Abstract: An improved particle beam inspection apparatus, and more particularly, a particle beam inspection apparatus including an improved load lock unit is disclosed. An improved load lock system may comprise a plurality of supporting structures configured to support a wafer and a conditioning plate including a heat transfer element configured to adjust a temperature of the wafer. The load lock system may further comprise a gas vent configured to provide a gas between the conditioning plate and the wafer and a controller configured to assist with the control of the heat transfer element.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling an objective lens of a charged-particle beam system are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, the method for cooling an objective lens of a charged-particle beam system comprises receiving a fluid via a fluid input port of a bobbin, circulating the fluid that absorbs heat generated by a plurality of electromagnetic coils of the objective lens, via a plurality of channels distributed in the bobbin, and dispensing the fluid circulated by the plurality of channels via a fluid output port of the bobbin. The bobbin may further comprise a bottom flange proximal to a wafer and a top flange distal from the wafer. The bobbin having the plurality of channels may comprise an additively manufactured monolithic structure.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a metrology process or a lithographic process, the apparatus including: an object support module adapted to hold an object; and a first gas shower arranged on a first side of the object support module and adapted to emit a gas with a first velocity in a first gas direction which is a horizontal direction to cause a net gas flow in the apparatus to be a substantially horizontal gas flow in the first gas direction at least above the object support module.

Abstract: An improved particle beam inspection apparatus, and more particularly, a particle beam inspection apparatus including an improved load lock unit is disclosed. An improved load lock system may comprise a plurality of supporting structures configured to support a wafer and a conditioning plate including a heat transfer element configured to adjust a temperature of the wafer. The load lock system may further comprise a gas vent configured to provide a gas between the conditioning plate and the wafer and a controller configured to assist with the control of the heat transfer element.

Abstract: An improved particle beam inspection apparatus, and more particularly, a particle beam inspection apparatus including an improved load lock unit is disclosed. An improved load lock system may comprise a plurality of supporting structures configured to support a wafer and a conditioning plate including a heat transfer element configured to adjust a temperature of the wafer. The load lock system may further comprise a gas vent configured to provide a gas between the conditioning plate and the wafer and a controller configured to assist with the control of the heat transfer element.

Abstract: An apparatus having: a vacuum chamber for enclosing an article support, the article support configured to support an article such that a volume is defined between the article support and the article, the article support including a plurality of supporting protrusions configured to provide a plane of support for the article; a conduit for providing a fluid to the volume such that the fluid provides heat transfer between the article and the article support; and a controller for controlling the fluid supply to the volume, wherein the controller is configured to control a fluid supply unit to start removing the fluid substantially at a time the article reaches a stable temperature.

Abstract: An e-beam inspection tool is disclosed, the tool comprising, an electron optics system configured to generate an electron beam, an object table configured to hold a specimen, a positioning device configured to position the object table, the positioning device comprising an actuator, wherein the positioning device further comprises a heating device configured to generate a heat load and a heat load controller to control the generated heat load at least partly based on an actuator heat load generated in the actuator.

Abstract: A stage apparatus including: an object table configured to hold an object; a positioning device configured to position the object table and the object held by the object table; and a remote temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the object table and/or the object, wherein the remote temperature sensor comprises a passive temperature sensing element.

Abstract: An apparatus having: a vacuum chamber for enclosing an article support, the article support configured to support an article such that a volume is defined between the article support and the article, the article support including a plurality of supporting protrusions configured to provide a plane of support for the article; a conduit for providing a fluid to the volume such that the fluid provides heat transfer between the article and the article support; and a controller for controlling the fluid supply to the volume, wherein the controller is configured to control a fluid supply unit to start removing the fluid substantially at a time the article reaches a stable temperature.

Abstract: An e-beam inspection tool is disclosed, the tool comprising, an electron optics system configured to generate an electron beam, an object table configured to hold a specimen, a positioning device configured to position the object table, the positioning device comprising an actuator, wherein the positioning device further comprises a heating device configured to generate a heat load and a heat load controller to control the generated heat load at least partly based on an actuator heat load generated in the actuator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling an objective lens of a charged-particle beam system are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, the method for cooling an objective lens of a charged-particle beam system comprises receiving a fluid via a fluid input port of a bobbin, circulating the fluid that absorbs heat generated by a plurality of electromagnetic coils of the objective lens, via a plurality of channels distributed in the bobbin, and dispensing the fluid circulated by the plurality of channels via a fluid output port of the bobbin. The bobbin may further comprise a bottom flange proximal to a wafer and a top flange distal from the wafer. The bobbin having the plurality of channels may comprise an additively manufactured monolithic structure.

Abstract: An improved particle beam inspection apparatus, and more particularly, a particle beam inspection apparatus including an improved load lock unit is disclosed. An improved load lock system may comprise a plurality of supporting structures configured to support a wafer and a conditioning plate including a heat transfer element configured to adjust a temperature of the wafer. The load lock system may further comprise a gas vent configured to provide a gas between the conditioning plate and the wafer and a controller configured to assist with the control of the heat transfer element.