Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A charged particle beam apparatus comprising:a charged particle beam source comprising:an emitter having an emitter needle with an emitter tip; anda supporting member configured to support the emitter;an emitter location measuring device configured to repeatedly measure the location of the emitter using the emitter needle as a measuring point; anda deflector system configured to compensate for variations in the location of the emitter. 2. A charged particle beam apparatus comprising:a charged particle beam source comprising:an emitter with an emitter tip; anda supporting member configured to support the emitter, wherein the supporting member comprises a base and a support wire;an emitter location measuring device configured to repeatedly measure the location of the emitter using the support wire as a measuring point; anda deflector system configured to compensate for variations in the location of the emitter. 3. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the support wire is a bent hairpin wire. 4. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member comprises a stabilization element. 5. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emitter location measuring device is adapted to measure variations in the location of the emitter along a first direction and comprises a first measuring assembly. 6. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the emitter location measuring device is adapted to measure variations in the location of the emitter along a second direction essentially perpendicular to the first direction and comprises a second measuring assembly. 7. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emitter location measuring device is a contact-less measuring device. 8. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emitter location measuring device comprises a light source and a detector. 9. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light source is a laser. 10. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the detector comprises at least two segments. 11. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emitter location measuring device comprises multi-fiber optics. 12. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the emitter location measuring device includes an interferometer. 13. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the deflector system is a post-lens deflector system. 14. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a scan unit. 15. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an emitter location calibration amplifier configured to generate an emitter correction signal provided to the deflector system, wherein the emitter correction signal is based on an emitter location signal of the emitter location measuring device. 16. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a stage location measuring device. 17. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the stage location measuring device is an interferometer. 18. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a stage location calibration amplifier configured to generate a stage location correction signal provided to the deflector system, wherein the stage location correction signal is based on a stage location signal of the stage location measuring device. 19. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a combined correction signal is provided to the deflector system and wherein the combined correction signal is based on a stage location signal of the stage location measuring device and an emitter location signal of the emitter location measuring device. 20. A charged particle beam apparatus comprising:a charged particle beam source comprising:an emitter having an emitter needle with an emitter tip; anda supporting member configured to support the emitter;an emitter location measuring device configured to repeatedly measure the location of the emitter using the emitter needle as a measuring point; anda stage positioning system adapted to compensate for variations in the location of the emitter. 21. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a deflector system for compensating variations in the location of the emitter. 22. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising dividing means for dividing a correction signal into a deflector system correction signal provided to the deflector system and a stage positioning correction signal provided to the stage positioning system. 23. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the supporting member comprises a base and a support wire. 24. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the support wire is a bent hairpin wire. 25. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the supporting member comprises a stabilization element. 26. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the emitter location measuring device is adapted to measure variations in the location of the emitter along a first direction and comprises a first measuring assembly. 27. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the emitter location measuring device is adapted to measure variations in the location of the emitter along a second direction essentially perpendicular to the first direction and comprises a second measuring assembly. 28. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the emitter location measuring device is a contact-less measuring device. 29. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the emitter location measuring device comprises a light source and a detector. 30. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the light source is a laser. 31. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the detector comprises at least two segments. 32. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the emitter location measuring device comprises multi-fiber optics. 33. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the emitter location measuring device includes an interferometer. 34. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the deflector system is a post-lens deflector system. 35. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a scan unit. 36. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising an emitter location calibration amplifier configured to generate an emitter correction signal provided to the deflector system, wherein the emitter correction signal is based on an emitter location signal of the emitter location measuring device. 37. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a stage location measuring device. 38. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 37, wherein the stage location measuring device is an interferometer. 39. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 37, further comprising a stage location calibration amplifier configured to generate a stage location correction signal provided to the deflector system, wherein the stage location correction signal is based on a stage location signal of the stage location measuring device. 40. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 37, wherein a combined correction signal is provided to the deflector system and wherein the combined correction signal is based on a stage location signal of the stage location measuring device and an emitter location signal of the emitter location measuring device. 41. A method of compensating variations in an emitter location of a charged particle beam apparatus including an emitter having an emitter needle with an emitter tip, comprising the steps of:measuring the emitter location using the emitter needle as a measuring point; andcompensating for variations in the emitter location. 42. The method according to claim 41, further comprising:measuring a stage location of a stage for supporting a specimen; andcompensating for variations in the stage location. 43. The method according to claim 41, wherein compensating for variations comprises deflecting a charged particle beam emitted by the charged particle beam emitter. 44. The method according to claim 42, wherein compensating for variations in the stage location comprises moving the stage. 45. The method according to claim 41, further comprising:generating an emitter location signal;transforming the emitter location signal to an emitter correction signal; andproviding the emitter correction signal to a deflector system. 46. The method according to claim 41, further comprising:generating a stage location signal;transforming the stage location signal to a stage correction signal; andproviding the stage correction signal to a deflector system. 47. The method according to claim 41, further comprising:generating an emitter location signal and a stage location signal;transforming the emitter location signal and the stage location signal to a first correction signal; andproviding the first correction signal to a deflector system. 