Patent ID: 8164059
Filing Date: 2012-04-24
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A charged particle beam system, comprising: a source of charged particles; a focusing column for forming a charged particle beam from the charged particles emitted by the charged particle beam source; a sample vacuum chamber containing a sample stage for holding a sample to which the charged particle beam is directed; a secondary particle detector positioned off the optical axis within the vacuum chamber, the detector including: a conductive grid providing an electric field for attracting secondary particles to the detector; a scintillator for emitting light when impacted by a secondary electron, the scintillator positioned above a plane defined by the sample surface and a photomultiplier tube for detecting the light emitted by the scintillator and converting the light to an electric current; characterized in that the scintillator and photomultiplier tube are all positioned within the sample vacuum chamber.