Patent ID: 8191168
Filing Date: 2012-05-29
Classification: B82Y,G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method of preparing a transmission electron microscope sample, a sample piece being detached with a charged particle beam from a sample body, the sample piece having a substantially planar finished surface which can be observed with a transmission electron microscope and a grabbing portion which microtweezers can grab without contacting the finished surface, and the sample piece being transferred with the microtweezers to be fixed onto a sample holder, the method comprising: a first step of cutting out the sample piece from the sample body with the charged particle beam with a coupling portion for coupling the sample piece to the sample body remaining; a second step of grabbing with the microtweezers the grabbing portion of the sample piece with a portion to be observed of the finished surface of the sample piece cut out in the first step being entirely covered with the microtweezers; a third step of detaching the sample piece grabbed with the microtweezers in the second step from the sample body by cutting the coupling portion with the charged particle beam with a grabbed state of the sample piece being maintained; and a fourth step of transferring and fixing the sample piece grabbed with the microtweezers and detached in the third step onto the sample holder.