Patent ID: 8642957

Claim:
A method for imaging patterns formed on a specimen, by using a computer-based system including an scanning electron microscope, the method comprising the steps of: inputting into the system coordinates of a plurality of evaluation points disposed on the specimen; determining, by using the system, imaging points shared by at least two evaluation points included in the plurality of evaluation points, wherein the imaging points are used for at least one of: addressing, auto-focusing, auto-stigmatism and auto-brightness/contrast; determining, by using the system, an imaging sequence for imaging, in a predetermined sequence, determined imaging points and evaluation points sharing the imaging points; and imaging, by using the system, patterns formed on the specimen in accordance with the determined imaging sequence; wherein in accordance with a beam shift, a field of view is moved from a determined imaging point to an evaluation point sharing the imaging point; and wherein each imaging point is determined such that a distance between the imaging point and an evaluation point sharing the imaging point is maintained within a beam shift movable range.