Patent ID: 8247768
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. A method for examination of an excised sample in a charged particle beam instrument, where the sample has a long axis, and where the charged particle beam instrument comprises: an ion-beam; a specimen stage; an electron beam; an X-Y plane; a nano-manipulator; the nano-manipulator having a probe shaft; the probe shaft having an axis; a cassette for holding probe tips; where the method comprises: calculating a first angle as a function of: calculating a fifth angle as a function of the first, second, third, and fourth angles, where the fifth angle is the angle between the long axis of the sample and the projection of the axis of the probe shaft onto the X-Y plane; rotating the specimen stage to the calculated fifth angle, whereby the projection of the axis of the probe shaft onto the X-Y plane is collinear with the long axis of the sample; attaching the sample to the probe tip; lifting out the sample with the probe tip; rotating the probe shaft by the calculated first angle, whereby the sample is placed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electron beam; and, releasing the probe tip with the sample attached from the probe shaft into the probe-tip station of the cassette, whereby the sample remains oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis of the electron beam.