Charged Particle Beam Imaging Reports With Traceable Condition History

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing charged particle beam apparatuses face challenges in accurately recording the process leading up to imaging, leading to ambiguity and impaired data reliability, making it difficult to reproduce experiments and ensure the validity of observation images.

Innovation Solution

A charged particle beam apparatus equipped with an image acquisition device, input and output devices, and units for instruction analysis, history retention, difference analysis, and report retention, which convert user conversations into character strings, record conversation intentions, compare imaging conditions, and create reports to associate captured images with their conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If video cameras are used to record every step of the process leading up to imaging, then traceability of the observation image is improved, but the burden on the operator and complexity of data management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetraceabilityVSAvoiddata management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential information needed for traceability from the complex video data and experimental parameters. The system automatically identifies and records key events, operations, and parameter changes, separating the critical traceability information from the unnecessary data, thereby reducing management complexity while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an automatic information processing system as an intermediary between the video cameras and the final report. This mediator automatically processes video data, extracts relevant information, correlates it with experimental parameters, and generates structured reports, eliminating the need for manual processing and reducing operator burden

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If manual recording of the process leading up to imaging is used, then the system is simple to operate, but data reliability and completeness deteriorate due to omissions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoiddata completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically recording and processing experimental data without requiring manual intervention. The apparatus autonomously captures video data, extracts relevant information, correlates it with operational parameters, and generates reports, ensuring data completeness while maintaining ease of operation through automated processes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors experimental parameters and video data, automatically adjusting and recording information based on detected events and operations. This feedback loop ensures that all critical data is captured and recorded accurately, improving data reliability without increasing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12525424B2Charged particle beam apparatus and report creation method
Publication Date: 2026.01.13 HITACHI HIGH TECH CORP
  • US12525424B2 patent drawing
  • US12525424B2 patent drawing
  • US12525424B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An input and output device includes: an instruction analysis unit configured to generate a conversation document in which a conversation uttered by a user is converted into character string data and recognize, based on the conversation document, a conversation intention of the user including an instruction to an image acquisition device; a history retention unit configured to record, as history information, the conversation document, the conversation intention, and a response of the image acquisition device to the instruction to the image acquisition device; a difference analysis unit configured to divide a report creation period using a timing when the user issues, to the image acquisition device, an instruction including an intention to save a captured image as a boundary and output report creation information in which history information divided for each of the report creation periods, and a captured image and a differential condition corresponding to the history information are associated with each other; and a report retention unit configured to create a report for each of the report creation periods based on the report creation information and record the created report.