Patent ID: 7522276
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A pattern inspection method to inspect pattern defects of a substrate in which a pattern is formed comprising: preparing an illumination optics which applies a first inspection light of a predetermined wavelength to a surface opposite to a pattern formed surface of the substrate, and applies a second inspection light whose wavelength is equal to the predetermined wavelength of the first inspection light to the pattern formed surface; selectively detecting a transmitted light through the substrate by irradiation of the first inspection light and a reflected light from the substrate by irradiation of the second inspection light so as to perform a transmitted-light-based inspection and a reflected-light-based inspection; and spatially separating, by using a space separation mechanism which is provided in the vicinity of an optical focal plane toward the pattern formed surface of the substrate, an irradiation area of the first inspection light and an irradiation area of the second inspection light such that the transmitted light through the substrate is imaged in one area on the optical focal plane separated from another area where the reflected light from the substrate is imaged.