Patent ID: 6900888
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: G01N,G03F

Abstract:
1. A pattern inspection apparatus for detecting defects comprising: a light source which emits ultraviolet (UV) light; irradiation means which diminishes a coherency of the UV light and irradiates the UV light having the diminished coherency onto a subject through an objective lens; imaging means which images the subject irradiated by the UV light, with the coherency thereof being diminished by said irradiation means, and detects an image signal; and defect detecting means which detects a defect of a pattern which is formed on the subject, based on information carried by the image signal detected by said imaging means; wherein said irradiation means include a pair of oscillation mirrors, each of the pair of oscillation mirrors being arranged at a position conjugate with a pupil of the objective lens and scanning the UV light emitted from said light source.