US5229607A
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US
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Combination apparatus having a scanning electron microscope therein
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1991-06-12
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Granted: 1993-07-20
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Expires: 2011-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A combination apparatus having a scanning electron microscope includes equipment for performing any of observing, measuring and processing operations on a sample placed in a sample chamber. The sample chamber contains a focused electron beam irradiating unit apart from the components for performing the observing, measuring and processing operations. The focused electron beam irradiating unit irradiates a finely focused electron beam onto the surface of the sample for electron microscopic observation in scanning fashion. This setup allows the observing, measuring or processing equipment to combine with the scanning electron microscope without appreciably enlarging the construction of the combination apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 Hironobu Matsui
- 👤 Mikio Ichihashi
- 👤 Sumio Hosaka
- 👤 Yoshinori Nakayama
- 👤 Satoshi Haraichi
- 👤 Fumikazu Itoh
- 👤 Akira Shimase
- 👤 Yoshimasa Kondo
- 👤 Shigeyuki Hosoki
- 👤 Masakazu Ichikawa
- 👤 Yukio Honda
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Hasegawa
- 👤 Shiji Okazaki
- 👤 Shunji Maeda
- 👤 Hitoshi Kubota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:13
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/26; H01J37/28; B; B82; B82Y; B82Y35/00; G; G01; G01Q; G01Q30/00; G01Q30/02; H01J37/252; H01J37/30; H01J37/305; H01J37/3053; H01J37/3056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A combination apparatus having a scanning electron microscope means, comprising: means for performing one of observing, measuring and processing operations on a sample placed in a sample chamber; said sample chamber containing a focused electron beam irradiating unit and a second electron detector apart from the means for performing one of said observing, measuring and processing operations; said focused electron beam irradiating unit including means for irradiating a finely focused electron beam onto the surface of said sample for electron microscopic observation in scanning fashion; and said secondary electron detector including means for detecting the secondary electrons emitted from said sample upon irradiation of the sample by the electron beam irradiated by said focused electron beam irradiating unit, wherein said focused electron beam irradiating unit further includes an electron source, an entirely electrostatic convergent lens system and a deflecting system; said convergent leans system converging the electron beam coming from said electron source onto said sample; and said deflecting system being arranged to scan the focused electron beam on said sample; and wherein said convergent lens system further includes an electrostatic objective lens for ultimately converging the electron beam coming from said electron source onto said sample; said electrostatic objective lens including first and second lens electrodes opposed to each other in the direction of the propagation of said electron beam; said first and said second lens electrodes being respectively located near said sample and said electron source; the potential of said second lens electrode being held positive relative to that of said first lens electrode; and the principal plane of said electrostatic objective lens being positioned closer to said sample than to the bottom surface of said first lens electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
A combination apparatus having a scanning electron microscope means, comprising: means for performing one of observing, measuring and processing operations on a sample placed in a sample chamber; said sample chamber containing a focused electron beam irradiating unit and a second electron detector apart from the means for performing one of said observing, measuring and processing operations; said focused electron beam irradiating unit including means for irradiating a finely focused electron beam onto the surface of said sample for electron microscopic observation in scanning fashion; and said secondary electron detector including means for detecting the secondary electrons emitted from said sample upon irradiation of the sample by the electron beam irradiated by said focused electron beam irradiating unit, wherein said focused electron beam irradiating unit further includes an electron source, an entirely electrostatic convergent lens system and a deflecting system; said convergent leans system converging the electron beam coming from said electron source onto said sample; and said deflecting system being arranged to scan the focused electron beam on said sample; and wherein said convergent lens system further includes an electrostatic objective lens for ultimately converging the electron beam coming from said electron source onto said sample; said electrostatic objective lens including first and second lens electrodes opposed to each other in the direction of the propagation of said electron beam; said first and said second lens electrodes being respectively located near said sample and said electron source; the potential of said second lens electrode being held positive relative to that of said first lens electrode; and the principal plane of said electrostatic objective lens being positioned closer to said sample than to the bottom surface of said first lens electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for moving said focused electron beam irradiating unit relative to said sample.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for observing and measuring said sample includes an atomic force microscope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a means for shielding the internal space of said focused electron beam irradiating unit from the space in which said sample is processed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a molecular beam crystal growing device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a dry etching device utilizing gas plasma.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a focused ion beam device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said means for observing and measuring said sample includes a scanning tunneling microscope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for supporting said focused electron beam irradiating unit and said secondary electron detector with a predetermined positional relation maintained therebetween, and for moving in combination said focused electron beam irradiating unit and said secondary electron detector relative to said sample.