Patent ID: 7276690
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method of electron beam scanning for generating image data, the method comprising: a first scan on a region to collect first image data; processing the first image data to determine information about a line feature in the region, wherein the line feature includes two edge features; using the information determined from the first image data to select a scanning pattern for imaging with scan lines parallel to the two edge features; and a second scan using the selected scanning pattern to collect second image data, wherein the selected scanning pattern comprises a bi-directional linear scanning pattern in which a sequence of scan lines parallel to the two edge features progress in a first direction perpendicular to the scan lines, then progress in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and further wherein the sequence of scan lines proceeds in each direction towards a middle of and not through said line feature.