Apparatus for correlating an optical image and a SEM image and method of use thereof

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/309,367, filed Aug. 1, 2001, entitled “Apparatus For Correlating An Optical Image And An SEM Image And Method Of Use Thereof”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

00021. Field of the Invention

0003The present invention relates to correlating optical and virtual images in electron microscopy.

00042. Description of Related Art

0005A Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) operates by rastering (scanning) a sharply focused beam of electrons over the surface of a specimen and then displaying on a separate display device a virtual image corresponding to the changing pattern of response signals emanating from the specimen in response to interaction between the electron beam and the specimen. Thus, a point on the specimen which produces a weak response signal appears as a corresponding dark point on the display device, and a point on the specimen which produces an intense response is recorded as a correspondingly bright point on the display. A magnified image is achieved by scanning the electron beam over a small region of the sample and then displaying the response as a virtual image on a much larger display surface. By using a very small electron probe and scanning over very tiny areas, it is possible to achieve magnifications of tens of thousands of times and resolve features in the submicron and even nanometer scale ranges. However, on the other end of the SEM magnification range, because of various practical considerations, a SEM cannot generally scan its beam over an area greater than approximately 1 cm square. In order to inspect larger specimens, it is necessary to manipulate a mechanical positioning stage to bring the desired region of the specimen into view and in this context the narrow field of view of the SEM image presents a practical difficulty for the operator. Because SEM images are, by necessity, created within a vacuum chamber, direct observation of the specimen is not generally possible. Thus, the only visual feedback available to the operator is the SEM image itself. Since the operator can only “see” a small portion of the specimen at one time, it is thus difficult to “navigate” to a particular feature of interest or to move efficiently from one feature to another.

0006The term “navigation” is used advisedly in this context. Because of the relatively small field of view compared to the relatively large extent of the stage motion or the dimensions of the specimen(s), the SEM operator (particularly the novice) often feels very much like a mariner attempting to locate a landfall without charts or points of reference. Under these circumstances, it is not uncommon for the SEM operator to become confused and even move away from the desired feature. In some cases, operators have been known to damage specimens, staging mechanisms, or detectors due to inappropriate stage manipulation engendered by such confusion.

0007SEM specimens fall into two general categories: (1) single objects; and (2) collections of objects. As examples of the first category, a forensic specialist might wish to inspect a knife blade or an automotive engineer might wish to inspect a drive gear. In such cases, the portion of the object which can instantaneously be viewed in the SEM represents a fraction of its entirety and it can be quite difficult to locate a particular feature of interest. As an example of the second category, it is common to mount multiple small samples on a common “specimen carrier”. For instance, a very common mounting medium used for SEM is the “thumbtack” stub mount—a polished disk of typically one-half inch diameter with a peg protruding from the opposite side. In practice, small specimens (e.g., powders) are fixed to the polished surface and the stub is then mounted to a larger carrier plate which grips the mounting peg. In this manner, multiple stub-mounted samples are attached to a larger carrier which is then mounted on the SEM's positioning stage. The dimension of each stub is roughly comparable to the size of the SEM's maximum field of view, so it is relatively straightforward to navigate within its area, but it can be quite challenging to locate a particular stub on a carrier, particularly when the mounted specimens look similar. So in either case—the situation of single large objects or multiple smaller objects—the small field of view of the SEM creates a complication for efficiently locating a particular feature or object of interest.

0008Historically, the size of SEM samples and sample chambers has been steadily increasing. Many of the earliest SEMs could handle only one of the one-half inch diameter stubs described above. A modern SEM may be capable of handling very large specimens or very large arrays of specimens—objects of up to 13 inches in diameter or arrays of over one hundred individual specimens can be evaluated in some commercial units. Thus, the problem of efficient navigation has become increasingly important.

0009Since SEM images are produced by fundamentally different contrast mechanisms than are available in light microscopes, there are many practical situations where it is difficult to correlate a SEM image with an optical image of the same area. The lack of color information in a SEM image is a particularly important issue. Thus, visual “landmarks” may be lacking or obscured in a SEM image, further complicating the navigation problem.

0010Experienced SEM operators develop skills and techniques to confidently locate specimens and features even under the above-described circumstances, but such skills and techniques are, of course, not possessed by the novice or infrequent user. The SEM has increasingly moved from a role as a purely laboratory instrument into a role as an industrial tool. One consequence is that the individuals who are operating a SEM are less likely to be highly experienced “microscopists” and more likely to be technicians or engineers who are not highly experienced in operating the SEM. These latter individuals are less tolerant of learning specialized skills and more likely to commit errors of operation. Thus, the problem of locating features in a SEM is a practical problem of considerable consequence for the SEM manufacturer.

0011SEM manufacturers have long been aware of the above “navigation” issue and have devised various expedients to aid the user. The most basic of these expedients is the use of calibrated scales on the knobs used to manipulate the stage positioning controls. By becoming familiar with these scales, experienced microscopists are able to confidently manipulate the specimen to desired coordinates. As motorized stages have become more common and the use of computers to control them more prevalent, the basic mechanical scale concept has evolved correspondingly. Today, instead of turning knobs which directly move the stage, the operator may move the stage by means of a virtual or electronic “joystick” or similar device which communicates with motors which actually cause the stage to be translated. In such case, numerical readouts are commonly provided on the computer screen to indicate the position of the stage. Conceptually, however, this expedient is little more than a refinement of the position scale offered on the earliest SEM stages.