48. The method according to claim 47, wherein transforming the emitter location signal and the stage location signal comprises analyzing the emitter location signal and/or the stage location signal with respect to different frequencies included in the variations in locations of the emitter and/or the stage. 49. The method according to claim 41, wherein the emitter is adapted for emitting ions. 50. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the emitter location measuring device is adapted to measure variations in the location of the emitter along a first direction and comprises a first measuring assembly. 51. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the emitter location measuring device is adapted to measure variations in the location of the emitter along a second direction essentially perpendicular to the first direction and comprises a second measuring assembly. 52. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the emitter location measuring device is a contact-less measuring device. 53. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the emitter location measuring device comprises a light source and a detector. 54. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 53, wherein the light source is a laser. 55. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 53, wherein the detector comprises at least two segments. 56. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the emitter location measuring device comprises multi-fiber optics. 57. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the emitter location measuring device includes an interferometer. 58. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the deflector system is a post-lens deflector system. 59. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a scan unit. 60. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an emitter location calibration amplifier configured to generate an emitter correction signal provided to the deflector system, wherein the emitter correction signal is based on an emitter location signal of the emitter location measuring device. 61. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a stage location measuring device. 62. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 61, wherein the stage location measuring device is an interferometer. 63. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 61, further comprising a stage location calibration amplifier configured to generate a stage location correction signal provided to the deflector system, wherein the stage location correction signal is based on a stage location signal of the stage location measuring device. 64. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 61, wherein a combined correction signal is provided to the deflector system and wherein the combined correction signal is based on a stage location signal of the stage location measuring device and an emitter location signal of the emitter location measuring device. 65. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the charged particle beam source is adapted for emitting ions. 66. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the charged particle beam source is adapted for emitting ions. 67. A charged particle beam apparatus comprising:a charged particle beam source comprising:an emitter with an emitter tip; anda supporting member configured to support the emitter, wherein the supporting member comprises a base and a support wire;an emitter location measuring device configured to repeatedly measure the location of the emitter using the support wire as a measuring point; anda stage positioning system adapted to compensate for variations in the location of the emitter. 68. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 67, further comprising a deflector system for compensating variations in the location of the emitter. 69. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 68, further comprising dividing means for dividing a correction signal into a deflector system correction signal provided to the deflector system and a stage positioning correction signal provided to the stage positioning system. 70. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 68, wherein the deflector system is a post-lens deflector system. 71. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 68, further comprising an emitter location calibration amplifier configured to generate an emitter correction signal provided to the deflector system, wherein the emitter correction signal is based on an emitter location signal of the emitter location measuring device. 72. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 68, further comprising a stage location measuring device. 73. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the stage location measuring device is an interferometer. 74. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 72, further comprising a stage location calibration amplifier configured to generate a stage location correction signal provided to the deflector system, wherein the stage location correction signal is based on a stage location signal of the stage location measuring device. 75. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 72, wherein a combined correction signal is provided to the deflector system and wherein the combined correction signal is based on a stage location signal of the stage location measuring device and an emitter location signal of the emitter location measuring device. 76. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the support wire is a bent hairpin wire. 77. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the emitter location measuring device is adapted to measure variations in the location of the emitter along a first direction and comprises a first measuring assembly. 78. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 77, wherein the emitter location measuring device is adapted to measure variations in the location of the emitter along a second direction essentially perpendicular to the first direction and comprises a second measuring assembly. 79. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the emitter location measuring device is a contact-less measuring device. 80. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the emitter location measuring device comprises a light source and a detector. 81. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the light source is a laser. 82. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 80, wherein the detector comprises at least two segments. 83. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the emitter location measuring device comprises multi-fiber optics. 84. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the emitter location measuring device comprises an interferometer. 85. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 67, further comprising a scan unit. 86. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the charged particle beam source is adapted for emitting ions. 87. A method of compensating variations in an emitter location of a charged particle beam apparatus comprising an emitter with an emitter tip and a supporting member for supporting the emitter, wherein the supporting member comprises a base and a support wire, the method comprising the steps of:measuring the emitter location using the support wire as a measuring point; andcompensating for variations in the emitter location. 88. The method according to claim 87, further comprising:measuring a stage location of a stage for supporting a specimen; andcompensating for variations in the stage location. 89. The method according to claim 88, wherein compensating for variations in the stage location comprises moving the stage. 90. The method according to claim 87, wherein compensating for variations comprises deflecting a charged particle beam emitted by the charged particle beam emitter. 91. The method according to claim 87, further comprising:generating an emitter location signal;transforming the emitter location signal to an emitter correction signal; andproviding the emitter correction signal to a deflector system. 92. The method according to claim 87, further comprising:generating a stage location signal;transforming the stage location signal to a stage correction signal; andproviding the stage correction signal to a deflector system. 93. The method according to claim 87, further comprising:generating an emitter location signal and a stage location signal;transforming the emitter location signal and the stage location signal to a first correction signal; andproviding the first correction signal to a deflector system. 94. The method according to claim 93, wherein transforming the emitter location signal and the stage location signal comprises analyzing the emitter location signal and/or the stage location signal with respect to different frequencies included in the variations in locations of the emitter and/or the stage. 95. The method according to claim 87, wherein the emitter is adapted for emitting ions.