Patent ID: 8134697
Filing Date: 2012-03-13
Classification: G01N,G06T,H01L

Abstract:
1. A circuit pattern inspection apparatus comprising: irradiation means for irradiating a sample with a charged particle beam, a circuit pattern being formed in the sample; scanning means for scanning the sample with the charged particle beam in an X-direction; stage moving means for moving a stage, on which the sample is placed, in a Y-direction, the Y-direction being different from the X-direction; detection means for detecting a signal, the signal being generated from the sample by the irradiation with the charged particle beam; memory means for storing an image of the circuit pattern in the sample, the image being obtained from the signal detected by the detection means; comparison means for comparing the image stored in the memory means with an image obtained from another circuit pattern corresponding to the circuit pattern in the sample; determination means for determining a defect on the circuit pattern from the comparison result performed by the comparison means; and setting means for setting each of a pixel size in the X-direction and a pixel size in the Y-direction separately from, and independently of, each other, when the sample is moved in the Y-direction by the stage moving means and is scanned in the X-direction by the scanning means, the pixel size in the X-direction corresponding to the signal detection interval in the X-direction on the sample, the pixel size in the Y-direction corresponding to the signal detection interval in the Y-direction on the sample.