Patent ID: 6157032
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: G01B,H01J

Abstract:
A method for determining the slope of a surface imaged by an electron beam from a scanning microscope (SEM), comprising:running a calibration procedure with one sample from a batch of samples, including,obtaining a plurality of calibration electron emission measurements by measuring electron emission from a portion of a surface from said one sample positioned at respective known different angles .theta. to the electron beam, andderiving a relationship between the plurality of calibration electron emission measurements and said known angles .theta.;running a measurement procedure with another sample from said batch, including,directing the electron beam to impact on a point of a surface from said other sample to produce a measured electron emission; anddetermining the slope of the surface from said other sample at said point by deriving an angle .theta. from said measured electron emission and said relationship between the plurality of calibration electron emission measurements and said known angles .theta..