Abstract:
When a signal electron is detected by energy selection by combining and controlling retarding and boosting for observation of a deep hole, etc., the only way for focus adjustment is to use a change in magnetic field of an objective lens. However, since responsiveness of the change in magnetic field is poor, throughput reduces. A charged particle beam device includes: an electron source configured to generate a primary electron beam; an objective lens configured to focus the primary electron beam; a deflector configured to deflect the primary electron beam; a detector configured to detect a secondary electron or a reflection electron generated from a sample by irradiation of the primary electron beam; an electrode having a hole through which the primary electron beam passes; a voltage control power supply configured to apply a negative voltage to the electrode; and a retarding voltage control power supply configured to generate an electric field, which decelerates the primary electron beam, on the sample by applying the negative voltage to the sample, wherein the charged particle beam device performs focus adjustment while an offset between the voltage applied to the electrode and the voltage applied to the sample is being kept constant.
Abstract:
A scanning electron beam device having: a deflector (5) for deflecting an electron beam (17) emitted from an electron source (1); an objective lens (7) for causing the electron beam to converge; a retarding electrode; a stage (9) for placing a wafer (16); and a controller (15); wherein the stage can be raised and lowered. In the low acceleration voltage region, the controller performs rough adjustment and fine adjustment of the focus in relation to the variation in the height of the wafer using electromagnetic focusing performed through excitation current adjustment of the objective lens. In the high acceleration voltage region, the controller performs rough adjustment of the focus in relation to the variation in the height of the wafer by mechanical focusing performed through raising and lowering of the stage, and performs fine adjustment by electrostatic focusing performed through adjustment of the retarding voltage. It thereby becomes possible to provide a scanning electron beam device that measures, in a highly accurate manner, both the upper part and the bottom part of a groove or a hole having a high aspect ratio.
Abstract:
As an aspect for realizing accurate observation, inspection, or measurement of the contact hole with large aspect ratio, a method and a device to scan a second electron beam after scanning a first electron beam to a sample to charge the sample are proposed wherein the beam diameter of the first electron beam is made larger than the beam diameter of the second electron beam.
Abstract:
The invention provides a substrate-examining apparatus which is capable of measuring the detailed shape of a contact hole and the state of a hole bottom. A substrate-examining apparatus includes an electron source (21) for generating an electron beam, a deflector (22) for irradiating a surface of a substrate to be examined with the electron beam from the electron source so as to scan the electron beam, and substrate current detecting means for detecting a current caused to flow from the substrate to a reference potential portion of the apparatus. This apparatus characteristically includes an arithmetic operation processor (50), based on a deflection signal from the deflector (22) and a signal of the detected substrate current, for extracting a substrate current signal from a contact hole portion and a substrate current signal from a portion other than the contact hole portion from the signal of the detected substrate current, calculating amounts of respective currents, thereby displaying a state of the contact hole.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for inspecting the via holes of a semiconductor device using electron beams. The apparatus includes electron beam irradiation means, a current measuring means, and a current measuring means and data processing means. The electron beam irradiation means radiate respective electron beams to inspect a plurality of inspection target holes. The current measuring means measures current, which is generated by irradiating the electron beams, radiated from the electron beam irradiation means, through a conductive layer located under the holes, or through the conductive layer and a separate detector. The data processing means processes data acquired through the measurement of the current measuring means.
Abstract:
As an aspect for realizing accurate observation, inspection, or measurement of the contact hole with large aspect ratio, a method and a device to scan a second electron beam after scanning a first electron beam to a sample to charge the sample are proposed wherein the beam diameter of the first electron beam is made larger than the beam diameter of the second electron beam.
Abstract:
A charged particle beam apparatus for measuring and inspecting a sample having some parts in focus and other parts out of focus in an image due to the effect of the roughness of the sample surface is disclosed, in which in order to acquire a clear image of the whole or a predetermined area in the image, the focus adjustment conditions for each point in the area to be scanned by the charged particle beam are determined in advance, and the focus adjustment conditions thus determined are applied selectively to the patterns formed under the same fabrication conditions as the sample for which the focus adjustment conditions are determined.
Abstract:
One embodiment relates to an electronically-variable electrostatic immersion lens in an electron beam apparatus. The electrostatic immersion lens includes a top electrode configured with a first voltage applied thereto, an upper bottom electrode configured with a second voltage applied thereto, and a lower bottom electrode configured with a third voltage applied thereto. The third voltage is controlled separately from the second voltage. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A method for process monitoring includes receiving a sample having a first layer that is at least partially conductive and a second layer formed over the first layer, following production of contact openings in the second layer by an etch process, the contact openings including a plurality of test openings having different, respective transverse dimensions. A beam of charged particles is directed to irradiate the test openings. In response to the beam, at least one of a specimen current flowing through the first layer and a total yield of electrons emitted from a surface of the sample is measured, thus producing an etch indicator signal. The etch indicator signal is analyzed as a function of the transverse dimensions of the test openings so as to assess a characteristic of the etch process.
Abstract:
It is an object of the present invention to obtain an image which is focused on all portions of a sample and to provide a charged particle beam apparatus capable of obtaining a two-dimensional image which has no blurred part over an entire sample. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises means for changing a focus condition of a charged particle beam emitted from a charged particle source, a charged particle detector for detecting charged particles irradiated from a surface portion of said sample in response to the emitted charged particle beam, and means for composing a two-dimensional image of the surface portion of the sample based on signals on which said charged particle beam is focused, said signals being among signals output from the charged particle detector.