With Detector Patents (Class 250/397)
  • Patent number: 8624186
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a detection unit of a charged particle imaging system. More particularly, portion of the detection unit can move into or out of the detection system as imaging condition required. With the assistance of a Wein filter (also known as an E×B charged particle analyzer) and a movable detector design, the present invention provides a stereo imaging system that suitable for both low current, high resolution mode and high current, high throughput mode. Merely by way of example, the invention has been applied to a scanning electron beam inspection system. But it would be recognized that the invention could apply to other system using charged particle beam as an observation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hermes Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Xiang Wang, Joe Wang, Xuedong Liu, Zhongwei Chen
  • Publication number: 20140001373
    Abstract: A method is provided for setting a position of a carrier element, arranged in a particle beam device, that holds an object. The particle beam device has a beam generator for generating a particle beam and an objective for focusing the particle beam. The carrier element is movable using a first stepper motor. A movement of the carrier element is started by actuating the first stepper motor using a first motor current in the form of an alternating current. The first motor current is set to a first frequency and a first amplitude. The movement of the carrier element is decelerated by reducing the first frequency and by reducing the first amplitude of the first motor current. The first frequency is reduced to zero during a first period of time. The first amplitude is reduced to an amplitude of a first holding current during the first period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventor: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
  • Patent number: 8618498
    Abstract: In a direct electron detector, backscattering of electrons into the detector volume from below the sensor is prevented. In some embodiments, an empty space is maintained below the sensor. In other embodiments, a structure below the sensor includes geometry, such as multiple high aspects ratio channels, either extending to or from the sensor to trap electrons, or a structure of angled surfaces to deflect the electrons that pass through the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Gerrit Cornelis Van Hoften, Michael Alwin William Stekelenburg, Richard Henderson, Gregory James McMullan, Abdul Raffey Faruqi, Renato Andrea Danilo Turchetta, Nicola Carlo Guerrini, Joeri Lof, Frank Jeroen Pieter Schuurmans
  • Patent number: 8618497
    Abstract: The present invention provides a drawing apparatus including a plurality of drawing units each of which is configured to perform drawing on a substrate with a charged particle beam, a plurality of first processors configured to be selectively connectable to each of the plurality of drawing units, an information processor configured to determine, from the plurality of first processors, a first processor to be connected to a first drawing unit among the plurality of drawing units, based on drawing data, and a connection unit configured to connect the determined first processor to the first drawing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinji Ohishi, Tomoyuki Morita
  • Patent number: 8618499
    Abstract: The present invention has for its object to provide an electron beam irradiation apparatus which can suppress influences the electric fields generated by a plurality of backscattered electron detectors have. To attain the above object, an electron beam irradiation apparatus equipped with a scanning deflector comprises a plurality of backscattered electron detectors, a power source for detectors which applies voltages to the plural backscattered electron detectors, respectively, and a controller device which adjusts application voltages the power source for detectors delivers, on the basis of an image shift when the voltages are applied to the plural backscattered electron detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Shahedul Hoque, Hajime Kawano
  • Patent number: 8618496
    Abstract: A charged particle system such as a multi beam lithography system. A manipulator device manipulates one or more charged particle beams. The manipulator device includes at least one through opening in the plane of the planar substrate for passing at least one charged particle. Each through opening is provided with electrodes arranged in a first set of multiple first electrodes along a first part of a perimeter of the through opening and in a second set of multiple second electrodes along a second part of the perimeter. An electronic control circuit is arranged for providing voltage differences the electrodes in dependence of a position of the first and second electrode along the perimeter of the through opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Mapper Lithography IP B.V.
    Inventors: Marco Jan-Jaco Wieland, Stijn Willem Herman Karel Steenbrink, Alexander Hendrik Vincent van Veen, Alrik van den Brom
  • Publication number: 20130345490
    Abstract: A scanning power source that outputs the excitation current for a scanning electromagnet and an irradiation control apparatus that controls the scanning power source; the irradiation control apparatus is provided with a scanning electromagnet command value learning generator that evaluates the result of a run-through, which is a series of irradiation operations through a command value for the excitation current outputted from the scanning power source, that updates the command value for the excitation current, when the result of the evaluation does not satisfy a predetermined condition, so as to perform the run-through, and that outputs to the scanning power source the command value for the excitation current such that its evaluation result has satisfied the predetermined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki IWATA
  • Publication number: 20130327953
    Abstract: This invention provides a design to process a large range of detection beam current at low noise with a single detector. With such a design, the detection system can generate up to 1010 gain and maximum signal output at more than mini Ampere (mA) level. A condenser lens is configured to increase bandwidth of the detector that scan speed can be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: YI-XIANG WANG, JOE WANG, WEI-MING REN
  • Patent number: 8604427
    Abstract: A method includes irradiating a surface of a sample, which is made-up of multiple types of materials, with a beam of primary electrons. Emitted electrons emitted from the irradiated sample are detected using multiple detectors that are positioned at respective different positions relative to the sample, so as to produce respective detector outputs. Calibration factors are computed to compensate for variations in emitted electron yield among the types of the materials, by identifying, for each material type, one or more horizontal regions on the surface that are made-up of the material type, and computing a calibration factor for the material type based on at least one of the detector outputs at the identified horizontal regions. The calibration factors are applied to the detector outputs. A three-dimensional topographical model of the surface is calculated based on the detector outputs to which the calibration factors are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ishai Schwarzband, Yakov Weinberg
  • Patent number: 8604432
    Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a defect inspection apparatus includes a charged beam irradiation unit, a detection unit, an energy filter, and an inspection unit. The charged beam irradiation unit generates a charged beam and irradiates a sample including a pattern as an inspection target thereon with the generated charged beam. The detection unit detects secondary charged particles or reflected charged particles generated from the sample by irradiation of the charged beam and outputs a signal. The energy filter is arranged between the detection unit and the sample to selectively allow the secondary charged particles or the reflected charged particles with energy associated with an applied voltage to pass therethrough. The inspection unit applies voltages different from each other to the energy filter and outputs information concerning a defect of the pattern from an intensity difference between signals obtained under application voltage different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8604431
    Abstract: An electron beam is irradiated on an observation region of a sample surface. An image (SEM image) is acquired based on a detection signal of secondary electrons from a detector disposed obliquely above the observation region. A length of a shadow of a pattern appearing in the image is detected. Then, a height H of the pattern is calculated by a formula H=L×tan ? on the basis of the detected length L of the shadow and an apparent angle ? of the detector to the sample surface obtained in advance. An intensity distribution of the secondary electrons on a line orthogonal to an edge of the pattern is extracted, and the length L of the shadow of the pattern is obtained as a distance between two points where a recess portion of the intensity distribution intersects a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignees: Advantest Corp., Toppan Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Murakawa, Hidemitsu Hakii, Isao Yonekura
  • Publication number: 20130320228
    Abstract: A charged particle detector arrangement is described. The detector arrangement includes a detection element and a collector electrode configured to collect charged particles released from the detection element upon impact of signal charged particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: ICT Integrated Circuit Testing Gesellschaft fur Halbleiterpruftechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Lanio
  • Patent number: 8592778
    Abstract: The objective is to eliminate the effect of the hysteresis of a scanning electromagnet so that, in the raster scanning or the hybrid scanning, there is obtained a particle beam irradiation apparatus that realizes high-accuracy beam irradiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Iwata
  • Patent number: 8592776
