Patent ID: 8289507
Filing Date: 2012-10-16
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting a defect by inspecting a specimen including the steps of: illuminating a surface of a specimen on which plural patterns are formed with an elongated shape light flux from a first elevation angle, said specimen being set on a stage which is continuously moving in one direction; capturing an image of the specimen illuminated by the elongated shape light flux with a linear image sensor of an optical detecting unit installed in a second elevation angle direction; and detecting a defect on the specimen by processing a signal output from the linear image sensor, wherein an optical axis of a longitudinal direction of said elongated shape light flux is in parallel with a direction of pixel alignment of the linear image sensor, wherein the stage moves within a plane defined by two axes of a Cartesian coordinate system and the elongated shape light flux is directed along a third axis of the Cartesian coordinate system, and wherein in the step of illuminating, said width of the elongated shape pulsed ultraviolet laser illuminated on said specimen in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the elongated shape light flux is equal to or smaller than an amount calculated from dividing a width in the short axis direction of the light receiving elements array of said linear image sensor by a magnification of the optical image detecting unit.