Method and apparatus for inspecting pattern defects
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting a defect, comprising:
- illuminating a sample with a light through an illumination optical system;
detecting light from the sample with an image detection section which is illuminated by the light, and forming an image by processing the detected light with an image editing section;
extracting a defect candidate with a defect candidate extraction unit by comparing the image of the sample formed in the detecting operation with a reference image to extract a difference in brightness between corresponding portions and determining an inspection condition of a defect detection unit by using images including the image of the sample acquired in the detecting operation, a partial image including the extracted defect candidate and the reference image which corresponds to the partial image including the defect candidate,wherein the extracting and determining operations are effected, at least in part, by at least one of a hardware processor and circuitry.
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Abstract
A method of detecting a defect, including the steps of: illuminating step for illuminating a sample with a light; detecting step for detecting light from the specimen which is illuminated by the light and forming an image by processing the detected light; processing step for extracting a defect candidate by processing the image of the sample formed in the detecting step and determining an inspection condition by using images including the image of the sample acquired in the detecting step, a partial image including the extracted defect candidate and a reference image which corresponds to the partial image including the defect candidate.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method of detecting a defect, comprising:
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illuminating a sample with a light through an illumination optical system; detecting light from the sample with an image detection section which is illuminated by the light, and forming an image by processing the detected light with an image editing section; extracting a defect candidate with a defect candidate extraction unit by comparing the image of the sample formed in the detecting operation with a reference image to extract a difference in brightness between corresponding portions and determining an inspection condition of a defect detection unit by using images including the image of the sample acquired in the detecting operation, a partial image including the extracted defect candidate and the reference image which corresponds to the partial image including the defect candidate, wherein the extracting and determining operations are effected, at least in part, by at least one of a hardware processor and circuitry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for detecting a defect, comprising:
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an illuminating unit which illuminates a sample with a light; a detecting unit which detects light from the sample which is illuminated by the light and forms an image by processing the detected light; a processing unit which extracts a defect candidate by comparing the image of the sample formed by the detecting unit with a reference image to extract a different in brightness between corresponding portions and determines an inspection condition by using images including the image of the sample acquired by the detecting unit, a partial image including the extracted defect candidate and a reference image which corresponds to the partial image including the defect candidate. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification