A plurality of energy filter values are obtained using a model that simulates potential distribution within a 3D feature when an electron beam of an SEM impinges on a selected area that includes the 3D feature. A correspondence is extracted between the plurality of energy filter values and respective depths of the 3D feature along a longitudinal direction by analyzing the simulated potential distribution. A plurality of SEM images of the 3D feature corresponding to the plurality of energy filter values are obtained. The plurality of SEM images are associated with their respective depths based on the extracted correspondence between the plurality of energy filter values and the respective depths. A composite 3D profile of the 3D feature is generated from the plurality of SEM images obtained from various depths of the 3D feature.

A method for generating cross-sectional profiles using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) includes scanning a sample with an electron beam to gather an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum for an energy level to determine element composition across an area of interest. A mesh is generated to locate positions where a depth profile will be taken. EDS spectra are gathered for energy levels at mesh locations. A number of layers of the sample are determined by distinguishing differences in chemical composition between depths as beam energies are stepped through. A depth profile is generated for the area of interest by compiling the number of layers and the element composition across the mesh.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a pattern measurement device that is capable of highly accurately measuring a groove bottom, hole bottom, or the like, regardless of the accuracy of the formation of a deep groove or deep hole. To that end, the present invention proposes a pattern measurement device provided with a computation device for measuring the dimensions of a pattern formed on a sample on the basis of a signal obtained by a charged particle beam device, wherein the computation device determines the deviation between a first part of the pattern and a second part of the pattern at a different height than the first part and pattern dimension values on the basis of a detection signal obtained on the basis of the scanning of the sample by a charged particle beam and corrects the pattern dimension values using the deviation determined from the detection signal and relationship information indicating the relationship between the pattern dimensions and the deviation.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a pattern measurement device that is capable of highly accurately measuring a groove bottom, hole bottom, or the like, regardless of the accuracy of the formation of a deep groove or deep hole. To that end, the present invention proposes a pattern measurement device provided with a computation device for measuring the dimensions of a pattern formed on a sample on the basis of a signal obtained by a charged particle beam device, wherein the computation device determines the deviation between a first part of the pattern and a second part of the pattern at a different height than the first part and pattern dimension values on the basis of a detection signal obtained on the basis of the scanning of the sample by a charged particle beam and corrects the pattern dimension values using the deviation determined from the detection signal and relationship information indicating the relationship between the pattern dimensions and the deviation.

The present invention comprises a computation device for measuring the dimensions of patterns formed on a sample on the basis of a signal obtained from a charged particle beam device. The computation device comprises a positional deviation amount calculation unit for calculating the amount of positional deviation in a direction parallel to a wafer surface between two patterns having different heights on the basis of an image acquired at a given beam tilt angle; a pattern inclination amount calculation unit for calculating an amount of pattern inclination from the amount of positional deviation using a predetermined relational expression for the amount of positional deviation and the amount of pattern inclination; and a beam tilt control amount calculation unit for controlling the beam tilt angle so as to match the amount of pattern inclination. The pattern measurement device sets the beam tilt angle to a calculated beam tilt angle, reacquires an image and measures the patterns.

A method for generating cross-sectional profiles using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) includes scanning a sample with an electron beam to gather an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum for an energy level to determine element composition across an area of interest. A mesh is generated to locate positions where a depth profile will be taken. EDS spectra are gathered for energy levels at mesh locations. A number of layers of the sample are determined by distinguishing differences in chemical composition between depths as beam energies are stepped through. A depth profile is generated for the area of interest by compiling the number of layers and the element composition across the mesh.

A fast method of imaging a 3D sample with a multi-beam particle microscope includes the following steps: providing a layer of the 3D sample; determining a feature size of features included in the layer; determining a pixel size based on the determined feature size in the layer; determining a beam pitch size between individual beams in the layer based on the determined pixel size; and imaging the layer of the 3D sample with a setting of the multi-beam particle microscope based on the determined pixel size and based on the determined beam pitch size.

To provide an image analysis apparatus capable of easily extracting an edge of an upper layer pattern formed intersecting with a lower layer pattern so as not to be affected by the lower layer pattern, the image analysis apparatus includes a calculation unit that calculates an analysis range including a region where the lower layer pattern intersects with the upper layer pattern and a region where the lower pattern is not formed, a calculation unit that averages a plurality of signal profiles, a calculation unit that calculates a maximum value and a minimum value of a signal intensity, a calculation unit that calculates a threshold level difference using the maximum value and the minimum value, and a calculation unit that calculates the edge of the upper layer pattern on the signal profile.

A system, computer program product and a method for measuring a hole. The method may include charging a vicinity of the hole having a nanometric width; obtaining, multiple electron images of the hole; wherein each electron image is formed by sensing electrons of an electron energy that exceeds an electron energy threshold that is associated with the electron image; wherein electron energy thresholds associated with different electron images of the multiple electron images differ from each other; receiving or generating a mapping between height values and the electron energy thresholds; processing the multiple electron images to provide hole measurements; and generating three dimensional measurements of the hole based on the mapping and the hole measurements.

A pattern measuring device ensures highly accurately measuring a depth and a three-dimensional shape irrespective of a formation accuracy of a deep trench and/or a deep hole. Therefore, in the present invention, the measuring system detects backscattered electrons from a pattern caused by an irradiation, compares backscattered electron signal intensities from a top surface, a bottom surface, and a sidewall of the pattern, and calculates a three-dimensional shape (or height information) of the sidewall based on a difference in heights of the top surface and the lower surface. The measuring system compares the calculated three-dimensional shape of the sidewall with a three-dimensional shape of the sidewall estimated based on an intensity distribution (open angle) of a primary electron beam, corrects the estimated three-dimensional shape of the sidewall based on a difference in the comparison, and corrects until the difference in the comparison becomes an acceptable value.