A radiographic image capturing device includes: plural radiation dose detection pixels that respectively output signal values according to a dose of irradiated radiation; a determination unit that determines a presence or absence of defects, block-by-block, based on signal values of radiation dose detection pixels included in each of plural blocks, which are arranged such that the respective blocks include at least a portion of the plural radiation dose detection pixels; a block rearrangement unit that performs block rearrangement to change the arrangement of the plural blocks according to a determination result of the determination unit; and a detection unit that detects a dose of irradiated radiation based on signal values of each arranged block or of each rearranged block.

A particle beam system includes a particle source to produce a first beam of charged particles. The particle beam system also includes a multiple beam producer to produce a plurality of partial beams from a first incident beam of charged particles. The partial beams are spaced apart spatially in a direction perpendicular to a propagation direction of the partial beams. The plurality of partial beams includes at least a first partial beam and a second partial beam. The particle beam system further includes an objective to focus incident partial beams in a first plane so that a first region, on which the first partial beam is incident in the first plane, is separated from a second region, on which a second partial beam is incident. The particle beam system also a detector system including a plurality of detection regions and a projective system.

A detection module that includes a readout circuit and detector having a group of sensing elements. The group is configured to detect multiple beams. The multiple beams resulted from an illumination of a substrate, by an illumination module, by multiple electron beams. The readout circuit is configured to: (a) receive selection information for selecting multiple selected sub-groups of sensing elements; wherein the group of sensing elements comprises, in addition to the multiple selected sub-groups of sensing elements, a plurality of non-selected sensing elements; (b) ignore detection signals provided from the plurality of non-selected sensing elements, and (c) generate, for each selected sub-group of sensing elements, a sensing result to provide multiple sensing results that correspond to the multiple beams; and wherein the selected sub-groups of sensing elements are selected in response to at least one working condition of the illumination module.

An electron microscope capable of measuring aberrations accurately is provided. The microscope is adapted to obtain scanning transmission electron (STEM) images by detecting electrons transmitted through a sample (S). The microscope (100) includes a segmented detector (20) having a detection surface (23) for detecting the electrons transmitted through the sample (S). The detection surface (23) is divided into detector segments (D1-D16) for detecting the electrons transmitted through the sample (S). The microscope (100) further includes an aperture plate (30) for limiting the active areas of the detector segments (D1-D16) on which the electrons impinge.

A measurement method capable of easily measuring the directions of detector segments of a segmented detector relative to a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) image is provided. The measurement method is for use in an electron microscope equipped with the segmented detector having a detection surface divided into the detector segments. The measurement method is used to measure the directions of the detector segments relative to the STEM image. The method involves defocusing the STEM image to thereby cause a deviation of the STEM image and measuring the directions of the detector segments relative to the STEM image from the direction of the deviation of the STEM image (step S11).

A secondary projection imaging system in a multi-beam apparatus is proposed, which makes the secondary electron detection with high collection efficiency and low cross-talk. The system employs one zoom lens, one projection lens and one anti-scanning deflection unit. The zoom lens and the projection lens respectively perform the zoom function and the anti-rotating function to remain the total imaging magnification and the total image rotation with respect to the landing energies and/or the currents of the plural primary beamlets. The anti-scanning deflection unit performs the anti-scanning function to eliminate the dynamic image displacement due to the deflection scanning of the plural primary beamlets.

A scintillator assembly including an entrance surface for receiving charged particles into the scintillator assembly, the charged particles including first charged particles at a first energy level and second charged particles at a second energy level. A first scintillator structure configured for receiving the first charged particles and generating a corresponding first signal formed of first photons with a first wavelength of λ1, a second scintillator structure configured for receiving the second charged particles and generating a corresponding second signal of second photons with a second wavelength of λ2, and an emitting surface for egress of a combined signal from the scintillator assembly, the combined signal including the first and second photons, and at least one beam splitter for receiving the combined signal and separating the combined signal to first and second photons.

A charged particle beam device for imaging and/or inspecting a sample is described. The charged particle beam device includes a beam emitter for emitting a primary charged particle beam; a retarding field device for retarding the primary beam before impinging on the sample, the retarding field device including an objective lens and a proxy electrode; and a first detector for off-axial backscattered particles between the proxy electrode and the objective lens. The charged particle beam device is adapted for guiding the primary beam along an optical axis to the sample for releasing signal particles. The proxy electrode includes one opening allowing a passage of the primary charged particle beam and of the signal particles, wherein the one opening is sized to allow a passage of charged particles backscattered from the sample at angles from 0° to 20° or above relative to the optical axis. Further, a method for imaging and/or inspecting a sample with a charged particle beam device is described.

A charged particle beam device for imaging and/or inspecting a sample is described. The charged particle beam device includes a beam emitter for emitting a primary charged particle beam, the charged particle beam device adapted for guiding the primary charged particle beam along an optical axis to the sample for releasing signal particles; a retarding field device for retarding the primary charged particle beam before impinging on the sample, the retarding field device including an objective lens and a proxy electrode, wherein the proxy electrode includes an opening allowing a passage of the primary charged particle beam and of the signal particles; a first detector for off-axial backscattered particles between the proxy electrode and the objective lens; and a pre-amplifier for amplifying a signal of the first detector, wherein the pre-amplifier is at least one of (i) integrated with the first detector, (ii) arranged adjacent to the first detector inside a vacuum housing of the charged particle beam device, and (iii) fixedly mounted in a vacuum chamber of the charged particle beam device. Further, a method for imaging and/or inspecting a sample with a charged particle beam device is described.

A charged particle beam apparatus for inspecting a sample is provided. The apparatus includes a pixelized electron detector to receive signal electrons generated in response to an incidence of an emitted charged particle beam onto the sample. The pixelized electron detector includes multiple pixels arranged in a grid pattern. The multiple pixels may be configured to generate multiple detection signals, wherein each detection signal corresponds to the signal electrons received by a corresponding pixel of the pixelized electron detector. The apparatus further includes a controller includes circuitry configured to determine a topographical characteristic of a structure within the sample based on the detection signals generated by the multiple pixels, and identifying a defect within the sample based on the topographical characteristic of the structure of the sample.