Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. Apparatus for scanning a charged particle beam, comprising: scan elements spaced apart by a gap for passing a charged particle beam;  a scan signal generator coupled to said scan elements for generating scan signals for scanning the charged particle beam in a scan pattern having a scan origin; and  a position controller for positioning said scan elements based on at least one parameter of the charged particle beam. 2. Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said scan elements comprise electrostatic scan plates for electrostatic deflection of the charged particle beam and wherein said scan signal generator comprises a scan voltage generator. claim 1 3. Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said scan elements comprise magnetic polepieces and a magnet coil for energizing said magnetic polepieces, and wherein scan signal generator comprises a scan current generator for energizing said magnet coil. claim 1 4. Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said position controller comprises means for positioning said scan elements to achieve a desired position of the scan origin for given parameter values of the charged particle beam. claim 1 5. Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said position controller comprises means for positioning said scan elements to achieve a fixed position of the scan origin for different parameter values of the charged particle beam. claim 1 6. Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said position controller comprises means for positioning said scan elements to achieve a desired position of the scan origin as the energy of the charged particle beam changes. claim 1 7. Apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein said position controller comprises means for moving said scan plates upstream with respect to the charged particle beam as the spacing between the scan plates is increased. claim 2 8. Apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein said position controller comprises means for moving said scan plates upstream along linear paths at angles with respect to an axis of the charged particle beam. claim 2 9. Apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein said position controller comprises means for rotating said scan plates as the spacing between said scan plates is changed. claim 2 10. Apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein said position controller comprises means for translating said scan plates along linear paths disposed at opposite angles with respect to an axis of the charged particle beam. claim 2 11. Apparatus as defined in  claim 1  wherein said position controller comprises means for automatically positioning said scan elements based on the parameter of the charged particle beam. claim 1 12. Apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein said position controller comprises means for moving said scan plates to two or more discrete positions based on the energy of the charged particle beam. claim 2 13. Apparatus as defined in  claim 2  wherein said position controller comprises means for moving said scan plates along a continuous range of positions based on the energy of the charged particle beam. claim 2 14. Apparatus for scanning a charged particle beam, comprising: first scan elements spaced apart by a first gap for passing a charged particle beam;  second scan elements spaced apart by a second gap for passing the charged particle beam;  a scan signal generator coupled to said scan elements for generating scan signals for scanning the charged particle beam in a scan pattern having a scan origin; and  a scan signal controller for controlling the scan signals supplied from said scan signal generator to said first scan elements and said second scan elements based on at least one parameter of the charged particle beam. 15. Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein said first scan elements and said second scan elements each comprise scan plates for electrostatic deflection of the charged particle beam and wherein said scan signal generator comprises a scan voltage generator. claim 14 16. Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein said first scan elements and said second scan elements each comprise magnetic polepieces and a magnet coil for energizing said magnetic polepieces, and wherein said scan signal generator comprises a scan current generator for energizing said magnet coil. claim 14 17. Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein scan signal controller comprises means for controlling the scan signals supplied to said first scan elements and said second scan elements to achieve a desired position of the scan origin for given parameter values of the charged particle beam. claim 14 18. Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein said scan signal controller comprises means for controlling the scan signals supplied to said first scan elements and said second scan elements to achieve a fixed position of the scan origin for different parameter values of the charged particle beam. claim 14 19. Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein said scan signal controller comprises means for controlling the scan signals supplied to said first scan elements and said second scan elements to achieve a desired position of the scan origin as the energy of the charged particle beam changes. claim 14 20. Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein said scan signal controller comprises means for controlling the scan signals supplied to said first scan elements and said second scan elements to change the effective length of said first scan elements and said second scan elements. claim 14 21. Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein said scan signal controller comprises means for adjusting the ratio of scan signals supplied to said first scan elements and said second scan elements. claim 14 22. Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  further comprising a position controller for positioning one or both of said first scan elements and said second scan elements based on said at least one parameter of the charged particle beam. claim 14 23. Apparatus as defined in  claim 14  wherein said scan signal controller comprises means for applying the scan signals to the first and second scan elements for scanning a high energy charged particle beam and means for applying the scan signals to the first scan plates and for grounding the second scan plates for scanning a low energy charged particle beam, wherein an effective length over which electric fields are applied to the charged particle beam is reduced for scanning a low energy beam. claim 14 24. Apparatus as defined in  claim 23  wherein the charged particle beam comprises a positive ion beam and wherein the scan signal generator applies only negative voltages or ground to the first and second scan elements for scanning a low energy beam. claim 23 25. A method for scanning a charged particle beam, comprising the steps of: directing a charged particle beam between spaced-apart scan elements;  energizing said scan elements for scanning the charged particle beam in a scan pattern having a scan origin; and  s controlling positions of said scan elements based on at least one parameter of the charged particle beam. 26. A method as defined in  claim 25  wherein the step of directing a charged particle beam comprises directing a charged particle beam between spaced-apart electrostatic scan plates and wherein the step of energizing said scan elements comprises coupling scan voltages to said scan plates. claim 25 27. A method as defined in  claim 25  wherein the step of directing a charged particle beam comprises directing a charged particle beam between polepieces of a scan magnet and wherein the step of energizing said scan elements comprises coupling scan currents to a magnet coil of the scan magnet. claim 25 28. A method as defined in  claim 25  wherein the step of positioning said scan elements comprises positioning said scan elements to achieve a fixed position of the scan origin for different parameter values of the charged particle beam. claim 25 29. A method as defined in  claim 25  wherein the step of positioning said scan elements comprises positioning said scan elements to achieve a fixed position of the s can origin for different energies of the charged particle beam. claim 25 30. A method as defined in  claim 26  wherein the step of positioning said scan elements comprises moving said scan plates upstream with respect to the charged particle beam and increasing the spacing between the scan plates. claim 26 31. A method as defined in  claim 26  wherein the step of positioning said scan elements comprises varying the gap between said scan plates and rotating said scan plates. claim 26 32. A method as defined in  claim 25  wherein the step of positioning said scan elements comprises positioning said scan elements to achieve a desired position of the scan origin for given parameter values of the charged particle beam. claim 25 33. A method as defined in  claim 26  wherein the step of positioning said scan elements comprises moving said scan plates to two or more discrete positions based on the energy of the charged particle beam. claim 26 34. A method as defined in  claim 26  wherein the step of positioning said scan elements comprises moving said scan plates along a continuous range of positions based on the energy of the charged particle beam. claim 26 35. A method for scanning a charged particle beam, comprising the steps of: directing a charged particle beam between spaced-apart first scan elements and spaced-apart second scan elements;  applying scan signals to said first scan elements and said second scan elements for scanning the charged particle beam in a scan pattern having a scan origin; and  controlling the scan signals applied to said first scan elements and said second scan elements based on at least one parameter of the charged particle beam. 36. A method as defined in  claim 35  wherein the step of controlling the scan signals comprises controlling the scan signals applied to said first scan elements and said second scan elements to achieve a desired position of the scan origin for given parameter values of the charged particle beam. claim 35 37. A method as defined in  claim 35  further comprising the step of controlling positions of one or both of said first scan elements and said second scan elements based on said at least one parameter of the charged particle beam. claim 35 38. Apparatus for scanning an ion beam, comprising: two or more pairs of scan plates for scanning the ion beam; and  a scan generator for applying scan voltages to said two or more pairs of scan plates for scanning a high energy ion beam and for applying scan voltages to a subset of said two or more sets of scan plates for scanning a low energy ion beam, wherein unused scan plates are electrically grounded and wherein an effective length over which electric fields are applied to the ion beam is reduced for scanning a low energy beam. 39. Apparatus as defined in  claim 38  wherein the ion beam is a positive ion beam and wherein said scan generator applies only negative voltages or ground to said two or more pairs of scan plates for scanning a low energy ion beam. claim 38 40. Apparatus as defined in  claim 38  further comprising a position controller for positioning said two or more pairs of scan plates based on the energy of the ion beam. claim 38