Patent ID: 8198603
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A sample preparing device comprising: a sample stage having a surface for supporting a sample and being mounted to undergo rotation about at least one rotation axis; and a manipulator mounted to undergo rotation about a manipulator rotation axis independently of the sample stage, the manipulator being disposed relative to the sample stage so that an angle between the manipulator rotation axis and the surface of the sample stage is in the range of 0 to 45 degrees, the manipulator being configured to support a sample piece of the sample at a position substantially overlapping with the manipulator rotation axis; wherein the sample stage is operable to undergo a rotation operation to bring a preselected direction of the sample piece into coincidence with an intersection line between a plane formed by a surface of the sample piece and a conical side plane obtained by rotating, around the manipulator rotation axis of the manipulator, a line segment which is vertical to the surface of the sample piece and of which one end corresponds to an intersection of the surface of the sample and the manipulator rotation axis; and wherein the manipulator is operable to undergo a rotation operation to rotate the sample piece to a preselected position in the state in which the manipulator supports the sample piece and the preselected direction of the sample piece coincides with the intersection line.