Patent ID: 6717145
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
A mapping electron microscope, comprising:an irradiation-optical system situated and configured to irradiate simultaneously a common two-dimensional region of a surface of a specimen with a beam of charged particles produced by multiple independently controllable charged-particle sources, so as to cause the region on the specimen surface to emit imaging electrons; an imaging-electron detector comprising a detection surface; and an imaging electron-optical system situated and configured to direct the imaging electrons in an image-forming way onto the detection surface, wherein the irradiation-optical system is configured to control, while the region is being irradiated with the beam, a characteristic of the beam such that localized changes in potential due to charging by the beam at one or more locations in the region of the specimen surface, when irradiated by the beam from the irradiation-optical system, are within respective predetermined ranges in which an image of each such respective region can be obtained.