Patent ID: 7439503
Filing Date: 2008-10-21
Classification: G01N,H01J

Abstract:
1. A charged particle beam irradiation method comprising: obtaining shape information of an edge of a pattern to be inspected that is formed on a subject; creating, from the shape information, a first line group substantially perpendicular to the pattern edge; creating, from the shape information, a second line group substantially parallel with the pattern edge; specifying areas defined by said first line group and said second line group as a lattice group including irradiation positions of a charged particle beam; deciding an order to irradiate the areas with the charged particle beam so that the lattice group is sequentially scanned in a direction of the first or second line group; and scanning the subject with the charged particle beam in accordance with the irradiation order to obtain a profile indicating contrast between the pattern edge and adjacent to the pattern edge.