公开(公告)号：US11107657B2

公开(公告)日：2021-08-31

申请号：US16866482

申请日：2020-05-04

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Weiming Ren ,  Shuai Li ,  Xuedong Liu ,  Zhongwei Chen

IPC: H01J37/28 ,  H01J37/147 ,  H01J37/05 ,  H01J37/063 ,  H01J37/304 ,  H01J29/51 ,  H01J37/12

Abstract: A multi-beam apparatus for observing a sample with high resolution and high throughput is proposed. In the apparatus, a source-conversion unit changes a single electron source into a virtual multi-source array, a primary projection imaging system projects the array to form plural probe spots on the sample, and a condenser lens adjusts the currents of the plural probe spots. In the source-conversion unit, the image-forming means is on the upstream of the beamlet-limit means, and thereby generating less scattered electrons. The image-forming means not only forms the virtual multi-source array, but also compensates the off-axis aberrations of the plurality of probe spots.

公开(公告)号：US11062877B2

公开(公告)日：2021-07-13

申请号：US16734219

申请日：2020-01-03

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Shuai Li ,  Weiming Ren ,  Xuedong Liu ,  Juying Dou ,  Xuerang Hu ,  Zhongwei Chen

IPC: H01J37/28 ,  H01J37/10 ,  H01J37/20 ,  H01J37/244

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：US10395886B2

公开(公告)日：2019-08-27

申请号：US15216258

申请日：2016-07-21

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Weiming Ren ,  Xuedong Liu ,  Xuerang Hu ,  Zhongwei Chen

IPC: H01J37/14 ,  H01J37/147 ,  H01J37/06 ,  H01J37/10 ,  H01J37/28

Abstract: A multi-beam apparatus for observing a sample with high resolution and high throughput is proposed. In the apparatus, a source-conversion unit forms plural and parallel images of one single electron source by deflecting plural beamlets of a parallel primary-electron beam therefrom, and one objective lens focuses the plural deflected beamlets onto a sample surface and forms plural probe spots thereon. A movable condenser lens is used to collimate the primary-electron beam and vary the currents of the plural probe spots, a pre-beamlet-forming means weakens the Coulomb effect of the primary-electron beam, and the source-conversion unit minimizes the sizes of the plural probe spots by minimizing and compensating the off-axis aberrations of the objective lens and condenser lens.

公开(公告)号：US12237143B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-25

申请号：US18392494

申请日：2023-12-21

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Weiming Ren ,  Xuedong Liu ,  Xuerang Hu ,  Zhongwei Chen

IPC: H01J37/147 ,  H01J37/06 ,  H01J37/10 ,  H01J37/28

Abstract: A multi-beam apparatus for observing a sample with high resolution and high throughput is proposed. In the apparatus, a source-conversion unit forms plural and parallel images of one single electron source by deflecting plural beamlets of a parallel primary-electron beam therefrom, and one objective lens focuses the plural deflected beamlets onto a sample surface and forms plural probe spots thereon. A movable condenser lens is used to collimate the primary-electron beam and vary the currents of the plural probe spots, a pre-beamlet-forming means weakens the Coulomb effect of the primary-electron beam, and the source-conversion unit minimizes the sizes of the plural probe spots by minimizing and compensating the off-axis aberrations of the objective lens and condenser lens.

公开(公告)号：US11929232B2

公开(公告)日：2024-03-12

申请号：US17026044

申请日：2020-09-18

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Frank Nan Zhang ,  Zhongwei Chen ,  Yixiang Wang ,  Ying Crystal Shen

IPC: H01J37/26 ,  H01J37/04 ,  H01J37/28

CPC classification number: H01J37/265 ,  H01J37/045 ,  H01J37/266 ,  H01J37/28 ,  H01J2237/0044 ,  H01J2237/0048 ,  H01J2237/0453 ,  H01J2237/0455 ,  H01J2237/0458 ,  H01J2237/049 ,  H01J2237/28 ,  H01J2237/2817

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing charged particle flooding in a charged particle beam apparatus are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, a charged particle beam system includes a charged particle source and a controller which controls the charged particle beam system to emit a charged particle beam in a first mode where the beam is defocused and a second mode where the beam is focused on a surface of a sample.

