A method includes: receiving a first signal from a first sensor at a first filter and preventing passage of a first portion of the first signal via the first filter. The first portion of the first signal is at a first RF. A second portion of the first signal is indicative of a first temperature of a first electrode in a plasma chamber. The method further includes: outputting a second signal from the first filter; receiving the second signal at a second filter; and preventing passage of a portion of the second signal via the second filter. The portion of the second signal is at a second RF. The second RF is less than the first RF. The first filter and the second filter are implemented on a printed circuit board. The method further includes adjusting a temperature of the first electrode based on an output of the second filter.

A method includes: receiving a first signal from a first sensor at a first filter and preventing passage of a first portion of the first signal via the first filter. The first portion of the first signal is at a first RF. A second portion of the first signal is indicative of a first temperature of a first electrode in a plasma chamber. The method further includes: outputting a second signal from the first filter; receiving the second signal at a second filter; and preventing passage of a portion of the second signal via the second filter. The portion of the second signal is at a second RF. The second RF is less than the first RF. The first filter and the second filter are implemented on a printed circuit board. The method further includes adjusting a temperature of the first electrode based on an output of the second filter.

The invention describes a compact device having, in a housing, a chamber which is closable by a flap, one wall of which chamber having at least one first guidance element and at least one first fixation element, as well as two spaced-apart first contact elements which are fixedly connected to electrical connectors of a generator by electrical leads. Further, the device has at least one carrier having at least one second guidance element which, when the carrier is arranged against the wall, engages the first guidance elements and aligns the carrier in a predetermined position with respect to the wall. The carrier has at least one second fixation element that is aligned to match with the at least one first fixation element upon engagement of the first and second guidance elements, such that, when the first and second guidance elements are engaged, the first and second fixation elements are aligned to match one another and can be secured to one another.

The invention describes a compact device having, in a housing, a chamber which is closable by a flap, one wall of which chamber having at least one first guidance element and at least one first fixation element, as well as two spaced-apart first contact elements which are fixedly connected to electrical connectors of a generator by electrical leads. Further, the device has at least one carrier having at least one second guidance element which, when the carrier is arranged against the wall, engages the first guidance elements and aligns the carrier in a predetermined position with respect to the wall. The carrier has at least one second fixation element that is aligned to match with the at least one first fixation element upon engagement of the first and second guidance elements, such that, when the first and second guidance elements are engaged, the first and second fixation elements are aligned to match one another and can be secured to one another.

An axial alignment assembly (100) comprising a first body and a second body. The first body has a substantially cylindrical outer jacket, and has a first alignment axis. The second body comprises a substantially cylindrical inner jacket, and has a second alignment axis. The second body is positioned with respect to said first body in so that said inner jacket faces said outer jacket and in between said inner jacket and said outer jacket a substantially annular recess is formed. The axial alignment assembly further comprises a plurality of resilient elements that are positioned within said annular recess, wherein each resilient element is in contact with said outer jacket of said first body and with said inner jacket of said second body. Each resilient element exerts a force onto said outer jacket and onto said inner jacket for aligning said first alignment axis and said second alignment axis.

A charged particle beam device for imaging and/or inspecting a sample is described. The charged particle beam device includes a beam emitter for emitting a primary charged particle beam; a retarding field device for retarding the primary beam before impinging on the sample, the retarding field device including an objective lens and a proxy electrode; and a first detector for off-axial backscattered particles between the proxy electrode and the objective lens. The charged particle beam device is adapted for guiding the primary beam along an optical axis to the sample for releasing signal particles. The proxy electrode includes one opening allowing a passage of the primary charged particle beam and of the signal particles, wherein the one opening is sized to allow a passage of charged particles backscattered from the sample at angles from 0° to 20° or above relative to the optical axis. Further, a method for imaging and/or inspecting a sample with a charged particle beam device is described.

A charged particle beam device for imaging and/or inspecting a sample is described. The charged particle beam device includes a beam emitter for emitting a primary charged particle beam, the charged particle beam device adapted for guiding the primary charged particle beam along an optical axis to the sample for releasing signal particles; a retarding field device for retarding the primary charged particle beam before impinging on the sample, the retarding field device including an objective lens and a proxy electrode, wherein the proxy electrode includes an opening allowing a passage of the primary charged particle beam and of the signal particles; a first detector for off-axial backscattered particles between the proxy electrode and the objective lens; and a pre-amplifier for amplifying a signal of the first detector, wherein the pre-amplifier is at least one of (i) integrated with the first detector, (ii) arranged adjacent to the first detector inside a vacuum housing of the charged particle beam device, and (iii) fixedly mounted in a vacuum chamber of the charged particle beam device. Further, a method for imaging and/or inspecting a sample with a charged particle beam device is described.

Lithographic apparatuses suitable for complementary e-beam lithography (CEBL) are described. In an example, a method of forming a pattern for a semiconductor structure includes forming a pattern of parallel lines above a substrate. The method also includes aligning the substrate in an e-beam tool to provide the pattern of parallel lines parallel with a scan direction of the e-beam tool. The e-beam tool includes a column having a blanker aperture array (BAA) with a staggered pair of columns of openings along an array direction orthogonal to the scan direction. The method also includes forming a pattern of cuts or vias in or above the pattern of parallel lines to provide line breaks for the pattern of parallel lines by scanning the substrate along the scan direction. A cumulative current through the column has a non-zero and substantially uniform cumulative current value throughout the scanning.

An electrode arrangement for acting on a charged particle beam in a charged particle beam apparatus is described. The electrode arrangement includes a first electrode with a first opening for the charged particle beam; a first spacer element positioned in a first recess provided in the first electrode on a first electrode side for aligning the first electrode relative to a second electrode, the first spacer element having a first blind hole; a first conductive shield provided in the first blind hole; and a contact assembly protruding from the first electrode into the first blind hole for ensuring an electrical contact between the first electrode and the first conductive shield. Further, a contact assembly for such an electrode arrangement, a charged particle beam device with such an electrode arrangement, as well as a method of reducing an electrical field strength in an electrode arrangement are described.

A method for examining a specimen surface with a probe of a scanning probe microscope, the specimen surface having an electrical potential distribution. The method includes (a) determining the electrical potential distribution of at least one first partial region of the specimen surface; and (b) modifying the electrical potential distribution in the at least one first partial region of the specimen surface and/or modifying an electrical potential of the probe of the scanning probe microscope before scanning at least one second partial region of the specimen surface.