0012An important step up in sophistication is the provision of a graphical navigation “map”. This is simply a graphical representation of the area traversed by the stage and permits the operator to immediately visualize the position of the stage by means of a crosshair or other marker superimposed on the map. Such a “map” may, for example, appear as a “grid” whose equally spaced lines serve to provide relative indications of position. The operator is generally given the option of moving to a given point on the specimen by simply “clicking” a pointing device (such as a computer mouse) at the desired coordinates on the map. A further refinement is to provide a crude graphical representation of the specimen itself on the map (such as circles indicating the boundaries of standard sample stub positions). All of these refinements have been implemented in various forms and are much appreciated by SEM users. However, these are still relatively “abstract” aids and do not directly correspond to the operator's knowledge of the detailed visual morphology of the specimen. For example, a casual user is more likely to remember that the specimen of interest is a reddish-brown rectangle than that it is mounted on the second stub from the upper-right corner of the carrier.

0013Another distinctly different approach to the problem of navigating to a specimen feature is to offer the operator the means of actually seeing the specimen. One way of doing this is to provide a “viewport” which can be opened to peer into the vacuum chamber through a transparent window of some sort. Practical considerations of geometry and illumination limit the size and effectiveness of such provisions. Further, there are additional engineering considerations which make such viewports more difficult to accomplish than might first be thought—such as the need to provide an x-ray opaque viewing port and the need for an interlock mechanism to disable the light-sensitive imaging detectors when the viewport is opened. Consequently, most SEMs do not incorporate a viewport feature.

0014Another way of accomplishing much the same thing as the viewport is by interfacing a video camera to the vacuum chamber of the SEM. Some commercial SEMs have been produced which incorporate a video camera, together with an interlocked illumination system, mounted on a port such that the camera views the specimen under the beam. The video camera image provides a “live” view of the specimen, but since illumination must be provided to achieve this image, the normal imaging detectors of the SEM must be disabled to protect them from the effects of this illumination. Also, since the polepiece of the SEM's final probe-forming lens must be located directly over the specimen in order to image, this mandates that the camera view the specimen at a rather oblique angle. The polepiece itself is a rather large structure and the specimen must often be located within a few millimeters of it—this together with the fact that the region immediately above the specimen is rather crowded with other devices such as a backscattered electron detector, a secondary electron detector, and an x-ray detector, tends to restrict the field of view and thus compromise the practical utility of this arrangement as a navigation aid.

0015A variant of the video camera is the “chamber camera” which has become a moderately popular accessory for SEMs. This device is a small infra-red video camera which is equipped with an infra-red illumination source. Because SEM detectors are insensitive to weak IR illumination, this kind of camera can be used while the microscope is imaging. These devices produce monochrome images and, because they also suffer the same limitations of oblique and crowded viewing conditions as the aforementioned video cameras, they aren't particularly useful for locating features. Instead, their principal application is to help the operator manipulate irregular specimens safely. By mounting such a chamber camera roughly horizontal to the bottom of the polepiece, it is easy to see when the specimen is in danger of contacting the polepiece or one of the detectors. Though very useful, these devices do little to aid the practical problem of specimen navigation.

0016Electron microprobes (which can be considered to be highly specialized members of the SEM family) have long incorporated an optical microscope as part of their essential equipment. In the traditional design, the light path of the optical microscope is coaxial with the electron beam—a feat accomplished by specialized design of the electron optics. A less common variant is to provide a “side entry” microscope which views the specimen by means of a prism or mirror located immediately over the specimen. These devices, while useful for inspecting the feature being analyzed, have an inherently limited field of view (generally less than that of the electron optics in fact) and are thus of no practical value for specimen navigation.

0017One solution which has been described in the literature is to implement a separate microscope port with its optical axis parallel to, and offset from, the optical axis of the electron optics. This permits the specimen to be moved between the two viewing modalities by means of the stage. This expedient appears to have been implemented as a means of correlating SEM and light-microscope viewing modalities, rather than as a navigation aid, but it would also lend itself to use of a simple video camera which could capture a “macro” image. However, this implementation imposes both expense and complexity on the design of the microscope. Specifically, in order to allow both the SEM and the camera to view the entire specimen, the size of the specimen chamber and range of travel of the stage must be increased above the minimum required to do either separately. As a consequence, this implementation has not become widely used.

0018It should be noted that the several solutions described above which employ a camera device are relatively expensive to implement. On the one hand, this is due to the necessity of accommodating the camera to the SEM's vacuum system. Namely, either a vacuum-compatible viewing port must be implemented for the camera, or the camera must itself be vacuum compatible so that it can be contained in the chamber. Secondly, specialized illumination provisions must be implemented, which again increase the cost. This is in contrast to the present invention where there is no requirement for modifications to the specimen chamber, the use of a specialized or modified camera, or a specialized illumination provision.

0019Within the semiconductor industry, a concept superficially similar to some aspects of the present invention is employed for navigating semiconductor devices. This concept is to employ the design coordinates of a particular semiconductor feature to drive the SEM stage (or other inspection device) to the specified coordinates of the physical device for inspection. This is commonly implemented by means of a graphical user interface which may superficially resemble the kind of graphical user interface described in this invention. The distinction to be made is that the graphical user interface of the present invention is based upon an actual image of the physical device being examined, rather than a “virtual” image created by knowledge of the design parameters of the device, such as is the case for the common semiconductor “navigation” tool.

