Patent ID: 8445874
Filing Date: 2013-05-21
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. An ion beam sample preparation apparatus comprising: a) an ion beam irradiating means disposed in a vacuum chamber and directing an ion beam toward a shield retention stage; b) the shield retention stage being disposed in the vacuum chamber; said shield retention stage comprising: c) a retention stage lifting means coupled to said shield retention stage and configured to move said shield retention stage between a retention stage loading position and a retention stage processing position, characterized in that when the retention stage lifting means is in said retention stage loading position a substantially vacuum-tight loading chamber is created between the shield retention stage and a portion of the vacuum chamber, and further characterized in that when the retention stage lifting means is in said retention stage loading position a substantially vacuum-tight seal is created between the loading chamber and the portion of the vacuum chamber in which the ion beam irradiating means is disposed; d) a lift drive coupled to said retention stage lifting means and operable to move said retention stage lifting means between said retention stage loading position and said retention stage processing position; e) a removable and replaceable chamber cover disposed to allow access to said loading chamber when said retention stage lifting means is held in said retention stage loading position, characterized in that said chamber cover provides a substantially vacuum-tight seal when in place on said vacuum chamber; f) a shield having at least a rigid planar portion, removably and replaceably held in said shield retention stage, said shield further comprising: g) a vacuum pump means operably connected to both a first pumping manifold and a second pumping manifold, wherein the first pumping manifold is configured to evacuate said vacuum chamber, and wherein the second pumping manifold is configured to evacuate said loading chamber when said retention stage lifting means is in said retention stage loading position.