Patent ID: 9031313
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: G01N,G03F,G06T

Abstract:
1. An inspection apparatus comprising: an optical image capture unit configured to capture optical images of an object to be inspected by irradiating the object with light; a comparing unit configured to compare a first optical image with reference information to determine coordinates of a portion of the first optical image determined to be a defect, wherein the first optical image and the coordinates of the portion together form a first inspection result; and an interface unit configured to output to a lithography simulator the first optical image and the coordinates, wherein the interface unit is connected to the lithography simulator through a general communications network and is configured to instruct the lithography simulator to generate a first simulated image of the portion of the first optical image, generate a second simulated image using the reference information, compare the first and second simulated images, identify a defect if a difference between the first and second simulated images exceeds a predetermined threshold, and send a result of the comparison to the comparing unit; and wherein the comparing unit is configured to inspect a second optical image different from the first optical image selected based upon the result of the comparison and produce a second inspection result, and configured to display the first and second inspection results.