Patent ID: 8188427

Claim:
A scanning electron microscope alignment method of controlling an alignment deflector for performing an axis alignment, for passing a beam through an axis of a lens, said method comprising the steps of: performing an axis alignment using a standard sample provided on a specimen stage, based on beam scanning with respect to said plurality of measurement locations, and thus acquiring an optimal control value for an alignment deflector for passing said beam through said axis of the lens; performing axis alignments at a plurality of measurement locations that differ in height on an observation sample held on the specimen stage, and thus acquiring information comprising a plurality of optimal control values for the alignment deflector for passing said beam through the axis of the lens at the plurality of measurement locations; storing a correction curve representing relationships between a) changes in the heights of the measurement locations and b) changes in the differences between i) the optimal control value acquired for the alignment deflector by use of the standard sample, and ii) the optimal control values acquired for the alignment deflector by use of the observation sample; and calculating optimal control values for the measurement locations at which height measurements have been performed, based on the stored correction curve and measured heights of the measurement locations on the specimen.