Patent Document ID: 5477049
Application ID: 08184122
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A particle analysis method for analyzing particles on a sample in a scanning type electron microscope which directs a narrow, focussed electron beam through an electromagnetic lens onto a surface of a sample mounted on a high precision stage in scanning, produces a detection signal representing intensity of secondary electrons or reflected electrons from the sample surface, and displays an image of the sample surface based on the detection signal, said method comprising the steps of: reading the image by controlling the electron microscope by automatically shifting views produced by scanning the electron beam from a most probable spot where a particle may exist to less probable spots in sequence based on information contained in the signal of coordinates of a particle location; calculating a standard deviation in a histogram of the image for evaluation of detection of such particle; determining the particle location and acquiring a detection evaluation value in the image, under the assumption that the normal distribution portion of the histogram is due to a simple pattern and that the rest of the distribution of the histogram is due to a particle; and scanning a location where such particles determined to exist based on the result of said determining step.