Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for extracting a sample for TEM or STEM viewing from a substrate, comprising:using a focused ion beam to machine a hole in a sample positioned in a vacuum chamber;using a focused ion beam machining to at least partly sever the sample from the substrate;inserting a probe tip into the hole; andusing the probe to remove the sample from the substrate, the probe supporting the sample by a probe tip inserted into the hole. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising processing the sample using a charged particle beam while the sample is attached to the probe. 3. The method of claim 2 in which processing the sample using a charged particle beam while the sample is attached to the probe includes observing the sample using a SEM, TEM or STEM. 4. The method of claim 2 in which processing the sample using a charged particle beam while the sample is attached to the probe includes thinning the sample using an ion beam. 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising transferring the sample from the probe to a TEM sample holder. 6. The method of claim 1 in which using a focused ion beam to at least partly sever the sample from the substrate includes using a focused ion beam to partially sever the sample from substrate, and then mechanically breaking the remaining attachment. 7. The method of claim 1 in which using a focused ion beam to machine a hole in a sample includes machining a hole that does not extend completely through the sample. 8. The method of claim 1 in which using a focused ion beam to machine a hole in a sample includes machining a tapered hole and in which inserting a probe tip into the hole includes inserting a tapered probe tip into the hole. 9. The method of claim 1 in which using a focused ion beam to machine a hole in a sample includes using an etch-enhancing gas. 10. An ion beam system comprising:an ion focusing column;a computer for controlling the ion beam system;a memory storing computer instructions for carrying out the steps of claim 1. 11. A method for extracting a sample from a substrate for TEM or STEM viewing, comprising:forming a hole in a substrate, the hole having a depth significantly less than the thickness of the substrate;freeing a sample from a substrate, the sample having a thickness significantly less than the thickness of the substrate and including the hole;inserting a probe into the hole; andremoving the sample from the substrate, the probe supporting the sample by a single arm inserted into the hole. 12. The method of claim 11 in which forming a hole in the substrate and freeing the sample from the substrate are performed using ion beam machining. 13. The method of claim 11 in which inserting a probe into the hole is performed in a vacuum chamber. 14. The method of claim 11 in which inserting a probe into the hole is performed outside of a vacuum chamber. 15. The method of claim 11 in which forming a hole in the substrate includes forming multiple holes in the substrate and in which freeing a sample from a substrate includes freeing multiple samples from the substrate.