    Abstract: With a multi-beam type charged particle beam apparatus, and a projection charged particle beam apparatus, in the case of off-axial aberration corrector, there is the need for preparing a multitude of multipoles, and power supply sources in numbers corresponding to the number of the multipoles need be prepared. In order to solve this problem as described, a charged particle beam apparatus is provided with at least one aberration corrector wherein the number of the multipoles required in the past is decreased by about a half by disposing an electrostatic mirror in an electron optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Momoyo Enyama, Hiroya Ohta, Osamu Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8586942
    Abstract: A charged particle beam position monitor is provided with a plurality of position monitors and a beam data processing device that performs calculation processing of the state of a charged particle beam, based on a plurality of signals outputted from the position monitors. The beam data processing device includes a plurality of channel data conversion units that perform AD conversion processing of the plurality of signals outputted from the position monitors; a position size processing unit, for each of the position monitors, that calculates the beam position of the beam, based on voltage information obtained through the AD conversion processing; and an integrated control unit that controls the plurality of channel data conversion units in such a way that while the beam is irradiated onto an irradiation subject, AD conversion processing of the signals is performed at different timings for the respective position monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Taizo Honda, Hisashi Harada, Yuehu Pu, Masahiro Ikeda, Kazushi Hanakawa, Toshihiro Otani, Tadashi Katayose, Yukiko Yamada
  • Patent number: 8581188
    Abstract: An electron detector includes a plurality of assemblies, the plurality of assemblies including a first assembly having a first SiPM and a first scintillator made of a first scintillator material directly connected to an active light sensing surface of the first SiPM, and a second assembly having a second SiPM and a second scintillator made of a second scintillator material directly connected to an active light sensing surface of the second SiPM, wherein the first scintillator material and the second scintillator material are different than one another. Alternatively, an electron detector includes an assembly including an SiPM and a scintillator member having a front surface and a back surface, the scintillator member being a film of a scintillator material directly deposited on to an active light sensing surface of the SiPM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Pulsetor, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Barbi, Richard B. Mott
  • Patent number: 8581218
    Abstract: In a particle therapy treatment planning system for creating treatment plan data, the movement of a target (patient's affected area) is extracted from plural tomography images of the target, and the direction of scanning is determined by projecting the extracted movement on a scanning plane scanned by scanning magnets. Irradiation positions are arranged on straight lines parallel with the scanning direction making it possible to calculate a scanning path for causing scanning to be made mainly along the direction of movement of the target. The treatment planning system can thereby realize dose distribution with improved uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rintaro Fujimoto, Yoshihiko Nagamine, Masumi Umezawa, Toru Umekawa, Yusuke Fujii, Hiroshi Akiyama
  • Patent number: 8575563
    Abstract: A gantry for administering proton beam therapy with improvements which reduce the size, weight, costs and radiation beam loss associated with proton beam therapy systems currently commercially available. The gantry utilizes achromatic superconducting multi-function electromagnet systems wherein the magnets can include dipoles and quadrupoles. The achromatic properties of the rampable magnet systems allow for ease of transmission of the beam whose energy is rapidly changed through a large range of different energies without changing of the strength of the magnetic fields or dipole settings. The magnets may be made with either low or high temperature superconductors. The gantry design further integrates beam scanning but keeps the gantry isocentric. A much greater fraction of the beam can be transmitted through the gantry than with current art, thereby reducing radiation shielding requirements and the demand put on the accelerator to produce large quantities of proton beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: ProCure Treatment Centers, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Cameron, Vladimir Anferov, Timothy A. Antaya
  • Patent number: 8569694
    Abstract: A transmission electron microscope includes an electron beam source to generate an electron beam. Beam optics are provided to converge the electron beam. An aberration corrector comprising either a foil or a set of concentric elements corrects the electron beam for at least a spherical aberration. A specimen holder is provided to hold a specimen in the path of the electron beam. A detector is used to detect the electron beam transmitted through the specimen. The transmission electron microscope may be configured to operate in a dark-field mode in which a zero beam of the electron beam is not detected. The microscope may also be capable of operating in an incoherent illumination mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mochii, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Su-Yan Own, Andrew Bleloch, Paul John Dabrowski
  • Patent number: 8563943
