The invention relates to method of milling and imaging a sample. The method comprises the step of providing an imaging system, as well as a milling beam source. The method comprises the steps of milling, using a milling beam from said milling beam source, a sample to remove a layer of the sample; and imaging, using said imaging system, an exposed surface of the sample. As defined herein, the method further comprises the step of determining a relative position of said sample, and using said determined relative position of said sample in said milling step for positioning said sample relative to said milling beam. The relative position of said sample can be a working distance with respect to the imaging system, which can be determined by means of an autofocus procedure.

Methods for repairing a defect of a lithographic mask with a particle beam are described. One such method can comprise the following steps: Processing the defect with the particle beam with a first set of processing parameters; processing the defect with the particle beam with a second set of processing parameters; wherein at least one parameter from the first set of processing parameters differs from the second set of processing parameters.

Systems and methods for in-die metrology using target design patterns are provided. These systems and methods include selecting a target design pattern based on design data representing the design of an integrated circuit, providing design data indicative of the target design pattern to enable design data derived from the target design pattern to he added to second design data, wherein the second design data is based on the first design data. Systems and methods can further include causing structures derived from the second design data to be printed on a wafer, inspecting the structures on the wafer using a charged-particle beam tool, and identifying metrology data or process defects based on the inspection. In some embodiments the systems and methods further include causing the charged-particle beam tool, the second design data, a scanner, or photolithography equipment to be adjusted based on the identified metrology data or process defects.

A multiple electron beam image acquisition method includes performing scanning with a representative secondary electron beam emitted, based on temporary secondary electron beam deflection conditions, for each of plural positions in a primary electron beam deflection range of a representative primary electron beam, acquiring plural coordinates corresponding to the plural positions, based on detected images of the representative secondary electron beam, each detected at any one of the plural positions in the primary electron beam deflection range of the representative primary electron beam, and calculating, using the plural coordinates acquired, secondary electron beam deflection conditions to cancel movement of the representative secondary electron beam due to movement of the representative primary electron beam in the primary electron beam deflection range of the representative primary electron beam and to fix the irradiation position of the representative secondary electron beam to the predetermined detection element.

Methods and systems for detecting charged particles from a specimen are provided. One system includes a first repelling mesh configured to repel charged particles from a specimen having an energy lower than a first predetermined energy and a second repelling mesh configured to repel the charged particles that pass through the first repelling mesh and have an energy that is lower than a second predetermined energy. The system also includes a first attracting mesh configured to attract the charged particles that pass through the first repelling mesh, are repelled by the second repelling mesh, and have an energy that is higher than the first predetermined energy and lower than the second predetermined energy. The system further includes a first detector configured to generate output responsive to the charged particles that pass through the first attracting mesh.

The present invention concerns a method of determining alignment of electron optical components in a charged particle apparatus. The charged particle apparatus comprising: an aperture array and a detector configured to detect charged particles corresponding to beamlets that pass through the corresponding apertures in the aperture array. The method comprises: scanning each beamlet in a plane of the aperture array over a portion of the aperture array in which a corresponding aperture of the aperture array is defined so that charged particles of each beamlet may pass through the corresponding aperture; detecting during the scan any charged particles corresponding to each beamlet that passes through the corresponding aperture; generating a detection pixel for each beamlet based on the detection of charged particles corresponding to each beamlet at intervals of the scan; and collecting information comprised in the detection pixel such as the intensity of charged particles.

Methods and systems to determine positions of multiple beamlets includes performing a first scan by scanning the beamlets over a first sample region and acquiring multiple cell images; and performing a second scan by scanning the beamlets over a second sample region and acquiring multiple cell images. Each cell image corresponds to a beamlet, and at least a part of an overlapped region between the first sample region and the second sample region is scanned by multiple beamlets during both the first scan and the second scan. Position of each beamlet may then be determined based on the corresponding cell images acquired during the first scan and the second scan.

Systems and methods for controlling directionality of ion flux at an edge region within a plasma chamber are described. One of the systems includes a radio frequency (RF) generator that is configured to generate an RF signal, an impedance matching circuit coupled to the RF generator for receiving the RF signal to generate a modified RF signal, and a plasma chamber. The plasma chamber includes an edge ring and a coupling ring located below the edge ring and coupled to the first impedance matching circuit to receive the modified RF signal. The coupling ring includes an electrode that generates a capacitance between the electrode and the edge ring to control the directionality of the ion flux upon receiving the modified RF signal.

Disclosed are semiconductor inspection apparatuses and methods. The semiconductor inspection apparatus comprises a stage that supports a semiconductor device, a first column that irradiates a first electron beam toward the semiconductor device on the stage, a second column that irradiates a second electron beam toward the semiconductor device, and a detector that detects a secondary electron generated by the second electron beam. The first column is disposed to make a first angle with a top surface of the semiconductor device. The second column is disposed to make a second angle with the top surface of the semiconductor device. The first angle and the second angle are different from each other.

A multi charged particle beams exposure method includes assigning, with respect to plural times of shots of multi-beams using a charged particle beam, each shot to one of plural groups, depending on a total current value of beams becoming in an ON condition in a shot concerned in the multi-beams, changing the order of the plural times of shots so that shots assigned to the same group may be continuously emitted for each of the plural groups, correcting, for each group, a focus position of the multi-beams to a focus correction position for a group concerned corresponding to the total current value, and performing the plural times of shots of the multi-beams such that the shots assigned to the same group are continuously emitted in a state where the focus position of the multi-beams has been corrected to the focus correction position for the group concerned.