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US4803358A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Scanning electron microscope

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1988-03-17
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Granted: 1989-02-07
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Expires: 2008-03-17
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Abstract

Abstract A scanning electron microscope for scanning the surface of a specimen with an electron beam to detect secondary electrons, backscattered electrons, or X-rays emitted from the specimen, thereby forming an image of the surface of the specimen, is provided with a specimen table capable of making a horizontal movement, a vertical movement a rotating operation and a tilting operation, an arithmetic unit for converting the output of a detector for detecting the secondary electrons, backscattered electrons or X-ray into a digital signal to store the digital signal, and for calculating the amount of each of the horizontal movement, vertical movement, rotating operation and tilting operation of the specimen table, on the basis of the stored information, an indication given from the outside, and others, and a controller for controlling the specimen table on the basis of a calculated value from the arithmetic unit.

Inventors

  • 👤 Makoto Kato
  • 👤 Koichi Homma
  • 👤 Fuminobu Komura
  • 👤 Toshihiro Furuya

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 11:24
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J37/00; H01J37/02; H01J37/20; H01J37/26; H01J37/28

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 144 words
A scanning electron microscope for scanning the surface of a specimen with an electron beam to detect a signal emitting from the specimen, thereby forming an image of the surface of the specimen, the scanning electron microscope comprising: a specimen table capable of making a vertical movement, a horizontal movement, a rotating operation and a tilting operation; arithmetic means for converting the emitted signal into a digital signal to store the digital signal, and for calculating the amount of each of the vertical movement, horizontal movement, rotating operation and tilting operation of the specimen table, on the basis of the stored information, information on the present state of the specimen table, operating conditions of the scanning electron microscope and an indication given from the outside; and a controller for controlling the specimen table on the basis of a calculated value from the arithmetic means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 144 words
A scanning electron microscope for scanning the surface of a specimen with an electron beam to detect a signal emitting from the specimen, thereby forming an image of the surface of the specimen, the scanning electron microscope comprising: a specimen table capable of making a vertical movement, a horizontal movement, a rotating operation and a tilting operation; arithmetic means for converting the emitted signal into a digital signal to store the digital signal, and for calculating the amount of each of the vertical movement, horizontal movement, rotating operation and tilting operation of the specimen table, on the basis of the stored information, information on the present state of the specimen table, operating conditions of the scanning electron microscope and an indication given from the outside; and a controller for controlling the specimen table on the basis of a calculated value from the arithmetic means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
A scanning electrical microscope according to claim 1, wherein the indication given from the outside specifies one of the vertical movement and horizontal movement of a field of view with respect to an image now observed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
A scanning electron microscope according to claim 1, wherein the indication given from the outside specifies one of the rotation and tilt of the field of view with respect to an image now observed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 182 words
A scanning electron microscope comprising: an electron gun for emitting an electron beam to scan a specimen with the electron beam; a specimen table load with a specimen, the specimen table being able to make a rotating operation, a tilting operation, a horizontal movement and a vertical movement; detection means for detecting a signal emitted from the specimen; storage means for storing the output of the detection means as a video signal; display means for displaying an image on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means; arithmetic unit for calculating the amount of movement of the specimen table corresponding to at least one of the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of the image, on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means; operation means for selecting at least one of the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of the displayed image; and control means for moving the specimen table automatically in accordance with the selection made by the operation means, and on the basis of a value calculated by the arithmetic unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 182 words
A scanning electron microscope comprising: an electron gun for emitting an electron beam to scan a specimen with the electron beam; a specimen table load with a specimen, the specimen table being able to make a rotating operation, a tilting operation, a horizontal movement and a vertical movement; detection means for detecting a signal emitted from the specimen; storage means for storing the output of the detection means as a video signal; display means for displaying an image on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means; arithmetic unit for calculating the amount of movement of the specimen table corresponding to at least one of the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of the image, on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means; operation means for selecting at least one of the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of the displayed image; and control means for moving the specimen table automatically in accordance with the selection made by the operation means, and on the basis of a value calculated by the arithmetic unit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 190 words
A method of moving an image formed by a scanning electron microscope, the scanning electron microscope including an electron gun for emitting an electron beam to scan a specimen with the electron beam, a specimen table loaded with a specimen and capable of making a rotating operation, a tilting operation, a horizontal movement and a vertical movement, detection means for detecting a signal which is emitted from the specimen scanned with the electron beam, storage means for storing the output of the detection means as a video signal, and display means for displaying an image on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means, the method of moving the image, comprising the steps of: selecting at least one of the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of an image displayed by the display means; calculating the amount of movement of the specimen table corresponding to at least one selected from the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of the image, on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means; and moving the specimen table automatically on the basis of a calculated value.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 190 words
A method of moving an image formed by a scanning electron microscope, the scanning electron microscope including an electron gun for emitting an electron beam to scan a specimen with the electron beam, a specimen table loaded with a specimen and capable of making a rotating operation, a tilting operation, a horizontal movement and a vertical movement, detection means for detecting a signal which is emitted from the specimen scanned with the electron beam, storage means for storing the output of the detection means as a video signal, and display means for displaying an image on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means, the method of moving the image, comprising the steps of: selecting at least one of the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of an image displayed by the display means; calculating the amount of movement of the specimen table corresponding to at least one selected from the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of the image, on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means; and moving the specimen table automatically on the basis of a calculated value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 197 words
An apparatus for moving an image formed by a scanning electron microscope, the scanning electron microscope including an electron gun for emitting an electron beam to scan a specimen with the electron beam, a specimen table loaded with a specimen and capable of making a rotating operation, a tilting operation, a horizontal movement and a vertical movement, detection means for detecting a signal which is emitted from the specimen scanned with the electron beam, storage means for storing the output of the detection means as a video signal, and display means for displaying an image on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means, the apparatus for moving the image, comprising: means for selecting at least one of the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of an image displayed by the display means; means for calculating the amount of movement of the specimen table corresponding to at least one selected from the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of the image, on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means; and means for moving the specimen table automatically on the basis of a value calculated by the arithmetic unit.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 197 words
An apparatus for moving an image formed by a scanning electron microscope, the scanning electron microscope including an electron gun for emitting an electron beam to scan a specimen with the electron beam, a specimen table loaded with a specimen and capable of making a rotating operation, a tilting operation, a horizontal movement and a vertical movement, detection means for detecting a signal which is emitted from the specimen scanned with the electron beam, storage means for storing the output of the detection means as a video signal, and display means for displaying an image on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means, the apparatus for moving the image, comprising: means for selecting at least one of the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of an image displayed by the display means; means for calculating the amount of movement of the specimen table corresponding to at least one selected from the rotation, tilt, horizontal movement and vertical movement of the image, on the basis of the video signal stored in the storage means; and means for moving the specimen table automatically on the basis of a value calculated by the arithmetic unit.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3971936A Cited
US4627009A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-02-07 1992-08-08 1993-02-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-02-07 1996-08-08 1997-02-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-02-07 2000-08-08 2001-02-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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