    Abstract: A particle beam irradiation apparatus There is provided a data processing apparatus that displays on a display unit a measured irradiation position value and an irradiation position value error, which is the error of the measured irradiation position relevant value related to the irradiation position of charged particle beam with respect to a desired irradiation position value related to a desired irradiation position, so that the measured irradiation position relevant value and the irradiation position relevant value error correspond to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takaaki Iwata, Toshiyuki Hokodate
  • Patent number: 8552377
    Abstract: This invention provides a design to process a large range of detection beam current at low noise with a single detector. With such a design, the detection system can generate up to 1010 gain and maximum signal output at more than mini Ampere (mA) level. A condenser lens is configured to increase bandwidth of the detector that scan speed can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hermes Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Xiang Wang, Joe Wang, Weiming Ren
  • Patent number: 8552405
    Abstract: A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a unit to calculate a gradient of a convolution amount that is calculated from a convolution operation between an area density and a distribution function, a unit to calculate a small influence radius phenomenon dose correction coefficient that corrects for dimension variation due to a phenomenon whose influence radius is on an order of microns or less, by using the convolution amount and the gradient, a unit to calculate a proximity effect dose correction coefficient that corrects for dimension variation due to a proximity effect, by using a first function depending on the small influence radius phenomenon dose correction coefficient, a unit to calculate a dose by using the proximity effect dose correction coefficient and the small influence radius phenomenon dose correction coefficient, and a unit to write a figure pattern concerned on a target object, based on the dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Kato, Jun Yashima
  • Patent number: 8552373
    Abstract: Disclosed is a charged particle beam device, wherein multibeam secondary electron detectors (121a, 121b, 121c) and a single beam detector (140; 640) are provided, and under the control of a system control unit (135), an optical system control circuit (139) controls a lens and a beam selecting diaphragm (141) and switches the electrooptical conditions between those for multibeam mode and those for single beam mode, thereby one charged particle beam device can be operated as a multibeam charged particle device and a single beam charged particle device by switching. Thus, observation conditions are flexibly changed in accordance with an object to be observed, and a sample can be observed with a high accuracy and high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Momoyo Enyama, Hiroya Ohta, Taku Ninomiya, Mari Nozoe
  • Patent number: 8552408
    Abstract: Provided is a particle beam irradiation apparatus capable of highly reliable measurement of a dose of each beam and capable of highly sensitive measurement of a leakage dose caused by momentary beam emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Katsushi Hanawa, Yasushi Iseki, Nobukazu Kakutani, Takuji Furukawa, Taku Inaniwa, Shinji Sato, Kouji Noda
  • Patent number: 8546756
    Abstract: A system and a method for material analysis of a microscopic element, the method comprising: illuminating an area that includes at least a portion of the microscopic element by a charged particle beam, detecting particles that are generated in the area in response to the charged particle beam and analyzing the detected particles to provide an indication about a material characteristic of the microscopic element, wherein the operation of illumination is implemented as a sequence of displacement compensation determination periods, each provided between consecutive material analysis periods, the method further comprising evaluating during a displacement compensation determination period, a displacement of the charged particle beam with respect to the microscopic element and during a consecutive material analysis period applying a spatial adjustment measure as required, thereby compensating for a drift of the charged particle beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials Israel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dmitry Shur, Yaron Cohen
  • Publication number: 20130252172
    Abstract: A multi charged particle beam writing apparatus of the present invention includes an aperture member to form multiple beams, a plurality of first deflectors to respectively perform blanking deflection of a corresponding beam, a second deflector to collectively deflect the multiple beams having passed through the plurality of openings of the aperture member so that the multiple beams do not reach the target object, a blanking aperture member to block each beam that has been deflected to be in the off state by the plurality of first deflectors, and a current detector, arranged at the blanking aperture member, to detect a current value of all beams in the on state in the multiple beams that have been deflected by the second deflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20130252145
    Abstract: A multi charged particle beam writing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of first blankers to respectively perform blanking deflection of a corresponding beam in multiple beams having passed through the plurality of openings of the aperture member, a plurality of second blankers to deflect a defective beam in the multiple beams having passed through the plurality of openings of the aperture member to be in a direction orthogonal to a deflection direction of the plurality of first blankers, a blanking aperture member to block each of beams which were deflected to be in a beam off state by at least one of the plurality of first blankers and the plurality of second blankers, and a detection processing unit to detect a defective beam in the multiple beams having passed through the plurality of openings of the aperture member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi MATSUMOTO
