A Critical Dimensions Scanning Electron Microscope (CD-SEM) is described that comprises a unit for performing CD-SEM measurements of a semiconductor wafer, a BSE imaging unit for obtaining a Grey Level image (GL) of the wafer, and a unit for GL analysis and for processing the GL analysis results with reference to results of the CD-measurements.

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 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 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 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 Critical Dimensions Scanning Electron Microscope (CD-SEM) is described that comprises a unit for performing CD-SEM measurements of a semiconductor wafer, a BSE imaging unit for obtaining a Grey Level image (GL) of the wafer, and a unit for GL analysis and for processing the GL analysis results with reference to results of the CD-measurements.

The present disclosure provides a method for generating a parameter pattern including: performing a plurality of measurements upon a plurality of regions on a surface of a workpiece to obtain a plurality of measured results; and deriving a parameter pattern according to the plurality of measured results by a computer; wherein the parameter pattern includes a plurality of regional parameter values corresponding to each of the plurality of regions on the surface of the workpiece. The present disclosure provides a Feed Forward semiconductor manufacturing method including: forming a layer with a desired pattern on a surface of a workpiece; deriving a control signal including a parameter pattern according to spatial dimension measurements against the layer with the desired pattern distributed over a plurality of regions of the surface of the workpiece; and performing an ion implantation on the surface of the workpiece according to the control signal.

A computation device is provided for measuring the dimensions of patterns formed on a sample based on a signal obtained from a charged particle beam device. The computation device includes 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 based on 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 of determining a depth of a feature formed in a first region of a sample, by: positioning a test structure with known dimensions in a processing chamber having a charged particle column tilted at a first tilt angle and first rotational angle; determining the first tilt angle and first rotational angle by: taking an image of the test structure with the charged particle column tilted at the first tilt angle and the first rotational angle, measuring, based on the image, distances between multiple edges of the test structure aligned with each other along a vector, determining ratios between the measured distances, and determining a calculated tilt angle and a calculated rotational angle of charged particle column from the ratios and the known dimensions of the structure; transferring the test structure out of the processing chamber and positioning the sample in the processing chamber such that the first region is under a field of view of the charged particle column; taking a first image of the feature with the column tilted at the first tilt angle and first rotational angle and taking a second image of the feature with the column is tilted at a second tilt angle, different than the first tilt angle, and a second rotational angle; and using stereoscopic measurement techniques to determine the depth of the feature based on the first and second images and the calculated tilt angle and calculated rotational angle.

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.