0020The invention which is the subject of this disclosure will be shown to be fundamentally different from all of the above implementations in respect to its method of implementation. It will also be demonstrated that an important part of the novelty of this invention is that it provides a very high degree of utility in addressing the fundamental SEM navigation problem with a notably simple and inexpensive apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0021The present invention is an instrument system, such as an electron microscopy system, and a method of control thereof. The method includes acquiring an optical image of an object, with the optical image of the object defining a first coordinate system. The object is positioned in a second, physical coordinate system. In response to selecting a point in the first coordinate system of the optical image, the object is positioned whereupon the point on the object corresponding to the selected point in the optical image is located at a predetermined point in the second coordinate system. Alternatively, in response to repositioning the object, an indicia superimposed on the optical image moves to a point thereon corresponding to a point on the object that is located at the predetermined point in the second coordinate system.

0022A digital camera can be utilized for acquiring the optical image. The predetermined point in the second coordinate system can be the center of a scan of an electron beam produced by an electron optical column in a manner known in the art. Alternatively, the predetermined point can be one where the tip of another type of probe, such as the physical probe of a micro-indentor or an atomic-force microscope, contacts the surface of the object.

0023The optical image can be displayed on a monitor. The optical image can be displayed on the monitor with an indicia at the point corresponding to the point in the second coordinate system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a diagrammatic view of an exemplary electron microscopy in accordance with the present invention;

0025<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a view taken along lines II—II in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0026<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a view taken along lines III—III in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0027<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is an isolated diagrammatic view of the electron optical column, target, detector, computer and monitor shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0028<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a graphical display including an optical image acquired utilizing the camera shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>;

0029<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6a</figref> is an optical image with a first point thereof positioned at a predetermined point represented by the intersection of cross-hairs;

0030<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6b</figref> is the optical image shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6a</figref> with the cross-hairs positioned at a second point corresponding to the predetermined point;

0031<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is a plan view of a target specimen for correcting for barrel distortion in images acquired utilizing the camera of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>; and

0032<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a graph of distance versus concentric ring spacing of (1) a target specimen and (2) an optical image of the target specimen illustrating the affects of barrel on caused by the camera shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

0033The present invention includes a hardware component and a software component which may be implemented independently, but are most profitably used in conjunction.

0034The hardware component incorporates an optical image acquisition device (such as an optical digital imaging camera or the like) which is configured to be removably mounted in a predictable position relative to the specimen of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) when the SEM's specimen stage is open or the specimen is removed from the specimen stage. The salient features of this hardware component are as follows:

0035The image acquisition device may be any of a variety of cameras or image capture devices which are capable of capturing an electronic, optical image which can be accessed and manipulated by electronic means—in particular, a digital, optical image which can be accessed and manipulated by a digital computer. The image acquisition device may be equipped with optics which provide magnification of any desired and appropriate degree, depending upon the other aspects and objectives of the implementation.

0036The image acquisition device is utilized with mechanical positioning and aligning means as necessary so that it can be mounted in a predictable spatial geometry relative to the specimen when the SEM's stage box is open or when the specimen is removed from the stage.

0037The image acquisition device and the mounting hardware can be easily demounted or decoupled from the specimen stage or specimen when the specimen is positioned for viewing by the SEM. The nature of the mounting hardware must be such that the image acquisition device can be conveniently coupled and decoupled by an operator without loss of predictable positioning.

0038Lastly, as an alternative to mounting the image acquisition device in a known geometrical relationship to the specimen stage, the specimen may be first mounted in a fixed position relative to the image acquisition device for purpose of obtaining an optical image, and the specimen then transferred to the specimen stage where it is mounted in a reproducible manner. The net effect of either implementation is that an optical image may be acquired whose spatial relationship to the physical specimen is predictable.

0039The software component of the invention includes software to accept one or more digital, optical images acquired in known or computable relationship to the physical specimen and to present such optical image or images as a graphical interface by which the SEM operator may cause a particular physical feature of the specimen to be positioned for SEM viewing by “clicking” or otherwise electronically “pointing” to the corresponding feature displayed on the graphical interface. Salient features of the software component are as follows:

0040One or more previously collected optical images of the specimen's surface, obtained from a digital camera or similar optical image acquisition device, are employed as a graphical aid for navigating the specimen.

0041The implementation is based on an actual optical image of the physical specimen rather than, for example, mathematical constructs, icons, or “models” of the physical specimen. The optical image may be suitably enhanced by electronic or mathematical means (e.g., contrast adjustment, scaling, cropping, edge sharpening, etc.) without altering the essential nature of the invention.

0042The software component permits the operator to navigate the specimen stage over large areas of the specimen via reference to the optical image contained in a graphical interface. This optical image may have been captured as a single image or built up from multiple images as a “mosaic” or the like. When built up from multiple images, the optical image need not necessarily be “complete”, but may incorporate gaps or “unimaged” areas of the specimen.

0043Lastly, the software component will typically incorporate calibration features which permit the coordinates of the physical specimen to be accurately referenced to the coordinates of the optical image. Such calibration may be done infrequently or routinely and might incorporate the use of special “calibration specimens”. The calibration might also be accomplished by means of known fiducial reference points incorporated in the specimen itself, or the specimen holder into which it is mounted.

0044The hardware and software components of the invention are normally used in conjunction to create a complete system of the type to be described hereinafter. However, the salient features of either component of the invention do not rely specifically upon the precise implementation of the other. Thus, for example, the hardware component of the invention can be implemented without the software component. Similarly, the software component can be implemented without the hardware component. Specifically, the requirement for the hardware component to provide a predictable spatial orientation to the specimen can be relaxed if the software component is implemented so as to make use of fiducial marks or features of the specimen in order to establish the required geometrical relationships.

