Patent ID: 8709269
Filing Date: 2014-04-29
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for obtaining an image of a cross section of a specimen, the method comprising: milling the specimen using an electron beam at a first acceleration voltage generated by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) column so as to expose a cross section of the specimen, wherein the cross section comprises at least one first portion made of a first material and at least one second portion made of a second material; thereafter smoothing the cross section using an electron beam at a second acceleration voltage generated by the SEM column, the second acceleration voltage being less than the first acceleration voltage; performing gas assisted etching of the cross section so as to generate a topography difference between the at least one first portion and the at least one second portion of the cross section; coating the cross section with a thin layer of conductive material; and obtaining the image of the cross section using a focused ion beam generated by a focused ion beam (FIB) column, wherein the SEM column and the FIB column are coupled to a vacuum chamber, and the steps of milling, smoothing, performing, coating and obtaining are performed while the specimen is located in the vacuum chamber.