公开(公告)号：US11688580B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-27

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

CPC classification number: H01J37/147 ,  H01J37/04 ,  H01J37/153 ,  H01J37/28 ,  H01J2237/061 ,  H01J2237/083 ,  H01J2237/1532 ,  H01J2237/1534 ,  H01J2237/2817

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：US11676792B2

公开(公告)日：2023-06-13

申请号：US16652025

申请日：2018-09-25

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Xuedong Liu ,  Qingpo Xi ,  Youfei Jiang ,  Weiming Ren ,  Xuerang Hu ,  Zhongwei Chen

IPC: H01J37/12 ,  H01J37/28

CPC classification number: H01J37/12 ,  H01J37/28 ,  H01J2237/0048

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising: a source of charged particles configured to emit a beam of charged particles along a primary beam axis of the apparatus; a condenser lens configured to cause the beam to concentrate around the primary beam axis; an aperture; a first multi-pole lens; a second multi-pole lens; wherein the first multi-pole lens is downstream with respect to the condenser lens and upstream with respect to the second multi-pole lens; wherein the second multi-pole lens is downstream with respect to the first multi-pole lens and upstream with respect to the aperture.

公开(公告)号：US11217423B2

公开(公告)日：2022-01-04

申请号：US16357309

申请日：2019-03-18

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Weiming Ren ,  Shuai Li ,  Xuedong Liu ,  Zhongwei Chen ,  Jack Jau

IPC: H01J37/28

Abstract: A multi-beam apparatus for observing a sample with oblique illumination is proposed. In the apparatus, a new source-conversion unit changes a single electron source into a slant virtual multi-source array, a primary projection imaging system projects the array to form plural probe spots on the sample with oblique illumination, and a condenser lens adjusts the currents of the plural probe spots. In the source-conversion unit, the image-forming means not only forms the slant virtual multi-source array, but also compensates the off-axis aberrations of the plurality of probe spots. The apparatus can provide dark-field images and/or bright-field images of the sample.

公开(公告)号：US11201032B2

公开(公告)日：2021-12-14

申请号：US17022504

申请日：2020-09-16

Applicant: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.

Inventor： Juying Dou ,  Zheng Fan ,  Tzu-Yi Kuo ,  Zhongwei Chen

IPC: H01J37/073 ,  H01J9/04 ,  H01J37/065 ,  H01J1/304 ,  H01J1/14 ,  H01J9/02 ,  H01J37/26

Abstract: Electron emitters and method of fabricating the electron emitters are disclosed. According to certain embodiments, an electron emitter includes a tip with a planar region having a diameter in a range of approximately (0.05-10) micrometers. The electron emitter tip is configured to release field emission electrons. The electron emitter further includes a work-function-lowering material coated on the tip.

公开(公告)号：US12191109B2

公开(公告)日：2025-01-07

申请号：US18144821

申请日：2023-05-08

Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.

Inventor： Xuedong Liu ,  Qingpo Xi ,  Youfei Jiang ,  Weiming Ren ,  Xuerang Hu ,  Zhongwei Chen

IPC: H01J37/12 ,  H01J37/28

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising: a source of charged particles configured to emit a beam of charged particles along a primary beam axis of the apparatus; a condenser lens configured to cause the beam to concentrate around the primary beam axis; an aperture; a first multi-pole lens; a second multi-pole lens; wherein the first multi-pole lens is downstream with respect to the condenser lens and upstream with respect to the second multi-pole lens; wherein the second multi-pole lens is downstream with respect to the first multi-pole lens and upstream with respect to the aperture.