Patent ID: 6855929
Filing Date: 2005-02-15
Classification: G01N,H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A substrate inspection apparatus comprising: a. a beam source for emitting an electron beam having a specified width; b. a primary electron optical system for introducing said electron beam to a surface of a substrate subject to an inspection; c. a secondary electron optical system for guiding secondary electrons emitted from said substrate to a detecting system; d. an image processing system for forming a secondary electron image based on a detection signal of a secondary electron beam obtained by said detecting system; e. a stage for holding said substrate in such a manner that said substrate may be moved successively with at least one degree of freedom; f. an inspection chamber for said substrate; g. a substrate conveying mechanism capable of carrying said substrate into said inspection chamber and taking it out therefrom; h. an image processing analyzer capable of detecting a defective location on the substrate loaded into said inspection chamber based on the secondary electron image formed by said image processing system; i. a vibration isolating mechanism for said inspection chamber; j. a vacuum system capable of controlling a vacuum atmosphere to be maintained in said inspection chamber; k. a control system for indicating and/or storing said defective location on said substrate detected by said image processing analyzer; l. a mini-environment device for inhibiting dust from adhering to the substrate by applying a purge gas flow against said substrate prior to the inspection; and m. at least one loading chamber which is disposed between said mini-environment device and said inspection chamber and controllable to the vacuum atmosphere independently from each other, wherein said substrate conveying mechanism includes a loader having one conveying unit capable of conveying said substrate between said mini-environment device and said loading chamber, and said vibration isolating mechanism includes a vibration isolating unit interposed between said inspection chamber and said loading chamber.