Patent ID: 9496119
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: G01N,G01R,H01J,H01L

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for detecting defects in an integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit includes a plurality of predetermined locations and the apparatus comprising: a target holder for holding said integrated circuit; an e-beam source that directs an e-beam toward each of the plurality of predetermined locations on the integrated circuit; a focusing column that accelerates the e-beam of electrons and separately, for each of the plurality of predetermined locations, focuses the e-beam to the plurality of predetermined locations, the focusing column including a condensor lens, an objective lens and a Wehnelt; a dual-deflection system that moves the e-beam over the integrated circuit to each of the plurality of predetermined locations, the dual deflection system including: a negative bias circuit that provides a negative bias between the objective lens and the target holder, the negative bias serving to (1) decelerate the e-beam so that the e-beam strikes the integrated circuit with a landing energy having a predetermined range, and (2) accelerate secondary electrons emitted from the integrated circuit; and a detector that detects a voltage contrast image of the secondary electrons emitted from the integrated circuit after the e-beam strikes each of the plurality of predetermined locations of the integrated circuit.