  • Publication number: 20130240752
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting and/or collecting particles are disclosed. At least some of the particles are electrically charged by a charger (122). At least some of the charged particles are collected by a collector (140). Information indicating the number of the detected/collected particles based on measured electrical charges of the charged particles is obtained by a processor (170).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Yuchen Ma
  • Patent number: 8536552
    Abstract: A collimator is disclosed for a radiation detector including at least three spacing elements arranged on a radiation exit face of the collimator. In at least one embodiment, they are embodied so as to mount the collimator in a stable manner with respect to a radiation converter of the radiation detector. The at least three spacing elements enable a very precise and stable alignment of the collimator in respect of the radiation converter despite manufacturing-related curves or unevennesses in the radiation exit face and/or the mounting surface on the part of the radiation converter. At least one embodiment of the invention also relates to a manufacturing method for such a collimator, as well as a method for manufacturing a radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Freund, Claus Pohan, Gottfried Tschöpa, Stefan Wirth, Jan Wrege
  • Patent number: 8534116
    Abstract: A system for measuring size segregated mass concentration of an aerosol. The system includes an electromagnetic radiation source with beam-shaping optics for generation of a beam of electromagnetic radiation, an inlet sample conditioner with adjustable cut-size that selects particles of a specific size range, and an inlet nozzle for passage of an aerosol flow stream. The aerosol flow stream contains particles intersecting the beam of electromagnetic radiation to define an interrogation volume, and scatters the electromagnetic radiation from the interrogation volume. The system also includes a detector for detection of the scattered electromagnetic radiation an integrated signal conditioner coupled to the detector and generating a photometric output, and a processor coupled with the conditioner for conversion of the photometric output and cut-size to a size segregated mass distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: PNC Bank, National Association
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Wang, Jugal Agarwal, George J. Chancellor, James Evanstad, Anthony E Hase, Sreenath Avula, James E. Farnsworth, David A Lieder
  • Patent number: 8530835
    Abstract: The present invention concerns an imaging energy filter for electrically charged particles with a toroidal energy analyzer, preferably with a hemispherical analyzer, with an entrance plane and an exit plane. To provide an imaging energy filter and a spectroscope having such an imaging energy filter, which has a higher degree of position and angle resolution and which can be operated with a greater acceptance angle, it is proposed according to the invention that a mirror element for electrically charged particles is provided and is so arranged that charged particles which leave the toroidal energy analyzer by way of the exit plane are reflected back into the toroidal energy analyzer by the mirror element so that the charged particles pass through the toroidal energy analyzer a further time in the opposite travel direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Inventor: Dietmar Funnemann
  • Patent number: 8530851
    Abstract: Electron beam profile testing and analysis method is introduced using the MOMS apparatus. The MOMS apparatus includes a Faraday Cup with a knife-wires scanning system which together perform simultaneous measurements. The scanning system has a five-dimensional processing mechanism for measuring different cross sections of an e-beam profile in a path of the e-beam. Measurements are conducted using the scanning system by virtually dividing each cross section into a plurality of subsections and measuring independent current values of at least one wire of the scanning system through which the electron beam passes from every pixel in each of the plurality of subsections. By providing relative movement between the scanning system and e-beam, the measured independent current values are analyzed to obtain the functional form of distribution of current density of the cross-section of the e-beam. The Faraday cup enables simultaneous measurement of the total value of the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: ATTI International Services Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Artush A. Abgaryan, Eli Levi, Thomas Leddy
  • Publication number: 20130230806
    Abstract: A lithography apparatus includes a deflector configured to deflect the charged particle beam to scan the charged particle beam on the substrate in a scan direction; a detector including a shield for shielding the charged particle beam, and configured to detect an intensity of a charged particle beam not shielded by the shield; and a processor configured to process a signal obtained with the detector scanned with the charged particle beam in the scan direction by the deflector, wherein an effective region of the shield has a shape such that a position of an edge thereof in the scan direction continuously changes along the edge, and wherein the processor is configured to process the signal with respect to a plurality of positions of the edge to determine a relationship between a command value to the deflector and a scan position of the charged particle beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kimitaka OZAWA, Michio Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 8525109
    Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, a device permits more efficient collection and transmission of ions produced by the action of a carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species into a mass spectrometer. In one embodiment of the invention, the device incorporates the source for ionization in combination with a jet separator to efficiently remove excess carrier gas while permitting ions to be more efficiently transferred into the vacuum chamber of the mass spectrometer. In an embodiment of the invention, improved collection of ions produced by the carrier gas containing metastable neutral excited-state species at greater distances from between the position of the analyte and the position of the mass spectrometer are enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ionsense, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian D. Musselman
  • Publication number: 20130224662
    Abstract: A charged particle beam apparatus, which processes an object with a charged particle beam, includes: a detector having a detection surface, and configured to detect a charged particle beam incident on a partial region of the detection surface; and a controller configured to make target incident positions of charged particle beams, to be sequentially incident on the detection surface, different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
  • Patent number: 8519364
    Abstract: A positioning system for precise stage is provided. It includes a designed pattern on a stage; an electron beam column generating a focused electron beam to scan the designed pattern and produce electron signal; an electron detection unit to detect the electronic signal; and a control unit converting the electron signal to a clock signal to determine the relative position of the electron beam column and the designed pattern, so as to adjust the displacement of the stage. A nanometer scale positioning method for a precise stage is provided, which can resolve the problem of mechanical drift of the stage when the stage is multi-axis positioning or rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: National Synchrontron Radiation Research Center
    Inventors: Gung-Chian Yin, Te-Hui Lee
  • Patent number: 8519327
    Abstract: In an ion detector, power supplies (21 through 23) generating independently controllable voltages are provided to respectively apply voltages to first to fifth dynodes (11 through 15), a final dynode (16), and an anode (17) in a secondary electron multiplier (10). Furthermore, the signal from the anode (17) is extracted, and the signal from the fifth dynode (15), which has a low electron multiplication rate, is extracted. These two signals are concurrently converted into digital values, taken in by a data processing unit (34), and stored in a data storage unit (35). When a mass spectrum is created in the data processing unit (34), the two detected data for the same time are read out and the presence or absence of signal saturation or waveform deformation is determined from the values of one of the detection data. If there is a high probability of signal saturation, the detection data based on the signals in the intermediate stages are selected, and the level of the selected data is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Izumi
  • Patent number: 8513619
    Abstract: One embodiment disclosed relates to an electron source for generating an electron beam. The electron source includes an electron emitter having a tip from which an electron beam is extracted. The electron further includes a non-planar extractor with an extractor opening and a built-in beam-limiting aperture. The extractor opening is larger than the beam-limiting aperture, and central axes of both the extractor opening and the beam-limiting aperture are aligned with the tip along a beam axis. Another embodiment relates to a method of generating an electron beam using an electron source having a non-planar extractor. Another embodiment relates to an array of electron sources for generating an array of electron beams. The array of electron sources includes an array of electron emitters and an array of non-planar extractor structures. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Mehran Nasser-Ghodsi, Tomas Plettner, Robert G. Haynes, Christopher Malcolm Stanley Sears
  • Patent number: 8513599
    Abstract: Charged droplets are guided along a defined path from a droplet source to a droplet sink. A focusing pseudopotential distribution generated by audio frequencies on electrodes of a guiding device guide the charged droplets from the droplet source to the droplet sink with low loss. The droplets can be driven along the droplet guide by a gas flow, an axial electric field or a combination of both. For example, charged droplets from a spray capillary of an electrospray ion source at atmospheric pressure may be introduced into the inlet capillary leading to the vacuum system of ion analyzers, a procedure similar to that used up to now in nanoelectrospraying, but with substantially higher flow rates. In the guiding device, the droplets can be manipulated in different ways, for example evaporated down to a desired size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Bruker Daltonik GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Franzen, Claus Köster
