Patents by Inventor Stefan Lanio

Stefan Lanio has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11094501
    Abstract: A secondary charged particle imaging system comprising: a backscattered electron detector module, wherein the backscattered electron detector module is rotatable between a first angular position and a second angular position about an axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Matthias Firnkes, Florian Lampersberger, Stefan Lanio
  • Publication number: 20210151284
    Abstract: A secondary charged particle imaging system comprising: a backscattered electron detector module, wherein the backscattered electron detector module is rotatable between a first angular position and a second angular position about an axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Matthias Firnkes, Florian Lampersberger, Stefan Lanio
  • Patent number: 10991544
    Abstract: A charged particle beam device for inspecting a specimen is described. The charged particle beam device includes a beam source for emitting a charged particle beam, an electrode for influencing the charged particle beam, and a damping unit provided on the electrode for damping vibrations of the electrode. Further, an objective lens module with an electrode is described, wherein a damping unit is provided on the electrode. Further, an electrode device is described, wherein a mass damper is mounted on a disk-shaped electrode body of the electrode device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Matthias Firnkes, John Breuer, Florian Lampersberger, Hanno Kaupp, Stefan Lanio
  • Publication number: 20200381208
    Abstract: A charged particle beam device for inspecting a specimen is described. The charged particle beam device includes a beam source for emitting a charged particle beam, an electrode for influencing the charged particle beam, and a damping unit provided on the electrode for damping vibrations of the electrode. Further, an objective lens module with an electrode is described, wherein a damping unit is provided on the electrode. Further, an electrode device is described, wherein a mass damper is mounted on a disk-shaped electrode body of the electrode device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Matthias Firnkes, John Breuer, Florian Lampersberger, Hanno Kaupp, Stefan Lanio
  • Patent number: 10699867
    Abstract: An emitter assembly for emitting a charged particle beam along an optical axis is described. The emitter assembly being housed in a gun chamber and includes an emitter having an emitter tip, wherein the emitter tip is positioned at a first plane perpendicular to the optical axis and wherein the emitter is configured to be biased to a first potential, an extractor having an opening, wherein the opening is positioned at a second plane perpendicular to the optical axis and wherein the extractor is configured to be biased to a second potential, wherein the second plane has a first distance from the first plane of 2.25 mm and above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Stefan Lanio, Jürgen Frosien
  • Patent number: 10522327
    Abstract: A charged particle beam specimen inspection system is described. The system includes an emitter for emitting at least one charged particle beam, a specimen support table configured for supporting the specimen, an objective lens for focusing the at least one charged particle beam, a charge control electrode provided between the objective lens and the specimen support table, wherein the charge control electrode has at least one aperture opening for the at least one charged particle beam, and a flood gun configured to emit further charged particles for charging of the specimen, wherein the charge control electrode has a flood gun aperture opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel Ltd.
    Inventors: Gilad Erel, Michal Avinun-Kalish, Stefan Lanio
  • Patent number: 10168614
    Abstract: A charged particle beam apparatus includes a charged particle source configured to generate charged particles, an electrode configured to accelerate the charged particles to form a charged particle beam, a bender unit configured to adjust a path of the charged particle beam, and an objective lens configured to focus the charged particle beam onto a spot on a sample. The charged particle beam passes through a bore of the objective lens as the charged particle beam propagates from the charged particle source to the sample. The apparatus also includes a light source configured to generate a light beam, and a mirror disposed within the bender unit and arranged to direct the light beam to the spot on the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignees: APPLIED MATERIALS ISRAEL LTD., ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Alex Goldenshtein, Stefan Lanio
  • Publication number: 20180364564
    Abstract: A charged particle beam apparatus includes a charged particle source configured to generate charged particles, an electrode configured to accelerate the charged particles to form a charged particle beam, a bender unit configured to adjust a path of the charged particle beam, and an objective lens configured to focus the charged particle beam onto a spot on a sample. The charged particle beam passes through a bore of the objective lens as the charged particle beam propagates from the charged particle source to the sample. The apparatus also includes a light source configured to generate a light beam, and a mirror disposed within the bender unit and arranged to direct the light beam to the spot on the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Alex Goldenshtein, Stefan Lanio
  • Publication number: 20180330919
    Abstract: A charged particle beam specimen inspection system is described. The system includes an emitter for emitting at least one charged particle beam, a specimen support table configured for supporting the specimen, an objective lens for focusing the at least one charged particle beam, a charge control electrode provided between the objective lens and the specimen support table, wherein the charge control electrode has at least one aperture opening for the at least one charged particle beam, and a flood gun configured to emit further charged particles for charging of the specimen, wherein the charge control electrode has a flood gun aperture opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Gilad Erel, Michal Avinun-Kalish, Stefan Lanio
  • Patent number: 10103004
    Abstract: A method of imaging a secondary charged particle beam emanating from a sample by impingement of a primary charged particle beam is provided. The method includes setting a first operating parameter to a first value. The first operating parameter is selected from a group including: landing energy of the primary charged particle beam on the sample, extraction field strength for the secondary charged particle beam at the sample, magnetic field strength of an objective lens that focuses the primary charged particle beam onto the sample, and working distance of the objective lens from the sample. The method further includes controlling, while the first operating parameter is set to the first value, the excitation of a first lens and of a second lens to map the secondary charged particle beam onto a first region on an aperture plate. The first region overlaps with a first opening of the aperture plate and with a second opening of the aperture plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Matthias Firnkes, Stefan Lanio, Dieter Winkler
  • Publication number: 20180254165
    Abstract: An emitter assembly for emitting a charged particle beam along an optical axis is described. The emitter assembly being housed in a gun chamber and includes an emitter having an emitter tip, wherein the emitter tip is positioned at a first plane perpendicular to the optical axis and wherein the emitter is configured to be biased to a first potential, an extractor having an opening, wherein the opening is positioned at a second plane perpendicular to the optical axis and wherein the extractor is configured to be biased to a second potential, wherein the second plane has a first distance from the first plane of 2.25 mm and above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Stefan LANIO, Jürgen FROSIEN
  • Patent number: 10056228
    Abstract: A charged particle beam specimen inspection system is described. The system includes an emitter for emitting at least one charged particle beam, a specimen support table configured for supporting the specimen, an objective lens for focusing the at least one charged particle beam, a charge control electrode provided between the objective lens and the specimen support table, wherein the charge control electrode has at least one aperture opening for the at least one charged particle beam, and a flood gun configured to emit further charged particles for charging of the specimen, wherein the charge control electrode has a flood gun aperture opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel Ltd.
