Abstract:
An improved method of directing a charged particle beam that compensates for the time required for the charged particles to traverse the system by altering one or more of the deflector signals. According to one embodiment of the invention, a digital filter is applied to the scan pattern prior to digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion in order to reduce or eliminate over-shoot effects that can result from TOF errors. In other embodiments, analog filters or the use of signal amplifiers with a lower bandwidth can also be used to compensate for TOF errors. By altering the scan pattern, over-shoot effects can be significantly reduced or eliminated.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a charged particle multi-beamlet lithography system for exposing a target using a plurality of beamlets. The system has a beam generator, a beamlet blanker, and a beamlet projector. The beam generator is configured to generate a plurality of charged particle beamlets. The beamlet blanker is configured to pattern the beamlets. The beamlet projector is configured to project the patterned beamlets onto the target surface. The system further has a deflection device. The deflection device has a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell is provided with a storage element and is connected to a switching electrode of a deflector.
Abstract:
An improved method of directing a charged particle beam that compensates for the time required for the charged particles to traverse the system by altering one or more of the deflector signals. According to one embodiment of the invention, a digital filter is applied to the scan pattern prior to digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion in order to reduce or eliminate over-shoot effects that can result from TOF errors. In other embodiments, analog filters or the use of signal amplifiers with a lower bandwidth can also be used to compensate for TOF errors. By altering the scan pattern, over-shoot effects can be significantly reduced or eliminated.
Abstract:
A charged particle optical system comprising a beamlet generator for generating a plurality of beamlets of charged particles and an electrostatic deflector for deflecting the beamlets. The electrostatic deflector comprises first and second electrodes adapted for connection to a voltage for generating an electric field between the electrodes for deflection of the beamlets, the electrodes being at least partially freestanding in an active area of the electrostatic deflector. The electrodes define at least one passing window for passage of at least a portion of the beamlets between the electrodes, the passing window having a length in a first direction and a width in a transverse direction. The system is adapted to arrange the beamlets in at least one row and to direct a single row of the beamlets through the passing window of the electrostatic deflector, the beamlets of the row extending in the first direction. A substantial part of the electrostatic deflector extends beyond the passing window in the first direction.
Abstract:
A charged beam drawing apparatus deflects, by an electrostatic deflector, a charged beam generated from a charged beam source, and applies the charged beam to a desired position on a sample to draw a pattern. The electrostatic deflector includes a plurality of deflecting electrodes arranged symmetrically with respect to a point around an optical axis of the charged beam, a ground external cylinder which is disposed coaxially with the optical axis and which is provided to enclose the deflecting electrodes, a resistive film provided on an inner surface of the ground external cylinder, and a conductive film provided on a surface of the resistive film. A capacitance is formed between the deflecting electrodes and the conductive film, and a resistance is formed between the ground conductor and the conductive film.
Abstract:
An electron beam drawing apparatus, comprises an electrostatic deflector which deflects the electron beam by an electric field, a coaxial cable which is connected to deflecting electrodes, and a resistive element which is connected between a central conductor and an outer conductor or the external cylinder. The electrostatic deflector includes the external cylinder provided more downstream than the electron source and kept at the ground potential and a plurality of deflecting electrodes which are provided in the external cylinder. The coaxial cable includes the central conductor and the tubular outer conductor, one end of the central conductor passing through the external cylinder and being connected to the deflecting electrodes and one end of the outer conductor being connected to the external cylinder. The resistive element is set to a resistance for obtaining impedance matching with the coaxial cable.
Abstract:
Electron-beam lithography systems used for transferring images from subfields in a reticle to a wafer. Deflection systems in the electronic lens system are controlled by control systems that include devices to correct misalignment of the electron beams from each of the subfields with the electronic optical axis. In a first embodiment, switches switch between sources to deflect the electron beams to the electronic optical axis and error DACs correct position errors in the sources that are input to the switches. In a second embodiment, the deflection systems deflect the electronic optical axis to coincide with the electron beams from the subfields. In other embodiments, the deflection systems in the electronic lens systems are made insensitive to position errors in deflection control systems by satisfying the condition: G.sub.1 /G.sub.2 =M, where G.sub.1 is the gain of first amplifier amplifying a signal from a DAC which is input to the deflection system deflecting the electron beams from the subfields, G.sub.2 is the gain of a second amplifier amplifying the signal from the DAC which is input to the deflection system deflecting the electron beams to the wafer and M is the magnification of the electronic lens system. Alternatively, the deflection systems deflect the electronic optical axis to coincide with the electron beams from the sub fields. A grillage error DAC supplies a position correction to account for grillage between the subfields. In still other embodiments, a ramp generator supplies a ramp that is input to the deflection systems that are insensitive to position errors in deflection control systems by satisfying the condition: G.sub.1 /G2=M.
Abstract:
A method of exposing a wafer to a charged-particle beam by directing to the wafer the charged-particle beam deflected by a deflector includes the steps of arranging a plurality of first marks at different heights, focusing the charged-particle beam on each of the first marks by using a focus coil provided above the deflector, obtaining a focus distance for each of the first marks, obtaining deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for each of the first marks, and using linear functions of the focus distance for approximating the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients to obtain the deflection-efficiency-correction coefficients for an arbitrary value of the focus distance. A device for carrying out the method is also set forth.
Abstract:
A scanning electron microscope having a unit for reducing image obstacle in an scanning electron microscope which is capable of inexpensively and readily reducing image obstacle caused by any external disturbance such as alternative magnetic field and mechanical vibration in relation to the location of installation of the microscope. In order to reduce the image obstacle, the electron beam deflectors or image shift coils for forming visual image by scanning the surface of sample by using collimated electron beam, is applied superimposing with alternative current for forming alternative magnetic field of the identical frequency, identical intensity, and inverted phase of vibration to the external disturbance to cancel out the fluctuation caused by the external disturbance in the sample surface at the focal plane of the electron beam.
Abstract:
A charged particle beam is controlled by two pairs of deflectors that adjust the beam through two or more deflection centers, thereby saving cost and space and reducing system noise. The mathematics of the superposition of signals and, therefore, of the deflecting fields provide orthogonality of the adjustments so that all adjustments are independent of each other.