Hermes Microvision Inc.

Asml Netherlands B.v.

Youjin Wang

Chiyan Kuan

Chung-Shih Pan

Guochong Weng

Chun-Liang Lu

Hsuan-Bin Huang

Chin-Fa Tu

Wen-Sheng Lin

A structure for grounding an extreme ultraviolet mask (EUV mask) is provided to discharge the EUV mask during the inspection by an electron beam inspection tool. The structure for grounding an EUV mask includes at least one grounding pin to contact conductive areas on the EUV mask, wherein the EUV mask may have further conductive layer on sidewalls or/and back side. The inspection quality of the EU mask is enhanced by using the electron beam inspection system because the accumulated charging on the EUV mask is grounded. The reflective surface of the EUV mask on a continuously moving stage is scanned by using the electron beam simultaneously. The moving direction of the stage is perpendicular to the scanning direction of the electron beam.

Method and system for inspecting an EUV mask

A structure for grounding an extreme ultraviolet mask (EUV mask) is provided to discharge the EUV mask during the inspection by an electron beam inspection tool. The structure for grounding an EUV mask includes at least one grounding pin to contact conductive areas on the EUV mask, wherein the EUV mask may have further conductive layer on sidewalls or/and back side. The inspection quality of the EUV mask is enhanced by using the electron beam inspection system because the accumulated charging on the EUV mask is grounded. The reflective surface of the EUV mask on a continuously moving stage is scanned by using the electron beam simultaneously. The moving direction of the stage is perpendicular to the scanning direction of the electron beam.

A load lock system for charged particle beam imaging with a particle shielding plate, a bottom seal plate and a plurality of sensor units is provided. The sensor units are located above the wafer, the shield plate is designed to have a few number of screws, and the bottom seal plate contains no cable, no contact sensors and fewer screws used. In the invention, the system is designed to improve the contamination particles from components in the load lock system of charged particle beam inspection tool and also to simplify its assembly.

Load lock system for charged particle beam imaging

Method and system for inspecting and grounding an EUV mask

A system for operating EUV mask stored in reticle SMIF pod and/or dual pod is provided, wherein the reticle SMIF pod and Dual pod are for storing EUV mask. The system can be a sorter for EUV mask transferred from reticle SMIF pod into dual pod, and vice versa, or an operating system for tools relating to EUV mask, wherein the tools may be EUV lithography, or inspection tool for inspecting EUV mask.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Youjin Wang