Patent · US Expired

Scanning electron microscope

US7075078B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
22References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 25, 2005
Grant dateJul 11, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 25, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/2817
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A disclosed scanning electron microscope (SEM) is intended to prevent deterioration of resolution due to increase in off-axis aberration resulting from a deviation of a primary electron bean from the optical axis of the microscope. An example of the SEM has an image shifting deflector system including two deflectors disposed respectively at upper and lower stages. The deflector at the lower stage is a multipole electrostatic deflecting electrode and is disposed in an objective. Even if the distance of image shifting is great, an image of a high resolution can be formed, and dimensions can be measured in a high accuracy. The SEM is able to achieve precision inspection at a high throughput when applied to inspection in semiconductor device fabricating processes that process a wafer having a large area and provided with very minute circuit elements.

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