US Patent 7351971 Charged-particle beam instrument and method of detection

A charged-particle beam instrument and method are offered which can inspect side and rear surfaces of the outer periphery of a specimen. The instrument has a source of the charged-particle beam and an objective lens for focusing the beam onto the specimen positioned inside a specimen chamber. The instrument further includes an electrostatic electrode and a deflection voltage power supply for applying a deflection voltage to the electrostatic electrode located on a downstream side of the objective lens. The electrostatic electrode reflects or deflects the beam passed through the objective lens such that the beam is directed at the specimen.