Patent ID: 7888639

Claim:
A minute sample processing and observation apparatus comprising: a sample stage on which a sample is mounted; a focused ion beam (FIB) optical system comprising an ion source, a lens for focusing an ion beam and an ion beam scanning deflector; an electron beam optical system comprising an electron source, a lens for focusing an electron beam and an electron beam scanning deflector, the electron beam optical system being obliquely arranged with respect to the focused ion beam optical system; a detector for detecting a secondary particle discharged from the sample due to irradiating charged particles onto the sample; and an operation controller for controlling the whole apparatus and a series of processes of sample processing, observation and evaluation; wherein the operation controller determines an electrical current of the focused ion beam, an acceleration voltage and material of the sample, and calculates a processing depth of a processing FIB hole at real-time to display an animation showing a present processing depth in an interposed manner on an electron microscope image observed obliquely with respect to the processing FIB hole.