Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An automated method for setting parameters of a focused-particle-beam column to acquire a focused image of a sample, comprising: a. Aligning the column,  b. Acquiring an image of the sample having a focus-rotation center in the image,  c. Setting image contrast, and  d. Setting column focus. 2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein step b. comprises: claim 1 acquiring an over-focused image of the sample;  acquiring an under-focused image of the sample; and  calculating a focus-rotation center from an image feature common to the over-focused image and the under-focused image. 3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein acquiring the over-focused image and acquiring the under-focused image comprise setting the column off-focus by a predetermined amount. claim 2 4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the focused-particle-beam column comprises a scanning-electron-beam column. claim 1 5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein step d. comprises selecting a region of interest of the image around the focus-rotation center and filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter. claim 1 6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter comprises applying a Sobel filter to pixels of the region of interest. claim 4 7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein step d. comprises selecting a region of interest of the image around the focus-rotation center; filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter; and calculating a value representing image sharpness within the region of interest. claim 1 8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter comprises applying a Sobel filter to pixels of the region of interest. claim 7 9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein calculating a value representing image sharpness comprises applying a semi-Kurtosis matrix to pixels within the region of interest. claim 7 10. The method of  claim 7 , wherein step d. further comprises performing a Golden Section search over the region of interest to determine an optimum focus setting for the column. claim 7 11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein step d. comprises performing a Golden Section search over the region of interest to determine an optimum focus setting for the column. claim 1 12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: claim 1 e. correcting astigmatism of the column. 13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein step e. comprises selecting a region of interest of the image around the focus-rotation center and filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter. claim 12 14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter comprises applying a Sobel filter to pixels of the region of interest. claim 13 15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein step e. comprises selecting a region of interest of the image around the focus-rotation center; filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter; and calculating a value representing degree of astigmatism within the region of interest. claim 12 16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter comprises applying a Sobel filter to pixels of the region of interest. claim 15 17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein calculating a value representing degree of astigmatism comprises applying a semi-Kurtosis matrix to pixels within the region of interest. claim 15 18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein step e. further comprises performing a Golden Section search over the region of interest to determine an optimum astigmatism-correction setting for the column. claim 15 19. The method of  claim 12 , wherein step e. comprises performing a Golden Section search over the region of interest to determine an optimum astigmatism-correction setting for the column. claim 12 20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein step c. comprises: operating the column to acquire a low-contrast image; operating the column to acquire a high-contrast image; and counting saturation levels of pixels in the images. claim 1 21. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of averaging the counting of saturation levels of pixels in the images. claim 20 22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein step c. further comprises applying a bisection method to set the image contrast at a level meeting pre-set criteria. claim 20 23. An imaging system having a focused-particle-beam column and control apparatus for setting parameters of the column to acquire a focused image of a sample by: a. Aligning the column,  b. Acquiring an image of the sample having a focus-rotation center in the image,  c. Setting image contrast, and  d. Setting column focus. 24. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control apparatus is adapted to acquire an image of the sample having a focus-rotation center in the image by: claim 23 acquiring an over-focused image of the sample;  acquiring an under-focused image of the sample; and  calculating a focus-rotation center from an image feature common to the over-focused image and the under-focused image. 25. The system of  claim 24 , wherein the control apparatus is adapted to acquire the acquire the over-focused image and to acquire the under-focused image comprise setting the column off-focus by a predetermined amount. claim 24 26. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the charged-particle-beam column comprises an electron-beam column. claim 1 27. The system of  claim 23 , wherein setting column focus comprises selecting a region of interest of the image around the focus-rotation center and filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter. claim 23 28. The system of  claim 27 , wherein filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter comprises applying a Sobel filter to pixels of the region of interest. claim 27 29. The system of  claim 23 , wherein setting image contrast comprises selecting a region of interest of the image around the focus-rotation center; filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter; and calculating a value representing goodness of focus within the region of interest. claim 23 30. The system of  claim 29 , wherein filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter comprises applying a Sobel filter to pixels of the region of interest. claim 29 31. The system of  claim 29 , wherein calculating a value representing goodness of focus comprises applying a semi-Kurtosis matrix to pixels within the region of interest. claim 29 32. The system of  claim 29 , wherein setting image contrast further comprises performing a Golden Section search over the region of interest to determine an optimum focus setting for the column. claim 29 33. The system of  claim 23 , wherein setting column focus comprises performing a Golden Section search over the region of interest to determine an optimum focus setting for the column. claim 23 34. The system of  claim 23 , wherein the control apparatus is further adapted for correcting astigmatism of the column. claim 23 35. The system of  claim 34 , wherein correcting astigmatism of the column comprises selecting a region of interest of the image around the focus-rotation center and filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter. claim 34 36. The system of  claim 35 , wherein filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter comprises applying a Sobel filter to pixels of the region of interest. claim 35 37. The system of  claim 34 , wherein correcting for astigmatism of the column comprises selecting a region of interest of the image around the focus-rotation center; filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter; and calculating a value representing degree of astigmatism within the region of interest. claim 34 38. The system of  claim 37 , wherein filtering the region of interest with an edge-enhancement filter comprises applying a Sobel filter to pixels of the region of interest. claim 37 39. The system of  claim 37 , wherein calculating a value representing degree of astigmatism comprises applying a semi-Kurtosis matrix to pixels within the region of interest. claim 37 40. The system of  claim 37 , wherein correcting for astigmatism of the column further comprises performing a Golden Section search over the region of interest to determine an optimum astigmatism-correction setting for the column. claim 37 41. The system of  claim 37 , wherein correcting for astigmatism of the column comprises performing a Golden Section search over the region of interest to determine an optimum astigmatism-correction setting for the column. claim 37 42. The system of  claim 23 , wherein setting image contrast comprises: operating the column to acquire a low-contrast image; operating the column to acquire a high-contrast image; counting saturation levels of pixels in the images. claim 23 43. The system of  claim 42 , wherein setting image contrast further comprises averaging the counting of saturation levels of pixels in the images. claim 42 44. The system of  claim 42 , wherein setting image contrast further comprises applying a bisection method to set the image contrast at a level meeting pre-set criteria. claim 42