Patent · US Active

Methods for acquiring planar view stem images of device structures

US10410829B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by
3References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 21, 2018
Grant dateSep 10, 2019
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 21, 2038

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/31745
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of preparing a sample of a semiconductor device that includes placing a wafer on a support surface, milling an initial lamella within the wafer using a focused ion beam, lifting the initial lamella out of the wafer, placing the initial lamella on an upper surface of the wafer on a lateral side of the initial lamella, milling a planar lamella out of a portion of the initial lamella and the wafer beneath the initial lamella, lifting the planar lamella out of the wafer; and placing the planar lamella on a carbon grid. A method further includes milling a window within an upper portion of the initial lamella exposing internal structures of the initial lamella; and based at least partially on the exposed internal structures of the initial lamella, aligning the initial lamella on the upper surface of the wafer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.