electrical conductors are attached, at least one of the electrical conductors being arranged at a position that lies in a direction toward an area between each of the adjacent electrodes among the four electrodes, as viewed from the central axis; and a holder having a hollow portion and holding the four electrodes and the plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the electrical conductors are attached to the respective attachment portions and held by the holder with elasticity of a material constituting the electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Ueda, Shinjiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 11318217
    Abstract: A disinfecting system includes a housing. An ultraviolet light (UV) source is secured to the housing and configured to emit UV light for disinfection of a target. A processor is secured to the housing in communication with the UV light source. The processor is configured to activate the UV light source for a selected amount of time suitable for disinfection of the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: P TECH, LLC
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Justin Beyers, Tonya M. Bierman
  • Patent number: 11311638
    Abstract: Disclosed is a portable sterilization case for personal protective equipment and small articles, such as a mobile phone. The portable sterilization case includes a box body having an opening and inner volume for receiving the articles. The portable sterilization case further includes a cover coupled to the box body forming an enclosed case. The cover is coupled through a hinge joint allowing the cover to pivot in an open position and close position. The inner sides of each the box body and the cover can have an integrated ultraviolet (UV) lamp having a UV-C spectrum configuration. The portable sterilization case further includes a lock member for securing the cover to the box body. In one case, the lock member can be a magnet/magnet pair or magnet/iron pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventor: Reshma N Kheraj
  • Patent number: 11307501
    Abstract: An extreme ultraviolet light generating apparatus for generating extreme ultraviolet light in a chamber according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a piezoelectric element provided in the chamber; a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure in the chamber; a gas introducing unit configured to introduce gas into the chamber; an exhaust unit configured to exhaust the gas from the chamber; and a control unit configured to control application of a voltage to the piezoelectric element. The control unit is configured to determine whether or not to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric element based on information on the pressure in the chamber obtained by the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Gigaphoton Inc.
    Inventor: Kengo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11299802
    Abstract: The current disclosure is directed to methods and assemblies configured to deliver a mixture of germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4) and hydrogen (H2) gases to an ion implantation apparatus, so H2 is present in an amount in the range of 25%-67% (volume) of the gas mixture, or the GeF4 and H2 are present in a volume ratio (GeF4:H2) in the range of 3:1 to 33:67. The use of the H2 gas in an amount in mixture or relative to the GeF4 gas prevents the volatilization of cathode material, thereby improving performance and lifetime of the ion implantation apparatus. Gas mixtures according to the disclosure also result in a significant Ge+ current gain and W+ peak reduction during an ion implantation procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ENTEGRIS, INC.
    Inventors: Oleg Byl, Ying Tang, Joseph R. Despres, Joseph Sweeney, Sharad N. Yedave
  • Patent number: 11295926
    Abstract: The current disclosure is directed to a repellent electrode used in a source arc chamber of an ion implanter. The repellent electrode includes a shaft and a repellent body having a repellent surface. The repellent surface has a surface shape that substantially fits the shape of the inner chamber space of the source arc chamber where the repellent body is positioned. A gap between the edge of the repellent body and the inner sidewall of the source arc chamber is minimized to a threshold level that is maintained to avoid a short between the conductive repellent body and the conductive inner sidewall of the source arc chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Heng Yen, Jen-Chung Chiu, Tai-Kun Kao, Lu-Hsun Lin, Tsung-Min Lin
  • Patent number: 11289304
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising: a first electrically conductive layer; a second electrically conductive layer; a plurality of optics element s between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer, wherein the plurality of optics elements are configured to influence a plurality of beams of charged particles; a third electrically conductive layer between the first electrically conductive layer and the second electrically conductive layer; and an electrically insulating layer physically connected to the optics elements, wherein the electrically insulating layer is configured to electrically insulate the optics elements from the first electrically conductive layer, and the second electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Xuerang Hu, Weiming Ren, Xuedong Liu, Zhong-wei Chen
  • Patent number: 11282673
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an ion implantation system that includes a bushing designed to reduce the accumulation of IMP by-produces on the bushing's inner surfaces. The ion implantation system can include a chamber, an ion source configured to generate an ion beam, and a bushing coupling the ion source and the chamber. The bushing can include (i) a tubular body having an inner surface, a first end, and a second end and (ii) multiple angled trenches disposed within the inner surface of the tubular body, where each of the multiple angled trenches extends towards the second end of the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ying-Chieh Meng, Chui-Ya Peng, Nai-Han Cheng
  • Patent number: 11282687
    Abstract: Methods and systems for chemical analysis. For instance, a device for chemical analysis of a sample includes a housing, an inlet, a pump, multiple membranes and at least one detector. The housing contains an interior chamber of the device. The inlet on the housing introduces the sample into the interior chamber. The pump is connected to the housing to form a partial vacuum in the interior chamber. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The multiple membranes include at least a first membrane and a second membrane. The multiple membranes have different response times to different constituents of the sample. The detector is for detecting the different constituents of the sample after interaction with the multiple membranes. In addition, a method for chemical analysis of a sample. A first step includes introducing a sample to multiple membranes having different response times to different constituents of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: INFICON, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Wright, Jaime L. Winfield, Peter Santariello
  • Patent number: 11276549
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to apparatus for correcting aberrations introduced when an electron lens images a specimen. A specimen is illuminated, and a cathode objective lens accelerates emitted or scattered electrons. The resulting electron beam is deflected by a magnetic beam separator that disperses the incoming electron beam according to its energy. The dispersed beam is focused at the reflection plane of an electron mirror. After this focusing, and a second deflection by the beam separator, the beam dispersion is removed. The dispersion-free beam is reflected in a second electron mirror which corrects aberrations of the cathode objective lens. The beam separator then deflects the beam towards projection optics which form a magnified, aberration-corrected image. When energy filtering is needed, a knife-edge plate is inserted between the beam separator and first electron mirror to remove electrons outside the selected range. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Inventor: Marian Mankos
  • Patent number: 11272607
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating X-ray illumination from a laser produced plasma (LPP) employing a low atomic number, cryogenic target are presented herein. A highly focused, short duration laser pulse is directed to a low atomic number, cryogenically frozen target, igniting a plasma. In some embodiments, the target material includes one or more elements having an atomic number less than 19. In some embodiments, the low atomic number, cryogenic target material is coated on the surface of a cryogenically cooled drum configured to rotate and translate with respect to incident laser light. In some embodiments, the low atomic number, cryogenic LPP light source generates multiple line or broadband X-ray illumination in a soft X-ray (SXR) spectral range used to measure structural and material characteristics of semiconductor structures. In some embodiments, Reflective, Small-Angle X-ray Scatterometry measurements are performed with a low atomic number, cryogenic LPP illumination source as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Chao Chang, Michael Friedmann, Jongjin Kim, Will Schumaker, Ben Clarke
  • Patent number: 11270877
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to a mass spectroscopy system having multipole ion guides that can receive ions from an ion source for transmission to downstream mass analyzers, while preventing unwanted ions from being transmitted into the high-vacuum chambers of mass spectrometer systems. At least one ion guide can have two or more auxiliary electrodes that extend along at least a portion of the ion guide. A power supply provides an RF voltage to the poles of the ion guide for radially confining the ions within the internal volume of the ion guide. The auxiliary electrodes are also provided with an auxiliary electrical signal that can selectively radially deflect from the internal volume at least a portion of low m/z ions so as to prevent transmission of undesired low m/z ions into the downstream mass analyzers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: DH Technologies Development Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Mircea Guna