Patent · US Expired

Hybrid focused-flood ion beam system and method

US4687940A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
2References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 20, 1986
Grant dateAug 18, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 20, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/31755
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An ion beam microfabrication system is described which is capable of operating in either a flooded beam mode, in which a relatively high current beam is used to yield a rapid throughput, or in a low current, high resolution focused ion beam mode. With a focused beam a small, relatively low current ion spot is deflected in a predetermined pattern over a portion of the wafer to produce more detailed patterning that is not achievable in the flooded beam mode. A lens is added to the beam column to modify the beam collimation between the focused and flooded modes, and switching between modes is accomplished by simply actuating or de-actuating the lens. The beam is formed with a larger acceptance angle and total current in the flooded than the focused mode.

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