Patent ID: 7423263
Filing Date: 2008-09-09
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method for creating a planar view TEM sample, the method comprising: providing a substrate on a sample stage having a sample stage plane; freeing a sample from the substrate using an ion beam; characterized by attaching a probe to the sample, the probe including a shaft having a shaft axis, the shaft axis oriented at a shaft angle in relation to the sample stage plane, the probe having a probe tip including a flat attachment surface, the attachment surface orientated at a non-normal tip angle to the shaft axis, the probe being attached to the sample such that the attachment surface of the probe is parallel to the sample surface; rotating the shaft axis through a first rotational angle to rotate the sample attached to the probe tip by an orientational angle; attaching the sample to a TEM grid; thinning the sample using a charged particle beam; and viewing the sample attached to the TEM grid with a TEM or STEM.