Patent ID: 8263935

Claim:
A method for determining a convex or a concave part of a sample by detecting charged particles emitted from the sample by scanning a charged particle beam, comprising: changing a focus position of the charged particle beam; forming a plurality of line profiles, each line profile including a plurality of peaks which indicates an edge part located between a convex or concave part of the sample and the adjacent surface, at the different focus positions; calculating, for different focus lengths, a plurality of first width values between one peak and an adjacent peak on one side; calculating, for different focus lengths, a plurality of second width values between the one peak and an adjacent peak on the other side; comparing a first value among the plurality of first width values, and a second value among the plurality of second width values; determining that the convex part is located on the one side of the one peak when the first value is smaller at a longer focus length than the second value; and/or determining that the concave part is located on the one side of the one peak when the first value is smaller at a shorter focus length than the second value.