Provided is a semiconductor inspection device capable of high-speed response analysis as defect analysis of a fine-structured device constituting an LSI. Therefore, the semiconductor inspection device includes a vacuum chamber 3, a sample table 4 which is disposed in the vacuum chamber and on which a sample 6 is placed, an electron optical system 1 disposed such that an electron beam is emitted from above the sample, a plurality of probe units 24 connected to external devices 11 and 12 disposed outside the vacuum chamber via a coaxial cable 10, and an electrode 5 provided on or in the vicinity of the sample table. The probe unit 24 includes a measurement probe 8 configured to come into contact with the sample, a GND terminal 9 configured to come into contact with the electrode 5, and a probe holder 7 configured to hold the measurement probe and the GND terminal, connect a signal line of the coaxial cable to the measurement probe, and connect a GND line of the coaxial cable to the GND terminal. When the measurement probe of the probe unit comes into contact with the sample, the GND terminal comes into contact with the electrode.

The present invention provides a method for calibrating verticality of a particle beam. The method includes: providing a baseplate having a first sensor and a second sensor; emitting the particle beam to the first sensor of the baseplate from an emitter, such that a first datum is collected when the first sensor receives the particle beam; emitting the particle beam to the second sensor of the baseplate from the emitter, such that a second datum is collected when the second sensor receives the particle beam; calculating a first calibrating datum based on the first datum and the second datum; and adjusting the baseplate or the emitter based on the first calibrating datum if the first calibrating datum is out of a first predetermined range.

An electron microscope includes: a laser light source configured to generate a CW laser; an irradiation lens system configured to irradiate a measurement sample with the CW laser; an energy analyzer configured to disperse, depending on energy, photoelectrons emitted from the measurement sample by irradiation with the CW laser; an energy slit configured to allow a photoelectron with a specified energy to pass, among the photoelectrons; an electron beam detector configured to detect the photoelectron passed through the energy slit; a first electron lens system configured to focus the photoelectrons emitted from the measurement sample onto the energy analyzer; and a second electron lens system configured to project the photoelectron passed through the energy slit onto the electron beam detector.

The present invention provides a method for calibrating verticality of a particle beam. The method includes: providing a baseplate having a first sensor and a second sensor; emitting the particle beam to the first sensor of the baseplate from an emitter, such that a first datum is collected when the first sensor receives the particle beam; emitting the particle beam to the second sensor of the baseplate from the emitter, such that a second datum is collected when the second sensor receives the particle beam; calculating a first calibrating datum based on the first datum and the second datum; and adjusting the baseplate or the emitter based on the first calibrating datum if the first calibrating datum is out of a first predetermined range.

One or more semiconductor wafers or portions thereof are scanned using a primary optical mode, to identify defects. A plurality of the identified defects, including defects of a first class and defects of a second class, are selected and reviewed using an electron microscope. Based on this review, respective defects of the plurality are classified as defects of either the first class or the second class. The plurality of the identified defects is imaged using a plurality of secondary optical modes. One or more of the secondary optical modes are selected for use in conjunction with the primary optical mode, based on results of the scanning using the primary optical mode and the imaging using the plurality of secondary optical modes. Production semiconductor wafers are scanned for defects using the primary optical mode and the one or more selected secondary optical modes.

Systems, devices, and methods for performing a non-contact electrical measurement (NCEM) on a NCEM-enabled cell included in a NCEM-enabled cell vehicle may be configured to perform NCEMs while the NCEM-enabled cell vehicle is moving. The movement may be due to vibrations in the system and/or movement of a movable stage on which the NCEM-enabled cell vehicle is positioned. Position information for an electron beam column producing the electron beam performing the NCEMs and/or for the moving stage may be used to align the electron beam with targets on the NCEM-enabled cell vehicle while it is moving.

Systems, devices, and methods for performing a non-contact electrical measurement (NCEM) on a NCEM-enabled cell included in a NCEM-enabled cell vehicle may be configured to perform NCEMs while the NCEM-enabled cell vehicle is moving. The movement may be due to vibrations in the system and/or movement of a movable stage on which the NCEM-enabled cell vehicle is positioned. Position information for an electron beam column producing the electron beam performing the NCEMs and/or for the moving stage may be used to align the electron beam with targets on the NCEM-enabled cell vehicle while it is moving.

A soft error inspection method for a semiconductor device includes: irradiating and scanning the semiconductor device with a laser beam or an electron beam; and measuring and storing a time of bit inversion for each of areas irradiated with the laser beam or the electron beam of the semiconductor device.

A system for laser enhanced voltage contrast using an optical fiber is provided. The system includes a vacuum chamber with a stage that secures a wafer. A laser light source outside the vacuum chamber directs light to an optical fiber. The optical fiber transmits all wavelengths of light from the laser light source into the vacuum chamber through a wall of the vacuum chamber.

One or more semiconductor wafers or portions thereof are scanned using a primary optical mode, to identify defects. A plurality of the identified defects, including defects of a first class and defects of a second class, are selected and reviewed using an electron microscope. Based on this review, respective defects of the plurality are classified as defects of either the first class or the second class. The plurality of the identified defects is imaged using a plurality of secondary optical modes. One or more of the secondary optical modes are selected for use in conjunction with the primary optical mode, based on results of the scanning using the primary optical mode and the imaging using the plurality of secondary optical modes. Production semiconductor wafers are scanned for defects using the primary optical mode and the one or more selected secondary optical modes.