US Patent 7135678 Charged particle guide

A charged particle guide adapted to be coupled with a charged particle detector, such as a secondary electron detector. The charged particle guide, in one example, comprising two wires extending from the charged particle detector toward a source of charged particles, such as secondary electrons emitted from an IC upon application of a focused ion beam. Upon application of a bias voltage, the charged particle guide introduces a collecting electric field that attracts charged particles and directs the charged particles to the charged particles detector.