Patent ID: 6427703
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B82Y,H01J,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for patterning semiconductor wafers using charged particle beam lithography comprising;one or more charged particles sources arranged in a micro-column array structure; an imaging chamber including a wafer stage, one or more charged particle beam imaging components, and a mask stage configured to receive a patterned mask; an oxidizer source coupled to the imaging chamber; an oxidizer distribution mechanism coupled to the oxidizer source, the oxidizer distribution mechanism configured to introduce an oxidizer produced by the oxidizer source across a surface of the patterned mask installed on the mask stage, the oxidizer distribution mechanism comprising an oxidizer injection manifold including a plurality of oxidizer inlet holes distributed on a surface of the oxidizer injection manifold and flush against an inside surface of the imaging chamber; and a vacuum pump coupled to the imaging chamber to produce a sub-atmospheric pressure environment within the imaging chamber.