  • Patent number: 8507845
    Abstract: The invention provides methods, and related devices and device components, for detecting, sensing and analyzing analytes in samples. In some aspects, the invention provides methods, and related devices and device components, useful in combination with a mass analyzer for the mass spectrometric analysis of analytes derived from biomolecules in biological samples including biological fluids cell extracts, and cell lysates. Methods of some aspects of the invention utilize a thin membrane-based detector as a transducer for converting the kinetic energies of analytes into a field emission signal via excitation of mechanical vibrations in an electromechanically biased membrane by generation of a thermal gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Robert Blick, Jonghoo Park
  • Patent number: 8507858
    Abstract: Referring to design data for a sample, a measurement region is defined at a portion in the design data which has no step in an edge of a pattern. In addition, an edge as a characteristic portion is detected from the design data, and an edge as a characteristic portion corresponding to the characteristic portion of the design data is detected from a secondary electron image. Then, the measurement region is positioned and located in a secondary electron image based on a positional relationship between the edge of the design data and the edge of the secondary electron image. A width of the pattern is measured on the basis of a distance between the two edges included in the measurement region thus located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Advantest Corp.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukaya, Yoshiaki Ogiso
  • Patent number: 8507873
    Abstract: A detector 32 measures the value of the current formed by reflected electrons generated as a result of irradiation of a reference mark on a substrate with an electron beam 54, where the reference mark is made of a material having a different reflectance than the substrate. The signal from the detector 32 is amplified by a detecting unit 33 and converted to a digital signal by an A/D conversion unit 34. A control computer 19 then performs averaging processing on the digital signal which is then used for drift compensation by a writing data correcting unit 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shunji Shinkawa, Kouji Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8502139
    Abstract: A mass analysis device with wide angular acceptance, notably of the mass spectrometer or atom probe microscope type, includes means for receiving a sample, means for extracting ions from the surface of the sample, and a reflectron producing a torroidal electrostatic field whose equipotential lines are defined by a first curvature in a first direction and a first center of curvature, and a second curvature in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and a second center of curvature, the sample being positioned close to the first center of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Cameca
    Inventor: Mikhail Yavor
  • Patent number: 8492732
    Abstract: A multi charged particle beam writing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first aperture member to form multiple beams, a blanker array provided with a plurality of blankers which respectively perform blanking deflection of a corresponding beam in the multiple beams, a first electromagnetic lens and a second electromagnetic lens arranged between the first aperture member and the blanker array, a second aperture member arranged between the first electromagnetic lens and the second electromagnetic lens and at a position of a convergence point of the multiple beams and configured to restrict passage of charged particles deviated from the convergence point, and a third aperture member to block each beam which was deflected to be in a beam off state by the plurality of blankers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Munehiro Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 8492715
    Abstract: The invention relates to a Method of protecting a direct electron detector (151) in a TEM. The invention involves predicting the current density on the detector before setting new beam parameters, such as changes to the excitation of condenser lenses (104), projector lenses (106) and/or beam energy. The prediction is made using an optical model or a Look-Up-Table. When the predicted exposure of the detector is less than a predetermined value, the desired changes are made, otherwise a warning message is generated and changes to the settings are postponed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: FEI Company
    Inventors: Maximus Theodorus Otten, Gerrit Cornelis Van Hoften, Joeri Lof
  • Patent number: 8492731
    Abstract: A charged particle lithography system for transferring a pattern onto the surface of a target. The system comprises a beam generator for generating a plurality of charged particle beamlets, the plurality of beamlets defining a column, a beam stop array having a surface for blocking beamlets from reaching the target surface and an array of apertures in the surface for allowing the beamlets to reach the target surface, and a modulation device for modulating the beamlets to prevent one or more of the beamlets from reaching the target surface or allow one or more of the beamlets to reach the target surface, by deflecting or not deflecting the beamlets so that the beamlets are blocked or not blocked by the beam stop array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mapper Lithography IP B.V.
