Patent ID: 7400390
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: G01N,G03F

Abstract:
1. A method of inspecting a reticle, comprising: using aerial simulation software, generating a first aerial image of a reticle for optical characteristics of a photolithogaphic process which uses said reticle, said optical characteristics including use of light of a first wavelength; using the aerial simulation software, iteratively generating second aerial images of the reticle for optical characteristics of a reticle inspection station which uses light of a second wavelength and comparing each second aerial image to the first aerial image until selecting one of the second aerial images that is substantially equal to the first aerial image; defining optical characteristics of the reticle inspection system so as to produce aerial images of the reticle as defined by the selected one of the second aerial images, configuring the inspection system according to the defined optical characteristics so that the inspection system emulates the photolithographic process while utilizing light of the second wavelength; and inspecting the reticle by illuminating at least a portion of the reticle using light of the second wavelength within the inspection system configured according to the defined optical characteristics to produce an image and using a comparison technique to identify defects in the reticle from said image.