Patent ID: 9460887
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: H01J

Claim Text:
1. A method for reversibly enhancing dispersion of charge from a sample for charged particle beam inspection, comprising: transferring said sample from a standard machine interface pod (SMIF) to a spin coater; spin coating a conductive layer on a sample surface of said sample; transferring said sample from the spin coater to a load lock of a scanning electron microscope system; forming a vacuum around said sample; transferring said sample to an electrically grounded rack in a main inspection chamber so that the conductive layer contacts the electrically grounded rack; inspecting said sample on said electrically grounded rack with charged particle beam inspection; transferring said sample from the electrically grounded rack to the load lock; generating a high energy plasma with a plasma generator in the load lock; introducing a first gaseous agent into the load lock; pretreating the first gaseous agent with the high energy plasma to create an activated gaseous agent in the load lock; and exposing the conductive layer to the activated gaseous agent in the load lock until all of the conductive layer reacts to form reaction gases.