SAMPLE POSITIONING METHOD AND CHARGED PARTICLE BEAM APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A sample positioning method of positioning a target observation area of a sample, which is disposed on a sample stage in a sample chamber of a charged particle beam apparatus, into a field of view of a first charged particle beam radiated from a charged particle beam optical optics installed in a first charged particle beam column, the method including:
- displaying an image of inside of the sample chamber including the sample on the sample stage therein in a display screen of a display unit;
designating an attention point on the target observation area on the basis of the image on the display screen;
aligning the sample stage in a direction of a first optical axis so that the attention point is positioned on an on-axis point tracer plane perpendicular to the first optical axis through an on-axis target point on the first optical axis of the first charged particle beam column;
after positioning the attention point on the on-axis point tracer plane, performing detection of deviation of the attention point from the on-axis target point on the display screen and movement of the sample stage within the on-axis point tracer plane only in a direction perpendicular to the first optical axis, and moving the attention point to the on-axis target point; and
after moving the attention point to the on-axis target point, moving the attention point within depth of focus of the charged particle beam optical optics by moving the sample stage along the first optical axis.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a sample positioning method that can easily and quickly position a target observation area of a sample into a field of view of a first charged particle beam. The method includes: displaying an image including the sample in a display screen; designating an attention point on the basis of the image in the display screen; aligning the position of the sample stage in the direction of an optical axis so that the attention point is positioned in an on-axis point tracer plane perpendicular to the optical axis through an on-axis target point on the optical axis; and moving the attention point to the on-axis target point by performing detection of deviation of the attention point from the on-axis target point and movement in the on-axis point tracer plane; and moving the attention point into a depth of a focus of an charged particle beam optics.
6 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A sample positioning method of positioning a target observation area of a sample, which is disposed on a sample stage in a sample chamber of a charged particle beam apparatus, into a field of view of a first charged particle beam radiated from a charged particle beam optical optics installed in a first charged particle beam column, the method including:
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displaying an image of inside of the sample chamber including the sample on the sample stage therein in a display screen of a display unit; designating an attention point on the target observation area on the basis of the image on the display screen; aligning the sample stage in a direction of a first optical axis so that the attention point is positioned on an on-axis point tracer plane perpendicular to the first optical axis through an on-axis target point on the first optical axis of the first charged particle beam column; after positioning the attention point on the on-axis point tracer plane, performing detection of deviation of the attention point from the on-axis target point on the display screen and movement of the sample stage within the on-axis point tracer plane only in a direction perpendicular to the first optical axis, and moving the attention point to the on-axis target point; and after moving the attention point to the on-axis target point, moving the attention point within depth of focus of the charged particle beam optical optics by moving the sample stage along the first optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A charged particle beam apparatus including:
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a first charged particle beam column having a charged particle beam optical optics and radiating a first charged particle beam using the charged particle beam optical optics; a sample stage to place a sample thereon and moving at least along the direction of a first optical axis of the first charged particle beam column and in a direction perpendicular to the first optical axis; a sample chamber with the sample stage therein; a chamber scope capturing an image of an inside of the sample chamber including the sample on the sample stage; a display unit displaying the image captured by the chamber scope; an attention point position control device receiving input for designating an attention point on the image displayed on the display screen, and obtaining information about a position on the display screen of the attention point accompanying movement of the sample stage; a sample stage movement control device performing stage-positioning control for aligning the sample stage along a direction of a first optical axis of the first charged particle beam column so that the attention point is positioned on an on-axis point tracer plane perpendicular to the first optical axis through an on-axis target point on the first optical axis, movement control within an on-axis point tracer plane for moving the sample stage only in a direction perpendicular to the first optical axis, and on-axis movement control for moving the attention point within the depth of focus of the charged particle beam optical optics by moving the sample stage along the first optical axis; a sub-marker display control device displaying a sub-marker indicating a position of the on-axis target point and a sub-marker indicating a position of the first optical axis; and a stage operator inputting operation instructions for the sample stage movement control device. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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5. A charged particle beam apparatus including:
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a first charged particle beam column having a charged particle beam optical optics and radiating a first charged particle beam using the charged particle beam optical optics; a sample stage placing a sample thereon and moving at least along the direction of a first optical axis of the first charged particle beam column and in a direction perpendicular to the first optical axis; a sample chamber placing the sample stage therein; a chamber scope capturing an image of an inside of the sample chamber including the sample on the sample stage; a display unit displaying the image captured by the chamber scope; an attention point position control device receiving input for designating an attention point on the image displayed on the display screen, and obtaining information about a position on the display screen of the attention point accompanying movement of the sample stage; a sample stage movement control device performing stage-positioning control for aligning the sample stage along a direction of a first optical axis of the first charged particle beam column so that the attention point is positioned on an on-axis point tracer plane perpendicular to the first optical axis through an on-axis target point on the first optical axis, movement control within an on-axis point tracer plane for moving the sample stage only in a direction perpendicular to the first optical axis, and on-axis movement control for moving the attention point within the depth of focus of the charged particle beam optical optics by moving the sample stage along the first optical axis; and a positioning control device which, after making the sample stage movement control device perform the stage positioning control, moves the attention point to the on-axis target point by making the sample stage movement control device perform the movement control within an on-axis point tracer plane on the basis of deviation of the attention point from the on-axis target point on the display screen, and makes the sample stage movement control device perform the on-axis movement control after the attention point is moved to the on-axis target point. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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Specification