Patent ID: 8581206
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. A focused ion beam system comprising: a sample base having a side surface; a sample holder comprising a top surface having an enclosure for receiving a sample and a side surface movably attached to the side surface of the sample base, wherein the sample holder is arranged in one of a horizontal state where the top surface of the sample holder is parallel to a top surface of the sample base and a tilting state where the top surface of the sample holder is not parallel to the top surface of the sample base; a focused ion beam irradiating mechanism that irradiates a focused ion beam to the sample; microtweezers for holding the sample in an axial direction which forms a predetermined angle to a surface of the sample base; a control portion in communication with the sample holder and the microtweezers and operable to execute instructions that control movements of the microtweezers and the sample holder, wherein the instructions, upon execution by the control portion: cause the microtweezers holding the sample to rotate by a predetermined angle; and cause the sample holder to tilt the top surface of the sample holder toward a top surface of the sample base such that one surface of the sample can be parallel with the enclosure arranged on the top surface of the sample holder.