Patent ID: 6627903
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: B82Y,H01J

Abstract:
In a method for performing charged-particle-beam (CPB) microlithography of a specimen using a CPB microlithography apparatus, a method for calibrating the CPB microlithography apparatus, comprising:(a) providing a specimen presenting a surface and having a crystalline structure; (b) irradiating a charged particle beam onto an area of the surface by scanning the beam in X- and Y-dimensions; (c) while monitoring X- and Y-dimension beam-scanning coordinates of the scanned area, detecting backscattered charged particles produced by the area being irradiated, and producing a corresponding backscattered-particle electrical signal, the signal containing signal-amplitude data as a function of the X- and Y-dimension beam-scanning coordinates; (d) processing the data obtained in step (c) to produce a map pattern of signal amplitude as a function of X- and Y-dimension beam-scanning coordinates, and to obtain data regarding whether a center of the map pattern is aligned with an origin of X- and Y-dimension beam-scanning axes; and (e) if the center of the map pattern is not aligned with the origin of X- and Y-dimension beam-scanning axes, performing an adjustment to achieve such alignment so as to calibrate the apparatus.