Patent ID: 9472376
Filing Date: 2016-10-18
CPC Classification: G01B,H01J

Claim Text:
1. A scanning electron microscope including an electron source, an objective lens which focuses an electron beam emitted from the electron source, a deflector which deflects a scanning position of the electron beam, a detector which detects electrons obtained by scanning a sample with the electron beam, and a sample stage for loading the sample thereon, the scanning electron microscope further including a control device, wherein the control device is configured to control at least one of the deflector and the sample stage so as to position an irradiating position of the electron beam on a common floating electrode which is surrounded by an insulator and disposed in a bottom of both a measurement target pattern and a hole pattern or a groove pattern so as to irradiate the common floating electrode in the hole pattern or the groove pattern with the electron beam, and the control device is configured to control at least one of the deflector and the sample stage so as to position the irradiating position of the electron beam on the measurement target pattern for detecting the electrons obtained by scanning an area including the measurement target pattern which is disposed at a different position from the hole pattern or the groove pattern with the detector, while a charging state of the common floating electrode by the irradiating electron beam is maintained.