Patent · US Expired

Shaped and low density focused ion beams

US6949756B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
41References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 19, 2001
Grant dateSep 27, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 26, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/31744
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a shaped ion beam having low current density and sharp edges. The low current density and sharp edges eliminate the problem of overmilling, while permitting rapid ion beam processing. One method of producing the shaped beam is by using a two lens system, the first lens imaging the source onto the plane of the second lens and the second lens forming an image of the aperture onto the target plane. Another method is to greatly underfocus a chromatic aberration limited beam. Large beams having uniform current density and sharp edges can be produced. A knife edge beam, having a sharp edge can also be produced.

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