Patent ID: 8995745
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
1. A device for imaging and processing a workpiece having nanometric features through the use of at least one charged particle beam, by both fully automated procedures and manual assistance procedures, comprising: a. a charged particle beam system for processing a work piece; b. a user interface, including a schedule input entry device and a human operator ready input that indicates whether or not a human operator is available to perform an operation using the charged particle beam and that can be placed in a first state or a second state; c. a procedure scheduler, accepting a schedule of procedures, including fully automated charged particle beam procedures and manual assistance charged particle beam procedures, from said schedule input entry device; and d. a procedure sequencer that, when said human operator ready input is in said second state, sequences through said fully automated procedures until said human operator ready input is placed into said first state, at which time said sequencer begins sequencing said manual assistance procedures, after reaching a safe termination point for said fully automated procedures being performed.