Patent ID: 7098455

Claim:
An apparatus for inspecting a sample using a scanning electron microscope comprising: a sample stage to mount the sample; an electron-optical system to scan an electron beam on the sample; a mechanism arranged to move the sample stage; a first detector to detect a secondary electron; and, a second detector to detect a secondary electron with a sensitivity higher than that of the first detector; wherein: the scanning electron microscope is operable in a first mode and a second mode with higher resolution than that of the first mode; in the first mode, the sample is scanned with an electron beam of a first beam current, and the sample is observed by detecting a secondary electron using the first detector, while the sample stage is moved continuously; and in the second mode, the sample is scanned with an electron beam of a second beam current smaller than the first beam current, and is observed by detecting a secondary electron using the second detector, while the sample stage is held stationary.