Patent ID: 7009187

Claim:
A charged particle detector suitable for use in a focused ion beam system including a focused ion beam that can be directed to a target and that produces secondary particles upon impact of the ion beam with the target, the charged particle detector comprising: an input screen to which voltages can be selectively applied relative to the target so as to attract positive or negative secondary charged particles emitted from the target; an ion-to-electron converter including a material that emits electrons when impacted by charged particles from the target, said ion-to-electron coverter being configurable in a first configuration to convert ions and configurable in a second configuration to pass electrons from the target through the ion-to-electron converter; and a scintillator detector for detecting electrons originating at the target and passing through the ion-to-electron converter or electrons originating in the ion-to-electron converter, the ion-to-electron converter being positioned between the input screen and the scintillator detector.