Patent ID: 7772567
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A scanning electron microscope comprising: an electron source; a negative voltage applying electric source for applying a negative voltage to a specimen; a specimen supporting device for supporting the specimen at a supporting position; a specimen introducing mechanism for introducing the specimen along a moving direction of the specimen; a movable electrode and a stationary electrode arranged to surround a periphery of a surface of the specimen so that the negative voltage is applied to reduce nonuniformity in an electric field at the periphery of the surface of the specimen wherein a length of a part of the periphery facing the movable electrode is greater than a length of a part of the periphery facing the stationary electrode; and a moving mechanism for moving the movable electrode downward so that the movable electrode evacuates from a path through which the specimen is introduced, wherein: the moving mechanism has a rotational axis on which the part moving electrode is rotatable to be movable vertically, and the rotational axis is parallel to the surface of the specimen and distant from movable electrode, and extends through the stationary electrode.