Abstract: Cryogenic cleaning devices comprise a body and an attachment element for attaching the body to a vacuum chamber to provide a fluid path between the body and the vacuum chamber. A surface is configured to accumulate gas molecules received into the body via the fluid path by condensing and/or adsorbing the gas molecules on the surface when cooled and a single-stage refrigeration system is configured to cool the surface. A pump is configured to pump out the accumulated gas molecules during baking of and a valve is moveable between a first position in which the fluid path is open to allow the gas molecules to be evacuated from the vacuum chamber into the body, and a second position in which the fluid path is closed to prevent the gas molecules from being received into the body.

Abstract: Dual beam charged particle microscopy systems, sensors, and techniques are disclosed. A charged particle microscope system can include a vacuum chamber, a sample stage disposed in the vacuum chamber, a first beam source operable to direct a first particle beam into the vacuum chamber, a second beam source operable to direct a second particle beam into the vacuum chamber, a first charged particle sensor, and a second charged particle sensor. The first charged particle sensor can include a detector cell having a semiconductor layer characterized by a bandgap equal to or greater than about 2.0 eV, oriented to detect secondary electrons generated based on an interaction between the first particle beam or the second particle beam and the sample. The second charged particle sensor can include a scintillator detector configured to be saturated from electrons generated based on an interaction between the second particle beam and the sample.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a broad ion beam (BIB) polisher in a sample preparation workflow having improved uptime, are disclosed. An example method for operating a broad ion beam (BIB) polisher having improved uptime according to the present invention comprises causing a first BIB source to emit a first broad ion beam towards a sample positioned within an interior volume of the BIB polisher while the first BIB source is in emitting the first broad ion beam towards the sample, removing a second BIB source from the BIB polisher that is configured to emit a second broad ion beam towards the sample when in use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing and/or processing a sample. The sample comprises at least one fluid, and the method comprises directing a charged particle beam onto the at least one fluid and causing the at least one fluid to flow in response to the charged particle beam being directed on to it. The present invention also relates to a system and a computer program product used to carry out the method.

Abstract: Various approaches are provided for transferring samples within an inert gas environment to and from a beam system. In one example, a sample transfer capsule includes a container configured to store a sample during transport, wherein the container is adjustable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, an inert gas storage chamber coupled to the container and configured to store an inert gas, and a valve coupled to the inert gas storage chamber and the container and configured to selectively allow the inert gas to flow from the inert gas storage chamber to the container when the container is in the closed configuration. In this way, samples may be maintained in an inert gas environment during transport and while beam system vacuum chambers are vented, thereby reducing exposure of the samples and subsequently reducing the rate of a chemical reaction, such as oxidation or nitridation, of the samples.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently processing multiple samples with a BIB system, are disclosed. An example method for efficiently processing multiple samples with a BIB system according to the present invention comprises removing an individual sample holder containing a sample from a storage location within the BIB system, wherein the BIB system includes multiple sample holders positioned in one or more storage locations, loading the individual sample holder onto a sample stage configured to hold the sample holder during polishing of the corresponding sample held by the individual sample holder, and causing a BIB source to emit a broad ion beam towards the sample, wherein the broad ion beam removes at least a portion of the sample upon which it is incident. Once a desired portion of the sample is removed, the sample holder is removed from the sample stage and loaded back into the storage location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-aligning samples for more efficient processing of multiple samples with a BIB system according to the present invention comprises affixing a sample to an adjustable portion of a sample holder, nesting the sample holder with a first mask having a first mask edge, wherein the first mask is positioned outside of a BIB system, and aligning the sample such that it has a desired geometric relationship to the first mask edge. The first mask may be geometrically similar with a second mask within the BIB system that has a second mask edge such that the geometric relationship between the first mask edge and the sample when the sample holder is nested with the first mask is the same as the geometric relationship between the second mask edge and the sample when the sample holder is nested with the second mask.

Abstract: Charged particle microscopy systems, sensors, and techniques are provided. A charged particle sensor can include a housing, configured to be incorporated into a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The charged particle sensor can include a detector cell, mechanically coupled with the housing. The detector cell can include an acceptor layer including a semiconducting material characterized by a bandgap equal to or greater than about 2.0 eV. The acceptor layer can define a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface. The detector cell can include a first conducting layer disposed on the first surface, a second conducting layer disposed on the second surface, a first contact, electrically coupled with the first conducting layer, and a second contact, electrically coupled with the second conducting layer.

