Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for detecting edge of fine pattern on specimen

US4556797A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
2References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 7, 1983
Grant dateDec 3, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 7, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J37/28
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a method and apparatus for detecting the edge of a fine pattern formed on a specimen such as a fine circuit pattern formed on a semiconductor element or the like, there is prepared a predetermined model waveform based on theoretical secondary electron emission from the edge portion. Secondary electrons emitted from successive scanning points across the pattern edge portion through the irradiation of a scanning electron beam thereonto are detected to produce an actual signal waveform reflecting the secondary electron emission from the pattern edge portion. The actual signal waveform is compared with the model waveform, and one of the scanning points at which the highest coincidence exists between both the actual and model waveforms, is determined as a position of the pattern edge.

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