Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten defect detection time by reducing invalid areas of two-dimensional optical images acquired from samples to be inspected and reducing overlapping imaging operations. SOLUTION: A pattern inspecting apparatus includes a mounting part for mounting a sample to be inspected; a light irradiation part for irradiating light to the sample to be inspected mounted to the mounting part; a drive unit for relatively scanning the sample to be inspected with irradiating light with a scanning width, in the direction of an X-axis; an optical image light reception part for receiving two-dimensional optical images of a pattern of the sample to be inspected when the sample to be inspected is scanned with irradiating light with a scanning width in the direction of the X-axis; a division processing part for dividing images in the direction of the X-axis into a plurality of rectangular strips; a correction processing part for correcting positional deviations of the two-dimensional optical images in the direction of a Y-axis; and a comparison processing part for comparing the two-dimensional optical images, divided into rectangular strips with a reference image. The pattern inspecting apparatus corrects positional deviations in the direction of the Y-axis before dividing the two-dimensional optical images into rectangular strips in the direction of the X-axis. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for operating a laser light source which monitors a damage of nonlinear crystal used for the laser light source with high accuracy to stably supply a laser beam. SOLUTION: The method for operating the laser light source having a wavelength converter which inputs the laser beams with two-wavelength in the nonlinear crystal to output wavelength of sum frequency is characterized by providing steps of: inputting only a laser beam of one wavelength in the nonlinear crystal; measuring intensity of scattered light of the laser beam with one wavelength by a light receiving sensor installed on an optical axis of output light with the wavelength of the sum frequency among the laser beams with two-wavelength to be input and judging a damage state of the nonlinear crystal based on a measurement value obtained by intensity measurement by the light receiving sensor. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively correct an image automatically in compliance with density of a pattern image of a test target specimen. SOLUTION: By means of this image correction device and this pattern test device, a two-dimensional linear model is identified from the pattern image, and using the sum value of identified parameters, a correction pattern image based on a two-dimensional linear prediction model and an interpolation correction image based on bicubic interpolation are switched mutually. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means of acquiring an optical image without causing defocusing while improving traceability to a pattern. SOLUTION: An optical image acquisition device is equipped with a mean film thickness arithmetic circuit 250 which inputs design shape data on a pattern and film thickness information on the pattern and calculates a mean film thickness in a designated region based upon the design shape data on the pattern and the film thickness information on the pattern, and an optical image acquisition section 150 which acquires an optical image by adjusting a focusing position to the mean film thickness when an optical image of a region of a mask pattern corresponding to the designated region is acquired by using the mask pattern generated based upon the design shape data on the pattern and the film thickness information on the pattern. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pattern inspection apparatus and pattern inspection method capable of inhibiting air fluctuations in an imaging optical system and improving an inspection accuracy. SOLUTION: The pattern inspection apparatus inspecting a pattern formed on an inspection sample, includes a chamber having a downflow mechanism, a light source installed in the chamber, an illumination optical system installed in the chamber and irradiating the inspection sample with inspection light to be emitted from the light source, the imaging optical system installed in the chamber, covered with a windbreak cover and imaging the inspection light delivered to the inspection sample as an optical image, and a detection sensor installed in the chamber and acquiring the optical image, and has a stepping motor in the imaging optical system, capable of reducing a quiescent current lower than an operating current in order to move optical components. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a photomask inspection method which detects a foreign matter such as dust on a photomask with high sensitivity by suppressing erroneous detection due to an influence of noise. SOLUTION: In the photomask inspection method, image data of the photomask having regions with different layer structures on a surface thereof is acquired, and inverted image data is created by subtracting the image data from tone value data of the regions, and offset inverted image data is created by raising pixel values of the inverted image data by a fixed amount, and normalized correlation image data is created by computing a normalized correlation between the offset inverted image data and an offset Gaussian distribution-type kernel, and a foreign matter is detected by comparing the normalized correlation image data with a predetermined threshold. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a sample inspection with non-directive high-resolution without increasing inspection time. SOLUTION: A device for inspecting a pattern includes an illumination optical system in which a polarizer is located between a sample with a pattern and a light source and a region of the sample is illuminated by one of light of which polarization directions being perpendicular and an other region of the sample is illuminated by the other light, a plurality of image formation optical systems for respectively detecting pattern images from different regions of the sample, and a comparator for comparing images respectively detected with a reference image, or a device for inspecting a pattern includes an illumination optical system having a divided type half-wave plate located on the latter stage of the polarizer in which a region of the sample is illuminated by S-polarized light and the other region is illuminated by P-polarized light. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform pattern inspection for eliminating a false image of a measurement image occurring temporarily. SOLUTION: This sample inspection device includes a measurement image forming section for measuring a pattern of a sample and forming the measurement image, and a comparing section for comparing the measurement image with a reference image. The measurement image forming section includes a light receiver where two or more time delay integral sensors using two or more stages of line sensors each of which consists of 2 or more pixels are interconnected. The measurement image forming section sets, as the measurement image, the average value of pixel values other than an abnormal pixel value of the pixels of respective time delay integral sensors, sets, as the measurement image, the average value of pixel values other than the pixel value exceeding a reference value as the abnormal pixel value, sets, as the measurement image, the average value of pixel values other than the pixel value exceeding a reference value as the abnormal pixel value using the sum of the average value of pixel values and a determined value as the reference value, or sets, as the measurement image, the average value of pixel values other than, as the abnormal pixel value, the pixel value where the absolute value of the difference between the pixel value and the average value of the pixel values of all time delay integral sensors exceeds the reference value. COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for operating a laser light source which monitors a damage of nonlinear crystal used for the laser light source with high accuracy to stably supply a laser beam. SOLUTION: The method for operating the laser source includes the nonlinear crystal which is a wavelength conversion element, and a wavelength converter having a heater which holds the nonlinear crystal at fixed temperature, and the method includes a step of measuring supply voltage to the heater; and a step of determining a damage state of the nonlinear crystal by comparing a threshold of the supply power by which it is determined that predetermined crystal is damaged with a measurement value obtained by measurement. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system with less degradation of an optical component and less attenuation of illumination light. SOLUTION: The lighting system comprises a light source for generating a fundamental wave, a waveform shaping part for shaping the fundamental wave in a predetermined shape, a pattern generation part irradiated with the fundamental wave of a shaped waveform, and converted into illumination light with a shorter wavelength than the fundamental wave, and which generating the illumination light of the predetermined shape, and an image relay part for irradiating the illumination light generated in the pattern generation part on an object to be irradiated. COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT