Patent ID: 9646805
Date: 2017-05-09
CPC Classifications: H01J

Claim:
1. A focused ion beam system for irradiating a sample or a workpiece with a focused ion beam to process the sample, said focused ion beam system comprising: an ion source for producing the ion beam; a lens system including a focusing lens for focusing the ion beam onto the sample; a detector for detecting secondary electrons emanating from the sample; and a controller for controlling the lens system; wherein said controller is operative to provide control such that the sample is irradiated with the ion beam without scanning the beam and that a focus of the ion beam is varied by stepwise varying the intensity of the focusing lens during the ion beam irradiation, to measure the intensity of a signal from the detector indicating the intensity of secondary electrons emanating from the sample while the intensity of the focusing lens is being stepwise varied, and to make a focal adjustment of the ion beam on the basis of the intensity of the focusing lens obtained when the measured intensity of the signal indicating secondary electrons is minimal.