Charged particle beam apparatus having improved needle movement control

1. A charged particle beam apparatus comprising:

a charged particle beam column configured to irradiate an irradiation target with a charged particle beam;

a detector configured to detect secondary charged particles emitted from the irradiation target by the irradiation of the charged particle beam;

a needle arranged in an irradiation area of the charged particle beam;

a needle actuator configured to actuate the needle; and

a controller configured to control the needle actuator to actuate the needle along a movement route that is configured by a preset target position and preset way points,

wherein the controller controls the needle actuator to set an actuating direction of the needle for each of the way points.

2. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is configured to control the needle actuator to start actuating the needle along the movement route from one of the way points that is closest to a current position of the needle.

3. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is configured to control the needle actuator to actuate the needle along a relative route that is relative to the movement route based on a current position of the needle in a case where the current position is within a predetermined positional area.

4. The charged particle beam apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the controller is configured to control the needle actuator to set a movement speed of the needle in accordance with a position of the needle.