Patents by Inventor Thomas Zeuner

Thomas Zeuner 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).

  • Publication number: 20240103384
    Abstract: An analysis of the defects of a structured component includes a check of a local deviation between an actual structure dimension of the component and a target structure dimension of the component. In this context, the local deviation is checked at a location of a test path along a deviation coordinate which extends across the test path. The test is repeated at a plurality of different test path locations within a test region of the test path. A summed local deviation between the actual structure dimension and the target structure dimension over the test region is determined. The local deviation is compared with a local deviation tolerance value. The summed local deviation is compared with a summation deviation tolerance value. This results in a defect analysis with enhanced significance, which is implementable using a metrology system in particular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Jan Tusch, Kay Dornbusch, Thomas Zeuner
  • Patent number: 11867642
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inspection device for masks for semiconductor lithography, comprising an imaging device for imaging a mask, and an image recording device, wherein one or more correction bodies which exhibit a dispersive behavior for at least one subrange of the illumination radiation used for the imaging are arranged in the light path between the mask and the image recording device. The invention furthermore relates to a method for taking account of longitudinal chromatic aberrations in inspection devices for masks, comprising the following steps: recording a specific number of images having differently defocused positions, and selecting a subset of the images and simulating a longitudinal chromatic aberration of a projection exposure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Seitz, Thomas Zeuner, Heiko Feldmann
  • Publication number: 20210156809
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inspection device for masks for semiconductor lithography, comprising an imaging device for imaging a mask, and an image recording device, wherein one or more correction bodies which exhibit a dispersive behavior for at least one subrange of the illumination radiation used for the imaging are arranged in the light path between the mask and the image recording device. The invention furthermore relates to a method for taking account of longitudinal chromatic aberrations in inspection devices for masks, comprising the following steps: recording a specific number of images having differently defocused positions, and selecting a subset of the images and simulating a longitudinal chromatic aberration of a projection exposure apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Holger Seitz, Thomas Zeuner, Heiko Feldmann
  • Patent number: 10928332
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inspection device for masks for semiconductor lithography, comprising an imaging device for imaging a mask, and an image recording device, wherein one or more correction bodies which exhibit a dispersive behavior for at least one subrange of the illumination radiation used for the imaging are arranged in the light path between the mask and the image recording device. The invention furthermore relates to a method for taking account of longitudinal chromatic aberrations in inspection devices for masks, comprising the following steps: recording a specific number of images having differently defocused positions, and selecting a subset of the images and simulating a longitudinal chromatic aberration of a projection exposure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Seitz, Thomas Zeuner, Heiko Feldmann
  • Publication number: 20190011376
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inspection device for masks for semiconductor lithography, comprising an imaging device for imaging a mask, and an image recording device, wherein one or more correction bodies which exhibit a dispersive behavior for at least one subrange of the illumination radiation used for the imaging are arranged in the light path between the mask and the image recording device. The invention furthermore relates to a method for taking account of longitudinal chromatic aberrations in inspection devices for masks, comprising the following steps: recording a specific number of images having differently defocused positions, and selecting a subset of the images and simulating a longitudinal chromatic aberration of a projection exposure apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Holger Seitz, Thomas Zeuner, Heiko Feldmann