Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A charged particle device comprising a charged particle source configured to direct charged particles in the direction of a specimen under examination and an imaging device configured to convert charged particles to an image representing said specimen, wherein:said imaging device comprises a detector defining a pixel array;said detector is configured to generate electric charges for individual pixels of said pixel array such that said electric charges collectively define said image;said imaging device is configured such that a portion of said pixel array can be transitioned between a partially masked state and a substantially unmasked state;said partially masked state defines a set of masked readout pixels and a set of unmasked imaging pixels;said imaging device is programmed to operate in a frame transfer imaging mode when said pixel array is in said partially masked state and in a full frame mode when said pixel array is in said substantially unmasked state;said frame transfer imaging mode is configured such that an image captured by said set of unmasked imaging pixels is transferred to said set of masked readout pixels, said transferred image is subsequently transferred from said set of masked readout pixels to storage outside of said pixel array as a subsequent image is captured by said set of unmasked imaging pixels, and said subsequently captured image is transferred to said set of masked readout pixels after said initial image is transferred from said set of masked readout pixels to said outside storage; andsaid full frame mode is configured such that an image captured by said pixel array in said substantially unmasked state is transferred to storage outside of said pixel array as incoming charged particles are blocked from reaching said detector. 2. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame transfer imaging mode is configured such that approximately 50% of said pixel array is dedicated to said set of unmasked imaging pixels. 3. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame transfer imaging mode is configured such that substantially equal portions of said pixel array are dedicated to said respective sets of masked and unmasked pixels. 4. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame transfer imaging mode is configured such that said set of unmasked imaging pixels is positioned between respective portions of said set of masked readout pixels along a pixel plane defined by said pixel array. 5. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frame transfer imaging mode is configured such that said set of unmasked imaging pixels is defined in a central portion of said pixel array and said set of masked readout pixels is defined in lateral portions of said pixel array. 6. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein:said imaging device comprises a mechanical mask movable between a first position corresponding to said substantially unmasked state to a second position corresponding to said partially masked state; andsaid mechanical mask comprises a pair of shutters mounted to move towards and away from one another across said pixel array. 7. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charged particle beam device further comprises system optics and said imaging device comprises a virtual mask implemented through the manipulation of said system optics to prevent charged particles from reaching a portion of said imaging device corresponding to said set of masked readout pixels. 8. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charged particle device further comprises a user interface and a controller programmed to prompt a user to select one of a plurality of imaging modes via said user interface. 9. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charged particle device further comprises a controller programmed to affect said transition of said pixel array between said partially masked state and said substantially unmasked state. 10. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said imaging device is configured such that said pixel array can be transitioned from said partially masked state to said substantially unmasked state without substantial interruption to operation of said device. 11. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charged particle source is configured to generate a beam of charged particles comprising electrons, protons, ions, or combinations thereof. 12. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charged particles comprise electrons characterized by a kinetic energy of at least about 1 keV. 13. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said charged particle device comprises an electron microscope. 14. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 13 wherein said electron microscope further comprises an electron energy loss spectrometer. 15. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said imaging device comprises said detector and one or more components selected from an energy selecting slit, a charged particle dispersing device, a charged particle lens, a charged particle deflector, a charged particle energy filter, a charged particle scintillator, and a fiber optic coupler. 16. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detector comprises a CCD array, a photodiode array, or a CMOS detector. 17. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said image represents dimensional bounds of said specimen, physical properties of said specimen, material constituents of said specimen, or combinations thereof. 18. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said mechanical mask comprises a movable piston, a cam assembly, and at least one biasing spring configured such that application of pressure causes said piston to move said cam assembly so as to overcome the bias of said spring and cause the respective shutters to retract, exposing additional surface area of said pixel array. 19. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 18 wherein said cam assembly is configured such that said exposure of said additional surface area attributable to respective ones of said pair of shutters is substantially equivalent. 20. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 19 wherein said cam assembly comprises a pair of wedge-shaped cams. 21. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said set of masked readout pixels and said set of unmasked imaging pixels define substantially equal portions of said pixel array. 22. A charged particle device as claimed in claim 6 wherein a portion of said mechanical mask defining said masked readout pixels comprises a shielding material characterized by an atomic number of below about 30 in an amount sufficient to render the amount of hard X-rays emitted from said mask and reaching said pixel array to an insubstantial amount during operation of said device.