0045The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures where like reference numbers correspond to like elements.

0046With reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, an instrument system, such as electron microscopy system <b>2</b>, includes an electron optical column <b>4</b> that can be hermetically coupled to a specimen stage or stage box <b>10</b>. Stage box <b>10</b> can be coupled in fluid communication with a vacuum pump <b>12</b> which, under the control of a computer <b>14</b>, can draw a suitable vacuum on the interior of stage box <b>10</b> when it is coupled in operative relation to a electron optical column <b>4</b> via an interface plate <b>56</b>.

0047A detector <b>16</b> is coupled to interface plate <b>56</b> in a manner whereupon detector <b>16</b> is positioned inside stage box <b>10</b> when it is coupled to interface plate <b>56</b>. Detector <b>16</b> has its output connected to computer <b>14</b>. Computer <b>14</b> is also connected to stage drivers <b>18</b> which, in the illustrated embodiment, are positioned inside stage box <b>10</b>, but which may be positioned outside stage box <b>10</b>. Stage drivers <b>18</b> are positioned at known relative locations with respect to stage box <b>10</b>. A specimen carrier <b>36</b> is positioned inside stage box <b>10</b> and is coupled to stage drivers <b>18</b>. Stage drivers <b>18</b> include one or more suitable drive means (not shown), such as a motor. Each drive means includes a suitable position determining means (not shown), such as an encoder, a resolver, a step wise driver and the like. The position determining means outputs position coordinates from which computer <b>14</b> can determine the position of stage drivers <b>18</b> and, hence, specimen carrier <b>36</b> inside stage box <b>10</b>. Stage drivers <b>18</b> and the position determining means can be utilized by computer <b>14</b> to effect fine positioning of specimen carrier <b>36</b> inside stage box <b>10</b>. This fine positioning can include moving specimen carrier <b>36</b> in one or more of an x, y or z direction, rotating specimen carrier <b>36</b> about a vertical axis, or tilting specimen carrier <b>36</b> around a horizontal axis.

0048Computer <b>14</b> includes a processor <b>20</b> and a computer storage <b>22</b>. Computer storage <b>22</b> includes certain elements known in the art such as RAM, ROM, magnetic or optical storage, and the like which are utilized by processor <b>20</b> for permanent or temporary storage of the software component of the present invention (hereinafter “control program”) and/or operating parameters of the control program which are utilized to control the operation of electron optical column <b>4</b>, vacuum pump <b>12</b>, stage drivers <b>18</b> and to interface computer <b>14</b> with a man-machine interface <b>30</b> that includes, in one exemplary, non-limiting embodiment, a keyboard <b>26</b>, a mouse <b>28</b> and a display monitor <b>24</b>. Under the control of the operation program, processor <b>20</b> also receives data from detector <b>16</b> and a camera <b>34</b>.

0049Specimen carrier <b>36</b> is configured to support a specimen <b>38</b> in stage box <b>10</b>. With reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 2 and 3</figref> and with continuing reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a camera <b>34</b> is coupled to a base plate <b>42</b> by a vertical support <b>44</b> and a bracket <b>46</b>. As shown best in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, base plate <b>42</b> includes an aperture <b>48</b> therethrough. Vertical support <b>44</b> and bracket <b>46</b> are configured to support camera <b>34</b> so that an input end of input camera <b>34</b> can view through aperture <b>48</b>.

0050As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, stage box <b>10</b> includes a recessed lip <b>52</b> surrounding an aperture <b>54</b> formed in the top of stage box <b>10</b>. Lip <b>52</b> is configured to support base plate <b>42</b> around the periphery thereof. With base plate <b>42</b> received on lip <b>52</b>, vertical support <b>44</b> and bracket <b>46</b> support camera <b>34</b> so that the input end of camera <b>34</b> can view specimen <b>38</b> through apertures <b>48</b> and <b>54</b>.

0051In operation, specimen or object <b>38</b> is positioned on specimen carrier <b>36</b> which is positioned inside stage box <b>10</b>. Thereafter, base plate <b>42</b> having camera <b>34</b> coupled thereto by vertical support <b>44</b> and bracket <b>46</b> is positioned on lip <b>52</b> with specimen <b>38</b> received within the field of view of camera <b>34</b>.

0052Under the control of the control program, camera <b>34</b> acquires an image of specimen <b>38</b> and any other features of specimen carrier <b>36</b> in the field-of-view of camera <b>34</b>. Camera <b>34</b> is a digital camera which acquires a digitized optical image of specimen <b>38</b>. This optical image defines a first coordinate system in which the optical rendering of specimen <b>38</b> and/or specimen carrier <b>36</b> is received. Under the control of the control program, computer <b>14</b> causes camera <b>34</b> to transfer the optical image to computer <b>14</b> for storage in an appropriate storage media of computer storage <b>22</b>.

0053After the optical image is stored in computer storage <b>22</b>, base plate <b>42</b> along with vertical support <b>44</b>, bracket <b>46</b> and camera <b>34</b> are removed from lip <b>52</b>. Thereafter, interface plate <b>56</b> is coupled in a fluid tight manner to lip <b>52</b> of stage box <b>10</b> and vacuum pump <b>12</b> is coupled in fluid communication with stage box <b>10</b>. The coupling of interface plate <b>56</b> to lip <b>52</b> of stage box <b>10</b> positions specimen <b>38</b> in a second, physical coordinate system with respect to base plate <b>56</b>. The foregoing instrument system is for the purpose of describing the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting the present invention since other instrument systems having other features not specifically described herein are also contemplated.

