Patent ID: 8110818

Claim:
A method of controlling particle absorption on a wafer sample within a charged particle beam imaging system, comprising: performing a transfer-in process to transfer said wafer sample from a wafer sample storage onto a support member for a charged particle beam imaging, said wafer sample storage being configured for pre-imaging and post-imaging storage of said wafer sample, said support member being configured for supporting said wafer sample thereon during said charged particle beam imaging, said support member being equipped with a securing unit for securing and un-securing said wafer sample on said support member, wherein said transfer-in process comprises: transferring, using a first sample handling member, said wafer sample from said wafer sample storage onto a surface of a pre-aligner, said pre-aligner being configured for adjusting an angle of said wafer sample; transferring, using said first sample handling, member, said wafer sample from Said pre-aligner onto a platform of a loading chamber, said loading chamber being configured for preparing said wafer sample for said charged particle beam imaging; picking said wafer sample within said loading chamber using a second sample handling member; transferring, using a third sample handling member, said wafer sample from said second sample handling member onto a surface of said support member disposed within an inspection chamber; and securing said wafer sample on said support member using said securing unit, so as for said charged particle beam imaging step to be performed subsequently, wherein at any given time point during said transfer-in process, said wafer sample is caused to be electrically neutral by grounding said first, second and third sample handling members, said pre-aligner, said loading chamber, support member and said securing unit; performing said charged particle beam imaging of said wafer sample; and performing a transfer-out process to transfer said wafer sample from said support member to said wafer sample storage, wherein during said transfer-in and transfer-out process, said wafer sample is kept electrically neutral by grounding said wafer sample.