Charged particle beam source, surface processing apparatus and surface processing method
US12125664B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 13, 2022 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 2024 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 13, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2237/334
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A charged particle beam source for a surface processing apparatus is disclosed. The charged particle beam source comprises: a plasma chamber; a plasma generation unit adapted to convert an input gas within the plasma chamber into a plasma containing charged particles; and a grid assembly adjacent an opening of the plasma chamber. The grid assembly comprises one or more grids each having a plurality of apertures therethrough, the one or more grids being electrically biased in use so as to accelerate charged particles from the plasma through the grid(s) to thereby output a charged particle beam, the major axis of which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the grid assembly. The transmissivity of the or each grid to the charged particles is defined by the relative proportion of aperture area to non-aperture area, and at least one of the grids has a transmissivity which varies across the grid along a first direction, the transmissivity being lower adjacent a first extremity of the grid than adjacent a second extremity of the grid opposite the first extremity, the first direction lying parallel to the plane of the grid assembly, such that in use the charged particle beam outpu…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.