Patent ID: 8471223

Claim:
A sample stage ( 100 , 300 , 400 , 500 , 600 ) for processing a sample ( 104 ) in an ion beam etching apparatus, the sample stage comprising: a switching stage having at least two positioning arrangements ( 101 , 102 , 103 , 301 - 305 , 401 - 405 , 501 - 505 , 601 - 605 ), each positioning arrangement comprising a receiving apparatus ( 106 ) and a mask ( 105 ), wherein a sample ( 104 ) is mountable in the receiving apparatus ( 106 ) with reference to an ion beam that is directed toward the sample stage ( 100 , 300 , 400 , 500 , 600 ) during an ion beam etching operation, and the sample ( 104 ) is positionable relative to the mask ( 105 ); a mechanism ( 107 , 307 , 407 , 507 , 607 ) operable to switchover between positions in which a selected one of the positioning arrangements ( 101 , 301 , 401 , 501 , 603 ) is respectively orientated toward the ion beam of the ion beam etching apparatus such that the sample ( 104 ) in the selected positioning arrangement ( 101 , 301 , 401 , 501 , 603 ) is exposed to the ion beam while conversely the remaining non-selected positioning arrangements ( 102 , 103 , 302 - 305 , 402 - 405 , 502 - 505 , 601 , 602 , 604 , 605 ) face away from the ion beam, wherein the positioning arrangements ( 101 , 102 , 103 , 301 - 305 , 401 - 405 , 501 - 505 , 601 - 605 ) are configured to be arranged in one common vessel; and at least one protective divider ( 109 a , 109 b , 109 c ; 308 b , 308 c ; 408 b , 408 c ; 508 b , 508 c ; 608 b , 608 c ) arranged at least between the selected positioning arrangement ( 101 , 301 , 401 , 501 , 603 ) that is oriented toward the ion beam and the remaining non-selected positioning arrangements ( 102 , 103 , 302 - 305 , 402 - 405 , 502 - 505 , 601 , 602 , 604 , 605 ) that face away from the ion beam.