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a means for shielding the internal space of said focused electron beam irradiating unit from the space in which said sample is processed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for observing and measuring said sample includes an atomic force microscope.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for observing and measuring said sample includes a scanning tunneling microscope.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a molecular beam crystal growing device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a dry etching device utilizing gas plasma.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a focused ion beam device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a shared evacuation system for evacuating said sample chamber and said focused electron beam irradiating unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for observing and measuring said sample includes an atomic force microscope.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for observing and measuring said sample includes a scanning tunneling microscope.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a molecular beam crystal growing device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a dry etching device utilizing gas plasma.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a focused ion beam device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a means for shielding the internal space of said focused electron beam irradiating unit from the space in which said sample is processed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for shielding the internal space of said focused electron beam irradiating unit from the space in which said sample is processed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for observing and measuring said sample includes an atomic force microscope.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for observing and measuring said sample includes a scanning tunneling microscope.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a molecular beam crystal growing device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a dry etching device utilizing gas plasma.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A combination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for processing said sample includes a focused ion beam device.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
266 words
A combination apparatus having a scanning electron microscope means, comprising: means for performing one of observing, measuring and processing operations on a sample placed in a sample chamber; said sample chamber containing a plurality of focused electron beam irradiating units apart from the means for performing one of said observing, measuring and processing operations; each of said focused electron beam irradiating units including means for irradiating a finely focused electron beam onto the surface of said sample for electron microscopic observation in scanning fashion, and one of said focused electron beam irradiating unit being selected for said microscopic observation in said fashion, wherein each said focused electron beam irradiating unit further includes an electron source, an entirely electrostatic convergent lens system and a deflecting system; said convergent lens system converging the electron beam coming from said electron source onto said sample; and said deflecting system being arranged to scan the focused electron beam on said sample; and wherein said convergent lens system further includes an electrostatic objective lens for ultimately converging the electron beam coming form said electron source onto said sample; said electrostatic objective lens including first and second lens electrodes opposed to each other in the direction of the propagation of said electron beam; said first and said second lens electrodes being respectively located near said sample and said electron source; the potential of said second lens electrode being held positive relative to that of said first lens electrode; and the principal plane of said electrostatic objective lens being positioned closer to said sample than to the bottom surface of said first lens electrode.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
266 words
A combination apparatus having a scanning electron microscope means, comprising: means for performing one of observing, measuring and processing operations on a sample placed in a sample chamber; said sample chamber containing a plurality of focused electron beam irradiating units apart from the means for performing one of said observing, measuring and processing operations; each of said focused electron beam irradiating units including means for irradiating a finely focused electron beam onto the surface of said sample for electron microscopic observation in scanning fashion, and one of said focused electron beam irradiating unit being selected for said microscopic observation in said fashion, wherein each said focused electron beam irradiating unit further includes an electron source, an entirely electrostatic convergent lens system and a deflecting system; said convergent lens system converging the electron beam coming from said electron source onto said sample; and said deflecting system being arranged to scan the focused electron beam on said sample; and wherein said convergent lens system further includes an electrostatic objective lens for ultimately converging the electron beam coming form said electron source onto said sample; said electrostatic objective lens including first and second lens electrodes opposed to each other in the direction of the propagation of said electron beam; said first and said second lens electrodes being respectively located near said sample and said electron source; the potential of said second lens electrode being held positive relative to that of said first lens electrode; and the principal plane of said electrostatic objective lens being positioned closer to said sample than to the bottom surface of said first lens electrode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-19 | 1997-01-18 | 1997-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-19 | 2001-01-18 | 2001-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-19 | 2005-01-18 | 2005-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |