Charged particle beam lens having a particular support electrically insulating first and second electrodes from each other

Abstract

A charged particle beam lens includes a first electrode including a surface having at least one aperture and a second electrode including a surface having at least one aperture. A support intervenes between the first electrode and the second electrode to electrically insulate the first and second electrodes from each other and to support the first and second electrodes in a predetermined positional relationship. A side surface of the support intervenes between the first electrode and the second electrode and includes a non-flat portion having at least one of a projected portion and a depressed portion, and includes a tapered portion. A taper angle formed by the tapered portion and the surface having the aperture of the second electrode is greater than zero degree and less than ninety degrees.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.