0054With reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> and with continuing reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, under the control of the control program, computer <b>14</b> causes vacuum pump <b>12</b> to draw a vacuum on stage box <b>10</b> and causes electron optical column <b>4</b> to generate and steer an electron beam <b>58</b> to a predetermined location within stage box <b>10</b> where specimen <b>38</b> is located. Electron optical column <b>4</b> includes an electron gun <b>60</b> which, under the control of computer <b>14</b> operating in accordance with the control program, causes an electron beam <b>58</b> to be directed toward specimen <b>38</b>. Electron beam <b>58</b> produced by electron gun <b>60</b> passes through condensing lenses <b>62</b>, scan coils <b>64</b> and objective lens <b>66</b> before striking specimen <b>38</b>. Operating under the control of the control program, computer <b>14</b> causes electron beam <b>58</b> to scan or raster an area of specimen <b>38</b> and/or specimen carrier <b>36</b> in a predictable manner. In response to the scanning of electron beam <b>58</b>, electrons and/or other signals <b>68</b> are emitted for each point in the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>. Detector <b>16</b> is positioned to detect the discharge of the electrons and/or signals <b>68</b> and to convert the detected discharge at each point in the scan of electron beam <b>58</b> into a electrical signal indicative thereof. Under the control of computer <b>14</b> operating in accordance with the control program, the signals output by detector <b>16</b> for each point in the scan of electron beam <b>58</b> are constructed into a virtual image of specimen <b>38</b> and/or specimen carrier <b>36</b> which can be displayed on monitor <b>24</b>.

0055With reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, and with continuing reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the control program can cause computer <b>14</b> to display on monitor <b>24</b> a graphical console <b>70</b>. Graphical console <b>70</b> can include buttons, dials, sliders and the like which can be selected via mouse <b>28</b> utilizing the point and click method, or any other suitable method. In addition, graphical console <b>70</b> can include data entry fields which can be selected via mouse <b>28</b> utilizing the point and click method, or any other suitable method, and data entered therein via keyboard <b>26</b>. Graphical console <b>70</b> can also include one or more image areas <b>72</b> where the optical image acquired by camera <b>34</b> and/or the virtual image constructed from the output of detector <b>16</b> in response to the scan of electron beam <b>58</b> on an area of specimen <b>38</b> and/or specimen carrier <b>36</b> can be displayed. For simplicity of the following description, graphical console <b>70</b> will be described hereinafter as only having one image area <b>72</b> in which the optical or virtual image can be alternately displayed under the control of a user of graphical console <b>70</b>. Image area <b>72</b> includes a cross-hair mark <b>74</b> or other indicia superimposed on the displayed image. The point in the image where the lines of cross-hair mark <b>74</b> cross correspond to a predetermined point in vacuum chamber <b>6</b>. This predetermined point can be any point where the scan of electron beam <b>58</b> strikes specimen <b>38</b> or specimen carrier <b>36</b>. Ideally, however, the intersection of the lines forming cross-hair mark <b>74</b> is positioned over a point on the image corresponding to the center of the scan of electron beam <b>58</b> on specimen <b>38</b> or specimen carrier <b>36</b>.

0056The control program controls computer <b>14</b> so that movement of cross-hair mark <b>74</b> in image area <b>72</b> results in a corresponding movement of specimen carrier <b>36</b> via stage drivers <b>18</b>. More specifically, movement of cross-hair mark <b>74</b> on the optical image displayed in image area <b>72</b> results in a corresponding movement of specimen carrier <b>36</b> relative to electron optical column <b>4</b> and detector <b>16</b> whereupon the point on the image at the intersection of the lines forming cross-hair mark <b>74</b> corresponds to the predetermined point, e.g., the center of the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>, where electron beam <b>58</b> strikes specimen carrier <b>36</b> or specimen <b>38</b>. For example, <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6a</figref> shows the optical or virtual image of three specimens <b>38</b> on specimen carrier <b>36</b>. The lines forming cross-hair mark <b>74</b> intersect at a point A on this image. This point A can correspond to the current position of the predetermined point, e.g., the center of the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>, on specimen carrier <b>36</b> or specimens <b>38</b>. However, this is not to be construed as limiting the invention.

0057Next, suppose that a user utilizes a pointer icon <b>78</b> controlled by mouse <b>28</b> to point and click a point B on the image. In response to this selection, the control program causes computer <b>14</b> to move cross-hair mark <b>74</b> on the image whereupon point B is positioned at the intersections of the lines forming cross-hair mark <b>74</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6b</figref>. At the same time, computer <b>14</b>, operating under the control of the control program, causes stage drivers <b>18</b> to position specimen carrier <b>36</b> so that specimens <b>38</b> and specimen carrier <b>36</b> are positioned in vacuum chamber <b>6</b> with the point thereon corresponding to point B in the image positioned at the predetermined point in the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>.

0058More generally, the control program causes computer <b>14</b> to define a relationship between the first coordinate system of the image displayed in image area <b>72</b> and the second, physical coordinate system where specimen carrier <b>36</b> and specimens <b>38</b> are positioned. In response to selection of a point in the image and, hence, in the first coordinate system, the control program causes computer <b>14</b> to control stage drivers <b>18</b> to position specimen carrier <b>36</b> so that the corresponding point on specimen carrier <b>36</b> or specimens <b>38</b> is located at the predetermined point, e.g., the center of the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>, in the second coordinate system related to the selected point in the first coordinate system.

