Patent ID: 8804112
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: G01N,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of inspecting defects of detecting defects of a sample to which a circuit pattern is formed, the method comprising: a scanning step of scanning the sample; an illuminating step of illuminating in a plurality of illumination azimuth directions, from an angle tilted to a normal direction with respect to a surface of the sample; a light-shielding step of shielding a portion of the scattered light scattered from the surface of the sample, by use of a spatial filter arranged on at least one detecting light path, the scattered light resulting from the illuminating step; a detecting step including an imaging step of imaging the scattered light transmitted through the spatial filter arranged on at least one detecting light path; and a processing step of processing a comparison of signals based on the scattered light images in the imaging step; wherein illumination is performed with sequentially changing azimuth directions, by periodically shifting the illumination in the plurality of azimuth directions, and light-shielding patterns of the spatial filter are changed to shield lights of regular reflection in synchronization with the illumination.