Patent ID: 7683319

Claim:
A specimen inspection instrument, comprising: a specimen stage for holding an inspection specimen; an SEM column that irradiates a primary electron beam on the specimen held on the specimen toolslide and detects a signal resulting from generated secondary electrons; an SEM controller for controlling the SEM column, a charge control column for controlling an electrified state of the specimen; and an image formation unit that processes the signal detected by the SEM column and inspects the specimen; wherein: the SEM column is equipped with a first electron source for generating the primary electron beam, the charge control column is equipped with a second electron source different from the first electron source for charging the inspection specimen, and means for observing an electrified state of the specimen, the second electron source irradiates a second electron beam having an optical axis perpendicular to the surface of the inspection specimen; and the charge control column is rotated about an axis parallel to the optical axis of the second electron beam irradiated from the second electron source to the inspection specimen.