0059Alternatively, a user can utilize a positioning means <b>76</b> to manually position specimen carrier <b>36</b> directly or via stage drivers <b>18</b> without having to utilize mouse <b>28</b>. A suitable positioning means <b>76</b> can be one or more micrometers which move specimen carrier <b>36</b> directly or a joystick of the type known in the art coupled to drive stage drivers <b>18</b>. When specimen carrier <b>36</b> is moved utilizing positioning means <b>76</b>, computer <b>14</b> monitors the position of specimen carrier <b>36</b> inside stage box via the position coordinates output by the position determining means of stage drivers <b>18</b>.

0060It is desirable when moving specimen carrier <b>36</b> utilizing positioning means <b>76</b> that the center of cross-hair mark <b>74</b>, or other such indicia, be positioned at the point on the optical image corresponding to the predetermined point in the second coordinate system. Accordingly, in response to repositioning the object, the center of cross-hair mark <b>74</b> moves to the point on the optical image corresponding to the point on the object that is located at the predetermined point in the second coordinate system.

0061From the foregoing, it should be appreciated that movement of the center of cross-hair mark <b>74</b> relative to the image in image area <b>72</b> correlates directly to the movement of specimens <b>38</b> and specimen carrier <b>36</b> relative to the predetermined point and vice versa. To this end, the control program causes computer <b>14</b> to control stage drivers <b>18</b> so that specimens <b>38</b> and specimen carrier <b>36</b> move relative to electron optical column <b>4</b> and detector <b>16</b> in a manner that corresponds to the movement of cross-hair mark <b>74</b> relative to the image in image area <b>72</b> and vice versa. Hence, by correlating the first coordinate system of the optical image acquired by camera <b>34</b> at a first position and the second, physical coordinate system at a second position where specimens <b>38</b> and specimen carrier <b>38</b> are located during generation of the virtual image thereof, the position of specimens <b>38</b> and specimen carrier <b>36</b> relative to electron optical column <b>4</b> and detector <b>16</b> can be accurately controlled with reference to the optical image and vice versa.

0062In order to correlate the movement of specimen carrier <b>36</b> inside stage box <b>10</b> with the movement of the optical image in image area <b>72</b>, one or more calibrations may be required. These calibrations include: correcting for optical distortions in the optical image, determining a scale factor that can be utilized to establish scale correspondence between the optical image and the motion of specimen carrier <b>36</b> and correcting for any offset between the optical image and the virtual image.

0063Optical distortion occurs when camera <b>34</b> has significant non-linear distortion of the type known commonly as “barrel distortion” or “pin cushion distortion”. Barrel distortion occurs when the spatial scale of the optical image is compressed for points far away from the center thereof, resulting in a concavity of straight line features located near the edge of the field of view of camera <b>34</b>. Pin cushion distortion occurs when the spatial scale of the optical image is expanded for points far away from the center thereof resulting in a convexity of straight line features located near the edge of the field of view of camera <b>34</b>. In order to correct for either condition, a target specimen <b>80</b>, shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, having a plurality of concentric circles of known spacing, is positioned on specimen carrier <b>36</b>. An optical image of target specimen <b>80</b> is acquired by camera <b>34</b> with the center of target specimen <b>80</b> located at the center of the acquired optical image. Next, under the control of the control program, computer <b>14</b> determines the spacing between each pair of concentric rings in the optical image of target specimen <b>80</b>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> shows a plot <b>82</b> of the observed radial position of concentric rings in the optical image of target specimen <b>80</b> as a function of the radial distance from the center of the optical image when barrel distortion is present, a plot <b>84</b> of the actual radial position of concentric rings of target specimen <b>80</b> as a function of the radial distance from the center of the target specimen <b>80</b> and a plot <b>88</b> of observed radial position of concentric rings in the optical image of target specimen <b>80</b> as a function of the radial distance from the center of the optical image when pin cushion distortion is present. As can be seen, barrel distortion causes the spacing between adjacent concentric rings in the optical image of target specimen <b>80</b> to appear smaller than the actual spacing between corresponding concentric rings in the actual target specimen with increasing radial distance from the center of target specimen <b>80</b>. In contrast, pin cushion distortion causes the spacing between adjacent concentric rings in the optical image of target specimen <b>80</b> to appear greater than the actual spacing between corresponding concentric rings in the actual target specimen with increasing radial distance from the center of target specimen <b>80</b>.

0064When causing specimen carrier <b>36</b> to move in response to causing cross-hair mark <b>74</b> to move in image area <b>72</b>, the control program causes computer <b>14</b> to measure a distance between the intersection of the lines of cross-hair mark <b>74</b> and the point where the tip of pointer icon <b>78</b> is positioned when the user selects this position with mouse <b>28</b>. Utilizing this radial distance, computer <b>14</b> can determine from plots <b>82</b> and <b>84</b> a radial offset distance <b>86</b> or <b>90</b> for barrel distortion or pin cushion distortion, respectively, that stage box <b>10</b> must be moved by stage drivers <b>18</b> in order for specimen <b>38</b> or specimen carrier <b>36</b> to be positioned at the predetermined point, e.g., the center of the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>, corresponding to the point on the optical image displayed in image area <b>72</b> where the tip of pointer icon <b>78</b> is positioned when the user activates mouse <b>28</b>. More specifically, utilizing well known trigonometric techniques, the control program of computer <b>14</b> can determine the additional distance it is necessary to move stage box <b>10</b> so that the point on specimen <b>38</b> or specimen carrier <b>36</b>, corresponding to the point in the optical image selected by the user, is positioned at the predetermined point in the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>.