    Inventors: Gilad Erel, Michal Avinun-Kalish, Stefan Lanio
  • Patent number: 9953805
    Abstract: A secondary charged particle imaging system for imaging a secondary charged particle beam emanating from a sample by impingement of a primary charged particle beam is provided. The system includes a detector arrangement, and an adaptive secondary charged particle optics. The detector arrangement comprises a first detection element for detecting a first secondary charged particle sub-beam of the secondary charged particle beam, and a second detection element for detecting a second secondary charged particle sub-beam of the secondary charged particle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Matthias Firnkes, Stefan Lanio, Dieter Winkler
  • Patent number: 9805908
    Abstract: A signal charged particle deflection device for a charged particle beam device is provided. The signal charged particle deflection device includes a beam bender configured for deflecting the signal charged particle beam, wherein the beam bender includes a first electrode and a second electrode providing an optical path for the signal charged particle beam therebetween, wherein the first electrode has a first cross section in a plane perpendicular to the optical path, and the second electrode has a second cross section in the plane perpendicular to the optical path, and wherein a first part of the first cross section and a second part of the second cross section provide the optical path therebetween, and wherein the first part and the second part are different in shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Matthias Firnkes, Stefan Lanio
  • Patent number: 9697983
    Abstract: An electron beam device for inspecting a sample with an electron beam is described. The electron beam device includes an electron beam source including a thermal field emitter, which includes an emitter tip having an emission facet configured for electron emission, wherein the emission facet has an emission facet width; and a first side facet and a second side facet, wherein an edge facet is formed between the first side facet and the second side facet, which has an edge facet width. The edge facet width is between 20% and 40% of the emission facet width. The electron beam source further includes an extractor device; and a heating device for heating the thermal field emitter. The electron beam device further includes electron beam optics and a detector device for detecting secondary charged particles generated at an impingement or hitting of the primary electron beam on the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Stefan Lanio, Aleksandra Kramer, John Breuer
  • Patent number: 9666405
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for imaging a signal charged particle beam emanating from a sample by impingement of a primary charged particle beam. The system includes a detector arrangement having a first detection element for detecting a first signal charged particle sub-beam of the signal charged particle beam originating from a first spot on the sample and a second detection element for detecting a second signal charged particle sub-beam of the signal charged particle beam originating from a second spot on the sample, wherein the first detection element and the second detection element are separated from each other, and signal charged particle optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Stefan Lanio, Jürgen Frosien, Matthias Firnkes, Benjamin John Cook
  • Patent number: 9666406
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a charged particle beam device. The charged particle beam device includes an emitter arrangement configured to generate a primary charged particle beam having two or more primary charged particle sub-beams, a sample stage for supporting a sample, an objective lens for focusing the two or more primary charged particle sub-beams onto the sample, and a primary charged particle optics. The primary charged particle optics includes a coil provided between the emitter arrangement and the objective lens. The coil is configured to generate a magnetic field having a magnetic field component parallel to a longitudinal axis of the coil, wherein the magnetic field acts on the two or more primary charged particle sub-beams propagating along the longitudinal axis, and wherein an aspect ratio of the coil is at least 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft für Halbleiterprüftechnik mbH
    Inventors: Stefan Lanio, Matthias Firnkes, Benjamin John Cook
  • Publication number: 20170076910
    Abstract: A secondary charged particle imaging system for imaging a secondary charged particle beam emanating from a sample by impingement of a primary charged particle beam is provided. The system includes a detector arrangement, and an adaptive secondary charged particle optics. The detector arrangement comprises a first detection element for detecting a first secondary charged particle sub-beam of the secondary charged particle beam, and a second detection element for detecting a second secondary charged particle sub-beam of the secondary charged particle beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Matthias Firnkes, Stefan Lanio, Dieter Winkler
  • Publication number: 20170003235
    Abstract: A method of imaging a secondary charged particle beam emanating from a sample by impingement of a primary charged particle beam is provided. The method includes setting a first operating parameter to a first value. The first operating parameter is selected from a group including: landing energy of the primary charged particle beam on the sample, extraction field strength for the secondary charged particle beam at the sample, magnetic field strength of an objective lens that focuses the primary charged particle beam onto the sample, and working distance of the objective lens from the sample. The method further includes controlling, while the first operating parameter is set to the first value, the excitation of a first lens and of a second lens to map the secondary charged particle beam onto a first region on an aperture plate. The first region overlaps with a first opening of the aperture plate and with a second opening of the aperture plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Matthias Firnkes, Stefan Lanio, Dieter Winkler
  • Patent number: 9472373
    Abstract: A beam separator device (200) is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: ICT INTEGRATED CIRCUIT TESTING GESELLSCHAFT FÜR HALBLEITERPRÜFTECHNIK MBH
    Inventors: Stefan Lanio, John Breuer, Jürgen Frosien, Matthias Firnkes, Johannes Hopster