Patent ID: 6777678
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A sample-stage for a scanning electron microscope, comprising:(a) a base, having a left end, a right end, a top surface; (b) a horizontal support member, having a left end, a right end, a top surface, a bottom surface, a first aperture perpendicular to the top surface and between the left end and the right end which extends completely through the horizontal support member; (c) a vertical support member, having a bottom surface, a top surface, a left side, and a right surface, where the bottom surface of the vertical support member abuts the left side and top surface of the base, where the top surface of the vertical support member abuts the left end and bottom surface of the horizontal support member so that a portion of the right surface of the vertical support member is directly below the first aperture of the horizontal support member, where the right surface of the vertical support member nearest the top surface of the vertical support member is to the left of the first aperture of the horizontal support member, and where the right surface of the vertical support member nearest the bottom surface of the vertical support member is to the right of the first aperture of the horizontal support member so that the right surface of the vertical support member is at a user-definable angle as compared to the left side of the vertical support member; (d) a collimator, having a top surface, a bottom surface, a left side, a right side, and a second aperture perpendicular to the top surface and completely through the collimator, where the second aperture has a diameter equal to that of the first aperature of the horizontal support member, where the bottom surface of the collimator abuts the top surface of the horizontal support member so that the first aperture and the second aperture are in alignment, and where the collimator is of a material that absorbs electrons incident therewith; (e) a first reflector, abutting the right surface of the vertical support member, where the first reflector is of a suitably high atomic number material; and (f) a second reflector, abutting a portion of the top surface of the base that is not covered by the vertical support member, where the second reflector is made of a suitably high atomic number material.