0065The data utilized to form plots <b>82</b> or <b>88</b> need only be acquired once for a given camera <b>34</b> and can thereafter be stored for subsequent use.

0066One method to establish scale correspondence between the optical image and the motion of specimen carrier <b>36</b> inside stage box <b>10</b> includes positioning camera <b>34</b> on stage box <b>10</b>, in the above described manner, to view specimen <b>38</b> and/or specimen carrier <b>36</b>. Thereafter, a first optical image is acquired. An operator then moves pointer icon <b>78</b> to an identifiable feature in the first optical image and selects this feature via mouse <b>28</b>. In response to selecting this feature in the first optical image, the control program records a first pixel location of the feature in the first optical image and records first position coordinates output by the position determining means. Next, stage drivers <b>18</b> displace specimen carrier <b>36</b> by a predetermined distance and camera <b>34</b> acquires a second optical image. Thereafter, utilizing mouse <b>28</b>, the operator selects the same feature in the second optical image, which will of course now be located at a different position. In response to selecting the feature in the second optical image, the control program records a second pixel location of the feature in the second optical image and records second position coordinates output by the position determining means. The control program then determines a ratio between the first and second pixel locations and the distance between the first and second position coordinates to obtain the scale factor that can be utilized to establish scale correspondence between the optical image and the motion of specimen carrier <b>36</b>.

0067Another method to establish scale correspondence between the optical image and the motion of specimen carrier <b>36</b> inside stage box <b>10</b> includes acquiring an optical image and a first virtual image of specimen <b>38</b> and/or specimen carrier <b>36</b>. Thereafter, the operator moves pointer icon <b>78</b> to a first identifiable feature in the first virtual image and selects this feature via mouse <b>28</b>. In response to selecting this first feature, the control program records first position coordinates output by the position determining means. Then, the operator selects the first feature in the optical image. In response to selecting the first feature in the optical image, the control program records a first pixel location of the feature in the optical image. Next, stage drivers <b>18</b> displace specimen carrier <b>36</b> by a predetermined distance and a second virtual image is acquired. Thereafter, the operator moves pointer icon <b>78</b> to a second identifiable feature in the second virtual image and selects this feature via mouse <b>28</b>. In response to selecting this second feature, the control program records second position coordinates output by the position determining means. Then, the operator selects the second feature in the optical image. In response to selecting the second feature in the optical image, the control program records a second pixel location of the feature in the optical image. The control program then determines a ratio between the first and second pixel locations in the optical image and the distance between the first and second coordinates to obtain the scale factor that can be utilized to establish scale correspondence between the optical image and the motion of specimen carrier <b>36</b>.

0068Because this ratio will change whenever the distance of the specimen <b>38</b> relative to camera <b>34</b> changes, the foregoing scale calibration should be repeated whenever the height of the sample or when the size of the optical image of the object acquired by the camera changes significantly.

0069Once the optical distortion and scale have been properly calibrated, it is still necessary to establish the linear translation or offset between the position of specimen <b>38</b> or specimen carrier <b>36</b> and a point on the optical image. This is accomplished by simply comparing the virtual image to the optical image and clicking on the same identifiable feature in both images.

0070Utilizing these simple procedures, or others that can be equivalently devised, it is possible to establish precise spatial correspondence between the optical image and the physical coordinates of specimen <b>38</b> or specimen carrier <b>36</b> when it is positioned in the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>. It is then a simple matter to translate locations selected in the optical image to coordinates of stage drivers <b>18</b> that will bring the corresponding feature to the predetermined point in the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>.

0071The foregoing is a particular implementation of the invention. However, variances of the foregoing implementation are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, rather than being adapted for placing on top of stage box <b>10</b>, base plate <b>42</b> can be equipped with a fixture (not shown) which holds specimen carrier <b>36</b> in a fixed geometry. An equivalent fixture can also be disposed inside stage box <b>10</b> to hold specimen carrier <b>36</b> therein. In use, specimen carrier <b>36</b> is held by the fixture in a position where camera <b>34</b> can acquire an optical image of specimen <b>38</b>. The specimen carrier <b>36</b> is then physically transferred to the corresponding fixture inside of stage box <b>10</b>. Since both fixtures are constructed to position specimen carrier <b>36</b> in an equivalent way, it is possible to directly correlate the features of the acquired optical image to the corresponding coordinates of stage drivers <b>18</b>.

0072In another variant, correspondence between pixel coordinates of the optical image and coordinates of stage drivers <b>18</b> can be accomplished mathematically by establishing the correspondence of two or more suitably chosen features of the optical image with their corresponding coordinates of stage drivers <b>18</b>. For example, if two fiducial marks are provided on specimen carrier <b>36</b>, the known spacing between these marks may be used to establish the scale of the optical image. Moreover, the known position of one of these marks may be used to establish the offset for a linear spatial transformation relating the coordinates of the optical image pixels with the coordinates of stage drivers <b>18</b>. In this way, the requirement for a rigorously predictable mechanical relationship between camera <b>34</b> and specimen <b>38</b> is eliminated. Instead, the predictable relationship is accomplished by strictly mathematical means by reference to features of known positions visible in the optical image.

0073The embodiment of the invention described in connection with <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 1-8</figref> was described with an assumption of planar (x, y) positioning. In practice, however, many stage drivers <b>18</b> are implemented with additional coordinate axes for Z motion (height), R motion (rotation), and/or T motion (tilt). Incorporation of these additional motion axes in the subject invention can be handled in a straightforward manner by replacing planar transformation equations with more general transformation equations appropriate to the stage geometry.

