Patent · US Expired

Method for determining depression/protrusion of sample and charged particle beam apparatus therefor

US6872943B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by
6References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 11, 2002
Grant dateMar 29, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 28, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/2815
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for determining a depression/protrusion, especially of a line and space pattern formed on a sample, and an apparatus therefor. A charged particle beam is scanned with its direction being inclined to the original optical axis of the charged particle beam or a sample stage is inclined, broadening of a detected signal in a line scanning direction of the charged particle beam is measured, the broadening is compared with that when the charged particle beam is scanned with its direction being parallel to the original optical axis of the charged particle beam, and a depression/protrusion of the scanned portion is determined on the basis of increase/decrease of the broadening.

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