Abstract: A system for positioning a sample in a charged particle apparatus (CPA) or an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) system includes a sample carrier coupled to a stage inside the vacuum chamber of the CPA or XPS system. The system allows transferring of the sample carrier among multiple CPAs, XPS systems and glove boxes in inert gas or in vacuum. The sample carrier is releasably coupled with the stage in the vacuum chamber of the CPA or the XPS. Multiple electrodes in a sample area of the sample carrier are electrically connectable with the stage by multiple spring contacts between the sample carrier and the stage.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a combined laser and broad ion beam (BIB) polisher in a sample preparation workflow, are disclosed. An example method for operating a combined laser and broad ion beam (BIB) polisher according to the present invention comprises positioning a sample within the interior volume of the combined BIB and laser sample preparation system, causing a laser source component of the combined BIB and laser sample preparation system to emit an optical beam towards the sample, and causing a BIB source component of the combined BIB and laser sample preparation system to emit a broad ion beam towards the sample. The optical beam and the broad ion beam are each configured to cause a first portion and a second portion of the sample upon which it is incident to be removed, respectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pre-aligning samples for more efficient processing of multiple samples with a BIB system according to the present invention comprises affixing a sample to an adjustable portion of a sample holder, nesting the sample holder with a first mask having a first mask edge, wherein the first mask is positioned outside of a BIB system, and aligning the sample such that it has a desired geometric relationship to the first mask edge. The first mask may be geometrically similar with a second mask within the BIB system that has a second mask edge such that the geometric relationship between the first mask edge and the sample when the sample holder is nested with the first mask is the same as the geometric relationship between the second mask edge and the sample when the sample holder is nested with the second mask.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficiently processing multiple samples with a BIB system, are disclosed. An example method for efficiently processing multiple samples with a BIB system according to the present invention comprises removing an individual sample holder containing a sample from a storage location within the BIB system, wherein the BIB system includes multiple sample holders positioned in one or more storage locations, loading the individual sample holder onto a sample stage configured to hold the sample holder during polishing of the corresponding sample held by the individual sample holder, and causing a BIB source to emit a broad ion beam towards the sample, wherein the broad ion beam removes at least a portion of the sample upon which it is incident. Once a desired portion of the sample is removed, the sample holder is removed from the sample stage and loaded back into the storage location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a broad ion beam (BIB) polisher in a sample preparation workflow having improved uptime, are disclosed. An example method for operating a broad ion beam (BIB) polisher having improved uptime according to the present invention comprises causing a first BIB source to emit a first broad ion beam towards a sample positioned within an interior volume of the BIB polisher while the first BIB source is in emitting the first broad ion beam towards the sample, removing a second BIB source from the BIB polisher that is configured to emit a second broad ion beam towards the sample when in use.

Abstract: A method for detecting and classifying at least one object in road traffic is disclsoed. Sensor data from a sensor are first of all provided. At least one object is detected and classified on the basis of the sensor data using a neural network. The object is additionally detected and classified on the basis of the sensor data using a symbolic monitoring algorithm. A check is carried out in order to determine whether the neural network and the symbolic monitoring algorithm provide consistent results with respect to the detection and classification of the object.

Abstract: Various approaches are provided for transferring samples within an inert gas environment to and from a beam system. In one example, a sample transfer capsule includes a container configured to store a sample during transport, wherein the container is adjustable between a closed configuration and an open configuration, an inert gas storage chamber coupled to the container and configured to store an inert gas, and a valve coupled to the inert gas storage chamber and the container and configured to selectively allow the inert gas to flow from the inert gas storage chamber to the container when the container is in the closed configuration. In this way, samples may be maintained in an inert gas environment during transport and while beam system vacuum chambers are vented, thereby reducing exposure of the samples and subsequently reducing the rate of a chemical reaction, such as oxidation or nitridation, of the samples.

Abstract: A system for positioning a sample in a charged particle apparatus (CPA) or an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) system includes a sample carrier coupled to a stage inside the vacuum chamber of the CPA or XPS system. The system allows transferring of the sample carrier among multiple CPAs, XPS systems and glove boxes in inert gas or in vacuum. The sample carrier is releasably coupled with the stage in the vacuum chamber of the CPA or the XPS. Multiple electrodes in a sample area of the sample carrier are electrically connectable with the stage by multiple spring contacts between the sample carrier and the stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to system and method of inspecting a specimen with a plurality of charged particle beamlets. The method comprises the steps of providing a specimen, providing a plurality of charged particle beamlets and focusing said plurality of charged particle beamlets onto said specimen, and detecting a flux of radiation emanating from the specimen in response to said irradiation by said plurality of charged particle beamlets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing and/or processing a sample. The sample comprises at least one fluid, and the method comprises directing a charged particle beam onto the at least one fluid and causing the at least one fluid to flow in response to the charged particle beam being directed on to it. The present invention also relates to a system and a computer program product used to carry out the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to system and method of inspecting a specimen with a plurality of charged particle beamlets. The method comprises the steps of providing a specimen, providing a plurality of charged particle beamlets and focusing said plurality of charged particle beamlets onto said specimen, and detecting a flux of radiation emanating from the specimen in response to said irradiation by said plurality of charged particle beamlets.

Abstract: A method of operating an autonomous vehicle on a roadway includes generating stereo vision data with a stereo vision camera of a vehicle guidance system of the autonomous vehicle, the stereo vision data representative of a traffic light on the roadway, generating disparity map data with a controller of the vehicle guidance system based on the stereo vision data, and generating odometry data of the vehicle at a first time and at a second time after the first time with an odometry system of the autonomous vehicle. The method further includes determining a position of the traffic light based on the disparity map data at the first time, determining a predicted position of the traffic light in the disparity map data at the second time based on the odometry data, and determining a state of the traffic light at the predicted position.