    Inventors: Marco Jan-Jaco Wieland, Remco Jager, Alexander Hendrik Vincent Van Veen, Stijn Willem Herman Karel Steenbrink
  • Patent number: 8487253
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a scanning electron microscope suitable for monitoring apparatus conditions of the microscope itself, irrespective of the presence of charge-up, specimen inclination, and the like. In order to achieve the object, proposed is a scanning electron microscope including a function to monitor the apparatus conditions on the basis of information obtained with an electron beam reflected before reaching a specimen. Specifically, for example, while applying a negative voltage to the specimen to reflect the electron beam before the electron beam reaches the specimen, and simultaneously supplying a predetermined signal to a deflector for alignment, the scanning electron microscope monitors changes of the detected positions of the reflected electrons of the electron beam. If the above-mentioned predetermined signal is under the condition where an alignment is properly performed, the changes of the detected positions of the electrons reflect deviation of an axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Yamazaki, Akira Ikegami, Hideyuki Kazumi, Manabu Yano, Kazunari Asao, Takeshi Mizuno, Yuki Ojima
  • Patent number: 8487279
    Abstract: A gas contamination sensor includes an ion source configured to generate a beam of ions from a sample of gas to be tested, and first and second ion detectors, each positioned to receive ions from the beam of ions that are deflected by different extents. The first ion detector is configured to receive ions generated from a primary gas in the gas being tested, and the second ion detector is configured to receive ions that are generated from the contaminant gas within the sample being tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Jens Arno Steinhoff
  • Patent number: 8487282
    Abstract: A particle beam irradiation apparatus that can measure and display a dose two-dimensional distribution during scan while reducing degradation of a particle beam shape, including a particle beam generation portion; a particle beam emission control portion; a two-dimensional beam scanning portion; a sensor portion including first linear electrodes arranged in parallel in a first direction and second linear electrodes arranged in parallel in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a beam shape calculation portion that calculates a center of gravity of the particle beam from outputs of each the first linear and second linear electrodes and that obtains a two-dimensional beam shape of the particle beam around the center of gravity; a storage portion that accumulates and stores the two-dimensional beam shapes; and a display portion that displays the two-dimensional beam shapes as a two-dimensional distribution of a dose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, National Institute of Radiological Sciences
    Inventors: Yasushi Iseki, Katsushi Hanawa, Kazunao Maeda, Nobukazu Kakutani, Takuji Furukawa, Taku Inaniwa, Shinji Sato, Kouji Noda
  • Patent number: 8487269
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combined radiation therapy and magnetic resonance unit. For this purpose, in accordance with the invention a combined radiation therapy and magnetic resonance unit is provided comprising a magnetic resonance diagnosis part with an interior, which is limited in radial direction by a main magnet, and a radiation therapy part for the irradiation of an irradiation area within the interior, wherein at least parts of the radiation therapy part, which comprise a beam deflection arrangement, are arranged within the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Jude Amies, Paul Beasley, Juan Carlos Celi, Oliver Heid, Francisco Miguel Hernandez-Guerra, Marcel Jan Marie Kruip, Markus Vester