公开(公告)号：US20250037967A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-30

申请号：US18911806

申请日：2024-10-10

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Xuedong LIU ,  Weimin ZHOU ,  Xiaoxue CHEN ,  Xiaoyu JI ,  Heng LI ,  Shahedul HOQUE ,  Zongyao LI ,  Shuhao LIU ,  Weiming REN

IPC: H01J37/28 ,  H01J37/145 ,  H01J37/147 ,  H01J37/244

Abstract: Systems and methods of imaging a sample using a charged-particle beam apparatus are disclosed. The charged-particle beam apparatus may include a compound objective lens comprising a magnetic lens and an electrostatic lens, the magnetic lens comprising a cavity, and an electron detector located immediately upstream from a polepiece of the magnetic lens and inside the cavity of the magnetic lens. In some embodiments, deflectors may be located between the electron detector and the opening of the polepiece adjacent to the sample to achieve a large field of view. Electron distributions among the detectors can be manipulated without changing the landing energy by changing the potential of the control electrode(s) in the electrostatic objective lens. The electron source can be operated with several discrete potentials to cover different landing energies, while the potential difference between electron source and the extractor is fixed.

公开(公告)号：US20230020194A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-19

申请号：US17944157

申请日：2022-09-13

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Weiming REN ,  Xuerang HU ,  Qingpo XI ,  Xuedong LIU

IPC: H01J37/244 ,  H01J37/28 ,  H01J37/153

Abstract: Systems and methods of enhancing imaging resolution by reducing crosstalk between detection elements of a secondary charged-particle detector in a multi-beam apparatus are disclosed. The multi-beam apparatus may comprise an electro-optical system for projecting a plurality of secondary charged-particle beams from a sample onto a charged-particle detector. The electro-optical system may include a first pre-limit aperture plate comprising a first aperture configured to block peripheral charged-particles of the plurality of secondary charged-particle beams, and a beam-limit aperture array comprising a second aperture configured to trim the plurality of secondary charged-particle beams. The charged-particle detector may include a plurality of detection elements, wherein a detection element of the plurality of detection elements is associated with a corresponding trimmed beam of the plurality of secondary charged-particle beams.

公开(公告)号：US20220375712A1

公开(公告)日：2022-11-24

申请号：US17769690

申请日：2020-09-30

Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.

Inventor： Weiming REN ,  Xuedong LIU ,  Zhong-wei CHEN ,  Xiaoyu JI ,  Xiaoxue CHEN ,  Weimin ZHOU ,  Frank Nan ZHANG

IPC: H01J37/02 ,  H01J37/28 ,  H01J37/244

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing a probe spot in multiple modes of operation of a charged-particle beam apparatus are disclosed. The method may comprise activating a charged-particle source to generate a primary charged-particle beam and selecting between a first mode and a second mode of operation of the charged-particle beam apparatus. In the flooding mode, the condenser lens may focus at least a first portion of the primary charged-particle beam passing through an aperture of the aperture plate to form a second portion of the primary charged-particle beam, and substantially all of the second portion is used to flood a surface of a sample. In the inspection mode, the condenser lens may focus a first portion of the primary charged-particle beam such that the aperture of the aperture plate blocks off peripheral charged-particles to form the second portion of the primary charged-particle beam used to inspect the sample surface.

公开(公告)号：US20220189726A1

公开(公告)日：2022-06-16

申请号：US17598841

申请日：2020-03-06

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Qingpo XI ,  Xuerang HU ,  Xuedong LIU ,  Weiming REN ,  Zhong-wei CHEN

IPC: H01J37/147 ,  H01J37/05

Abstract: A multi-beam inspection apparatus including an adjustable beam separator is disclosed. The adjustable beam separator is configured to change a path of a secondary particle beam. The adjustable beam separator comprises a first Wien filter and a second Wien filter. Both Wien filters are aligned with a primary optical axis. The first Wien filter and the second Wien filter are independently controllable via a first excitation input and a second excitation input, respectively. The adjustable beam separator is configured move the effective bending point of the adjustable beam separator along the primary optical axis based on the first excitation input and the second excitation input.

公开(公告)号：US20210391138A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-16

申请号：US17353790

申请日：2021-06-21

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Xuedong LIU ,  Weiming REN ,  Shuai LI ,  Zhongwei CHEN

IPC: H01J37/147 ,  H01J37/28 ,  H01J37/04 ,  H01J37/153

Abstract: One modified source-conversion unit and one method to reduce the Coulomb Effect in a multi-beam apparatus are proposed. In the modified source-conversion unit, the aberration-compensation function is carried out after the image-forming function has changed each beamlet to be on-axis locally, and therefore avoids undesired aberrations due to the beamlet tilting/shifting. A Coulomb-effect-reduction means with plural Coulomb-effect-reduction openings is placed close to the single electron source of the apparatus and therefore the electrons not in use can be cut off as early as possible.