0074In the case of a stage with a rotation axis perpendicular to the typical x, y motion axes, the appropriate transformation equations will simply be the familiar planar equations for translation with rotation. Knowledge of the rotation angle will typically be obtained directly from stage drivers <b>18</b>, but may in some instances need to be calibrated. It may also be necessary to establish the center of rotation by a calibration procedure. The functionality of these transformation equations can also be employed in multiple ways. For example, the control program may be implemented such that selecting a point in the optical image will cause stage drivers <b>18</b> to move specimen <b>38</b> and specimen carrier <b>36</b> to the indicated x, y coordinates to bring the indicated point to the predetermined point in the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>, and also to cause an electronic scan orientation of computer <b>14</b> to be oriented to match the rotation of specimen <b>38</b>, thus causing the resulting virtual image to be displayed in the same orientation as the optical image.

0075For stage drivers <b>18</b> with motorized (or electronically encoded) Z motion, appropriate transformation equations and corresponding calibration procedures can again be readily constructed. In this case, a change in the height of specimen <b>38</b> introduces a uniform change of scale in the amount of planar (x, y) motion required to achieve a given displacement relative to the features of the optical image. Establishing the appropriate change of scale can be accomplished either by knowledge of the stage drivers <b>18</b> operation, by a calibration procedure, or a combination of both.

0076In the case of utilizing specimen <b>38</b>, the effect of a tilt is to introduce a foreshortening of the apparent motion scale along an axis perpendicular to the tilt axis. For example, for a specimen tilted at a 45 degree angle, the amount of stage displacement along an axis perpendicular to the tilt axis will be 1/√{square root over (2)} the size of the stage displacement required to produce the same magnitude of displacement in the SEM image for the untilted specimen. This scale transformation might be implemented either by an appropriate directional compression of the optical image, or more simply, by utilizing the coordinates of the untilted optical image to reference the stage drivers <b>18</b> coordinates of the comparable features of tilted specimen <b>38</b>.

0077The specific transformation equations and calibration procedures required to accommodate a particular implementation of stage drivers <b>18</b> will depend on the details of stage drivers <b>18</b>. For example, implementing tilt axis T such that the x, y axes themselves are tilted relative to a fixed reference plane will result in very different equations from the case in which the tilt T is applied to an axis superimposed on a fixed x, y reference plane. Similarly, if the Z axis is not perpendicular to the x, y axis plane, the coordinate transformation must accommodate an apparent translation in x, y coordinates due to a change in Z position. These variations and the appropriate means of accommodating them are too numerous to detail, but will be obvious to anyone with ordinary skill in the art of positioning systems. The germane point, relevant to the scope of this invention, is that, regardless of the number and type of positioning axes implemented, that appropriate transformation equations and their corresponding calibration procedures are implemented such that the coordinates of a feature identified in the optical image may be employed to position the axes of stage drivers <b>18</b> so as to bring the selected physical feature of a substantially planar specimen <b>38</b> into a desired position in the scan of electron beam <b>58</b>.

0078In the case of a three-dimensional specimen <b>38</b> of arbitrary shape, it will be apparent that unless detailed knowledge of the specimen's overall shape is available, it is not possible to establish transformation equations which project the location of a feature on the surface of such an arbitrary three-dimensional specimen onto the coordinates of the two-dimensional optical image plane under arbitrary sample tilt conditions. However, the following situations are anticipated: (a) specimen <b>38</b> can be approximated by a planar surface. For example, a loaded printed circuit board can be conveniently navigated by reference to the planar surface of the board itself. The apparent position of an elevated component mounted on the board will suffer a parallax displacement when the board is tilted, but this is easily accommodated by the user; (b) a series of optical images can be employed to provide appropriate views of the specimen. Since any surface can be approximated as a planar surface for a sufficiently small tilt, it would in principle be possible to employ this scheme in any arbitrary situation. However, in practice, its utility would be limited to those situations where the specimen is not highly contoured and/or the anticipated range of tilt angles is small; (c) the overall shape of the specimen is known in advance. For example, it is a simple matter to generate the appropriate transformation equations for points on the surface of a rectangular solid of known dimensions.

0079All modern electron microscopes are equipped with means for changing the size of the scanning raster (magnification) and its orientation (rotation). Issues of magnification and rotation may simply be ignored if the above invention is applied so as to move the feature selected on the optical image to the center of the virtual image. On the other hand, for purposes of enhancing the functionality of the subject invention, the scan magnification and rotation may be explicitly incorporated in the transformation equations and associated calibration procedures. The modifications to the transformation equations to accomplish this are similar to, but distinct from those employed for stage x, y motion with rotation and may be readily derived by a practitioner with skill in the art.

0080For the case of a very large specimen, the resolution of the imaging camera may not provide a sufficiently detailed picture to be useful as a navigation aid. In such a case, it is anticipated that multiple images of the specimen surface may be employed, either as individually selectable views, or merged together to form a single large “mosaic” image.

0081The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obvious modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. For example, while described in connection with an electron microscopy system, the present invention can be utilized with any instrument system where movement of an object in one coordinate system is correlated with movement of a marker superimposed on an image of the object defining another coordinate system. Examples of such instrument systems include a micro-indentor and an atomic force microscope. In these systems, a mechanical means, such as a probe, is utilized to contact the surface of the specimen, versus an electron beam contacting the specimen. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.