Patent ID: 9666412
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: H01J

Claim:
1. A method for charge control and for imaging an object, the method comprises: charging, with a charged particle beam, a slice of the object, starting at a beginning of the slice and ending at an end of the slice; wherein the charging of the slice comprises: introducing, by a first mechanical stage, a first movement along a first direction, between the object and charged particle beam optics; scanning the slice with the charged particle beam thereby causing the slice to be charged; wherein the scanning of the slice comprises performing, by the charged particle optics, a first counter-movement deflection of the charged particle beam to at least partially counter the first movement; introducing, by a second mechanical stage, a second movement along a second direction, between the object and the charged particle beam optics; wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction; wherein the first mechanical stage is heavier than the second mechanical stage; wherein a maximal velocity of the second mechanical stage exceeds a maximal velocity of the first mechanical stage; upon a completion of the charging of the slice, performing by the second mechanical stage a first flyback operation that counters the second movement thereby positioning the beginning of the slice within a field of view of the charged particle beam optics; imaging the slice; wherein the imaging of the slice comprises: introducing, by the first mechanical stage, a third movement along the first direction, between the object and charged particle beam optics; performing, by the charged particle beam optics, a second counter movement deflection of the charged particle beam to at least partially counter the third movement; introducing, by the second mechanical stage, a fourth movement along the second direction, between the object and the charged particle beam optics; and upon a completion of the imaging of the slice performing, by the second mechanical stage, a second flyback operation that counters the fourth movement.