Disclosed herein is a composite charged particle beam apparatus including a focused ion beam column and an electron beam column, the apparatus preventing the electron beam column from being contaminated so as to emit an electron beam with high precision. The apparatus includes: a sample tray on which a sample is placed; a focused ion beam column irradiating the sample by using a focused ion beam; an electron beam column irradiating the sample by using an electron beam; a sample chamber receiving the sample tray, and the columns therein; an anti-contamination plate moving between an inserted position inserted into a space between a beam emission surface of the electron beam column and the sample tray, and an open position withdrawn from the space between the beam emission surface and the sample tray; and an operation unit operating the anti-contamination plate to move between the positions.

A substrate processing system includes a processing chamber. A pedestal is arranged in the processing chamber. An edge coupling ring is arranged adjacent to the pedestal and around a radially outer edge of the substrate. An actuator is configured to selectively move the edge coupling ring relative to the substrate to alter an edge coupling profile of the edge coupling ring. The substrate processing system includes a camera-based detection system that instructs the actuator to adjust a position of the edge coupling ring. The camera is configured to communicate with the controller, and the controller adjusts a position and/or focus of the camera. In response to edge coupling ring condition information from the camera, the controller operates the actuator to move the edge coupling ring vertically. In response to edge coupling ring position information from the camera, the controller operates the actuator to move the edge coupling ring horizontally.

Disclosed herein is a module for supporting a device configured to manipulate charged particle paths in a charged particle apparatus, the module comprising: a support arrangement configured to support the device, wherein the device is configured to manipulate a charged particle path within the charged particle apparatus; and a support positioning system configured to move the support arrangement within the module; wherein the module is arranged to be field replaceable in the charged particle apparatus.

An electron beam inspection apparatus, the apparatus including a plurality of electron beam columns, each electron beam column configured to provide an electron beam and detect scattered or secondary electrons from an object, and an actuator system configured to move one or more of the electron beam columns relative to another one or more of the electron beam columns, the actuator system including a plurality of first movable structures at least partly overlapping a plurality of second movable structures, the first and second movable structures supporting the plurality of electron beam columns.

A system for preventing collisions between components in a particle beam instrument is disclosed. The system is particularly beneficial in use with instruments wherein moveable components are used within a chamber that obscures them from being viewed from outside the chamber. The system comprises: a capacitance sensor configured to monitor the capacitance between a first component and a second component of the instrument, and a proximity module configured to: derive a capacitance parameter from the monitored capacitance between the first component and the second component; and output a proximity alert signal in accordance with a comparison between the derived capacitance parameter and a predetermined capacitance parameter threshold value.

A vibration damping system for a charged particle beam apparatus according to the present invention includes a column through which a charged particle beam passes, a vibration detection unit that detects vibration of the column, a damping mechanism that applies vibration to the column to suppress the vibration of the column, and a control device that controls the damping mechanism. The control device includes a damping gain control unit that amplifies a detection signal of the vibration detection unit with a set amplification factor and outputs an amplified detection signal as a control signal to the damping mechanism, and a saturation suppression unit that adjusts a feedback gain value of the damping gain control unit according to a detection signal of the vibration detection unit, a signal of the damping mechanism, and a maximum output value and a minimum output value of the damping mechanism.

An ion beam etching system includes an etching cavity, an etching electrode, and an electrode displacement apparatus used for enabling the electrode to change a working position in the etching cavity. The electrode displacement apparatus includes a dynamic sealing mechanism, a dynamic electrode balance counterweight mechanism, an electrode displacement transmission mechanism, and an electrode displacement driving mechanism. The etching cavity includes a cavity and a cavity cover connected with the cavity. The cavity is of an irregular shape. The cavity includes a partial cylindrical body, a side plate, a tapered transition portion, and a bottom plate. The partial cylindrical body is laterally sealed by means of the side plate. The bottom plate is connected to an end of the partial cylindrical body by means of the tapered transition portion and seals the end of the partial cylindrical body.

There is provided an ion source device including a pair of first electrodes for emitting an electron, a second electrode that defines a region in which the electron is enclosed and to which raw material source gas is supplied, between the pair of first electrodes, and that has a hole portion through which an ion generated by collision between the electron and the material gas is extruded, an extraction electrode disposed apart from the second electrode along an extraction direction of the ion extracted from the second electrode so that a potential difference is formed between the second electrode and the extraction electrode, and an intermediate electrode disposed between the second electrode and the extraction electrode. A first potential difference between the second electrode and the intermediate electrode is greater than a second potential difference between the second electrode and the extraction electrode.

A lens element of a charged particle system comprises an electrode having a central opening. The lens element is configured for functionally cooperating with an aperture array that is located directly adjacent said electrode, wherein the aperture array is configured for blocking part of a charged particle beam passing through the central opening of said electrode. The electrode is configured to operate at a first electric potential and the aperture array is configured to operate at a second electric potential different from the first electric potential. The electrode and the aperture array together form an aberration correcting lens.

A charged particle beam source that may include an emitter that has a tip for emitting charged particles; a socket; electrodes; a filament that is connected to the electrodes and to the emitter; electrodes for providing electrical signals to the filament; a support element that is connected to the emitter; and a support structure that comprises one or more interfaces for contacting only a part of the support element while supporting the support element.