Patent Number: 
Section: claims

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:i) a first datum feature;ii) a second datum feature;iii) a shield retention means having at least a shield releasing position and a shield retaining position;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:i) a proximal sample surface configured to durably adhere the sample to the shield;ii) a first shielding surface disposed in the path of the ion beam and positioned to shield a portion of the ion beam directed at the sample when said shield is held in the shield retaining position of the shield retention means and the retention stage lifting means is held in the retention stage processing position;iii) a third datum feature formed integrally with said shield, wherein said shield retention means in said shield retaining position urges said third datum feature to abut said first datum feature; and,iv) a fourth datum feature formed integrally with said shield, wherein said shield retention means in said shield retaining position urges said fourth datum feature to abut said second datum feature;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. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shield retention stage further comprises a fifth datum feature, and the shield further comprises a sixth datum feature formed integrally with the shield, wherein the shield retention means in said shield retaining position urges said sixth datum feature to abut said fifth datum feature. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first shielding surface meets said proximal sample surface at an angle of less than about 90 degrees and more than about 80 degrees. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first shielding surface meets said proximal sample surface at an angle of less than about 87 degrees and more than about 83 degrees. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first shielding surface is made of non-magnetic material having low sputtering-yield. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first shielding surface is made of tantalum or titanium. 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the third datum feature is a datum surface and at least a portion of said datum surface is coextensive with at least a portion of said proximal sample surface. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the proximal sample surface has at least one recessed portion configured for the flowing of adhesive between the shield and the sample. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shield further comprises a sample clamping means coupled to the shield and configured to hold the sample against said proximal sample surface. 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shield further comprises:a) a second shielding surface having a portion disposed in the path of a portion of the ion beam;b) a shield edge formed where the first shielding surface meets the proximal sample surface; andc) a visible alignment mark on the second shielding surface, configured such that the location of said visible alignment mark is in a predetermined relationship to the region where the ion beam impinges on said shield edge when said shield is held in the shield retaining position of the shield retention means. 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shield is made of a cladding material joined to a core material such that a portion of the cladding material forms at least a portion of the first shielding surface, and a portion of the core material forms said third datum feature of the shield and said fourth datum feature of the shield. 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the cladding material is made of non-magnetic material having low sputtering-yield. 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of the cladding material is tantalum or titanium. 14. 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:i) a first datum feature;ii) a second datum feature;iii) a shield retention means having at least a shield releasing position and a shield retaining position;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:i) a proximal sample surface configured to durably adhere the sample to the shield;ii) a first shielding surface disposed in the path of the ion beam and positioned to shield a portion of the ion beam directed at the sample when said shield is held in the shield retaining position of the shield retention means and the retention stage lifting means is held in the retention stage processing position;iii) a third datum feature formed integrally with said shield, wherein said shield retention means in said shield retaining position urges said third datum feature to abut in thermally conductive contact said first datum feature; andiv) a fourth datum feature formed integrally with said shield, wherein said shield retention means in said shield retaining position urges said fourth datum feature to abut said second datum featureg) 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;h) a thermal transfer member in thermally conductive contact with the shield retention stage;i) a heat sink means configured to conduct heat away from said thermal transfer member. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the shield retention stage further comprises a fifth datum feature, and the shield further comprises a sixth datum feature formed integrally with the shield, wherein the shield retention means in said shield retaining position urges said sixth datum feature to abut said fifth datum feature. 16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first shielding surface meets said proximal sample surface at an angle of less than about 90 degrees and more than about 80 degrees. 17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first shielding surface meets said proximal sample surface at an angle of less than about 87 degrees and more than about 83 degrees. 18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first shielding surface is made of non-magnetic material with low sputtering-yield. 19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least a portion of the first shielding surface is made of tantalum or titanium. 20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the third datum feature is a datum surface and a portion of said datum surface is coextensive with a portion of said proximal sample surface. 21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the proximal sample surface has at least one recessed portion configured for the flowing of adhesive between the shield and the sample. 22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the shield further comprises a sample clamping means coupled to the shield and configured to hold the sample against said proximal sample surface. 23. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the shield further comprises:a) a second shielding surface having a portion disposed in the path of a portion of the ion beam;b) a visible alignment mark on the second shielding surface, configured such that the location of said visible alignment mark is in a predetermined relationship to the region where the ion beam impinges on said shield edge when said shield is held in the shield retaining position of the shield retention means. 24. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the heat sink means is configured to use nitrogen to conduct heat away from the thermal transfer member. 25. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the shield is made of a material having high thermal conductivity. 26. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the shield is made of a cladding material joined to a core material such that a portion of the cladding material forms at least a portion of the first shielding surface, and a portion of the core material forms the third and fourth datum features of the shield. 27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the core material comprises copper. 28. 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:i) a first datum feature;ii) a second datum feature;iii) a shield retention means having at least a shield releasing position and a shield retaining position;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, 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, and further characterized in that when the retention stage lifting means is in said retention stage loading position said shield retention stage is in thermally conductive contact with a portion of said vacuum chamber;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:i) a proximal sample surface configured to durably adhere the sample to the shield;ii) a first shielding surface disposed in the path of the ion beam and positioned to shield a portion of the ion beam directed at the sample when said shield is held in the shield retaining position of the shield retention means and the retention stage lifting means is held in the retention stage processing position;iii) a third datum feature formed integrally with said shield, wherein said shield retention means in said shield retaining position urges said third datum feature to abut in thermally conductive contact said first datum feature; andiv) a fourth datum feature formed integrally with said shield, wherein said shield retention means in said shield retaining position urges said fourth datum feature to abut said second datum featureg) 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;h) a thermal transfer member disposed so that said thermal transfer member is in thermally conductive contact with the shield retention stage when said retention stage lifting means is held in said retention stage processing position, and further disposed so that said thermal transfer member is not in thermally conductive contact with the shield retention stage when said retention stage lifting means is held in said retention stage loading position;i) a heat sink means configured to conduct heat away from said thermal transfer member. 29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the shield retention stage further comprises a fifth datum feature, and the shield further comprises a sixth datum feature formed integrally with the shield, wherein the shield retention means in said shield retaining position urges said sixth datum feature to abut said fifth datum feature. 30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the first shielding surface meets said proximal sample surface at an angle of less than about 90 degrees and more than about 80 degrees. 31. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the first shielding surface meets said proximal sample surface at an angle of less than about 87 degrees and more than about 83 degrees. 32. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the first shielding surface is made of non-magnetic material with low sputtering-yield. 33. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein at least a portion of the first shielding surface is made of tantalum or titanium. 34. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the third datum feature is a datum surface and a portion of said datum surface is coextensive with a portion of said proximal sample surface. 35. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the proximal sample surface has at least one recessed portion configured for the flowing of adhesive between the shield and the sample. 36. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the shield further comprises a sample clamping means coupled to the shield and configured to hold the sample against said proximal sample surface. 37. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the shield further comprises:a) a second shielding surface having a portion disposed in the path of a portion of the ion beam;b) a visible alignment mark on the second shielding surface, configured such that the location of said visible alignment mark is in a predetermined relationship to the region where the ion beam impinges on said shield edge when said shield is held in the shield retaining position of the shield retention means. 38. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the heat sink means is configured to use nitrogen to conduct heat away from the thermal transfer member. 39. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the shield is made of a material having high thermal conductivity. 40. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the shield is made of a cladding material joined to a core material such that a portion of the cladding material forms at least a portion of the first shielding surface, and a portion of the core material forms the third and fourth datum features of the shield. 41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the core material comprises copper.