Patent ID: 8577171

Claim:
A method for correcting an image made from a system having optical flaws and a plurality of system parameter settings wherein the system produces image artifacts that result from the optical flaws and that vary according to the settings, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring a first reference image, having first artifacts caused by the optical flaws, with the system at a first system parameter setting; associating said first reference image with a first range of system parameter settings, said first range including said first system parameter setting; storing said first reference image; acquiring a second reference image, having second artifacts caused by the optical flaws, with the system at a second system parameter setting; associating said second reference image with a second range of system parameter settings, said second range including said second system parameter setting and being exclusive of said first range of system parameter settings; storing said second reference image; correcting a subject image having third artifacts caused by the optical flaws and acquired by the system at a third system parameter setting by using said first reference image if said third system parameter setting falls in said first range of system parameter settings and using said second reference image, if said third system parameter setting falls in said second range of system parameter settings, wherein said first, second and third system parameter settings refer to the same system parameter and the system parameter is any one of the group consisting of accelerating voltage, magnification, probe size and beam intensity.