公开(公告)号：US20210384008A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-09

申请号：US17373716

申请日：2021-07-12

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Shuai LI ,  Weiming REN ,  Xuedong LIU ,  Juying DOU ,  Xuerang HU ,  Zhongwei CHEN

IPC: H01J37/28 ,  H01J37/10

Abstract: A multi-beam apparatus for observing a sample with high resolution and high throughput and in flexibly varying observing conditions is proposed. The apparatus uses a movable collimating lens to flexibly vary the currents of the plural probe spots without influencing the intervals thereof, a new source-conversion unit to form the plural images of the single electron source and compensate off-axis aberrations of the plural probe spots with respect to observing conditions, and a pre-beamlet-forming means to reduce the strong Coulomb effect due to the primary-electron beam.

公开(公告)号：US20210151280A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-20

申请号：US17135915

申请日：2020-12-28

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Xuerang HU ,  Xuedong LIU ,  Zhong-Wei CHEN ,  Weiming REN

IPC: H01J37/153 ,  H01J37/14 ,  H01J37/147

Abstract: An improved source conversion unit of a charged particle beam apparatus is disclosed. The source conversion unit comprises a first micro-structure array including a plurality of micro-structures. The plurality of micro-structures is grouped into one or more groups. Corresponding electrodes of micro-structures in one group are electrically connected and driven by a driver to influence a corresponding group of beamlets. The micro-structures in one group may be single-pole structures or multi-pole structures. The micro-structures in one group have same or substantially same radial shifts from an optical axis of the apparatus. The micro-structures in one group have same or substantially same orientation angles with respect to their radial shift directions.

公开(公告)号：US20200321191A1

公开(公告)日：2020-10-08

申请号：US16834778

申请日：2020-03-30

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Weiming REN ,  Xuedong LIU ,  Xuerang HU ,  Zhong-wei CHEN

IPC: H01J37/317 ,  H01J37/145 ,  H01J37/244 ,  H01J37/20 ,  H01J37/147

Abstract: A multi-beam inspection apparatus supporting a plurality of operation modes is disclosed. The charged particle beam apparatus for inspecting a sample supporting a plurality of operation modes comprises a charged particle beam source configured to emit a charged particle beam along a primary optical axis, a movable aperture plate, movable between a first position and a second position, and a controller having circuitry and configured to change the configuration of the apparatus to switch between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the movable aperture plate is positioned in the first position and is configured to allow a first charged particle beamlet derived from the charged particle beam to pass through. In the second mode, the movable aperture plate is positioned in the second position and is configured to allow the first charged particle beamlet and a second charged particle beamlet to pass through.

公开(公告)号：US20200251305A1

公开(公告)日：2020-08-06

申请号：US16813572

申请日：2020-03-09

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Zhongwei CHEN ,  Jack JAU ,  Weiming REN

IPC: H01J37/28 ,  H01J37/29 ,  H01J37/285 ,  H01J37/02 ,  H01J37/22 ,  H01J37/20 ,  H01J37/14 ,  H01J37/10 ,  H01J37/244 ,  H01J37/26

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatuses to inspect small particles on the surface of a sample such as wafer and mask. The apparatuses provide both high detection efficiency and high throughput by forming Dark-field BSE images. The apparatuses can additionally inspect physical and electrical defects on the sample surface by form SE images and Bright-field BSE images simultaneously. The apparatuses can be designed to do single-beam or even multiple single-beam inspection for achieving a high throughput.

公开(公告)号：US20240145214A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-02

申请号：US18504089

申请日：2023-11-07

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Weiming REN ,  Xuedong LIU ,  Xuerang HU ,  Zhong-wei CHEN ,  Martinus Gerardus Johannes Maria MAASSEN

IPC: H01J37/317 ,  H01J37/145 ,  H01J37/28

CPC classification number: H01J37/3177 ,  H01J37/145 ,  H01J37/28 ,  H01J2237/0453

Abstract: Systems and methods of mitigating Coulomb effect in a multi-beam apparatus are disclosed. The multi-beam apparatus may include a charged-particle source configured to generate a primary charged-particle beam along a primary optical axis, a first aperture array comprising a first plurality of apertures having shapes and configured to generate a plurality of primary beamlets derived from the primary charged-particle beam, a condenser lens comprising a plane adjustable along the primary optical axis, and a second aperture array comprising a second plurality of apertures configured to generate probing beamlets corresponding to the plurality of beamlets, wherein each of the plurality of probing beamlets comprises a portion of charged particles of a corresponding primary beamlet based on at least a position of the plane of the condenser lens and a characteristic of the second aperture array.