Patent ID: 6970589
Filing Date: 2005-11-29
Classification: G01N,G03F

Abstract:
1. A method for inspecting defects on a mask, which comprises: (a) loading a first defect inspection system with a first mask having a surface with at least a sub-area having structuring; (b) loading a second defect inspection system with a reference mask having a surface with at least a sub-area having structuring that is identical to the structuring of the sub-area of the first mask; (c) connecting a bus system between a first control computer belonging to the first defect inspection system and a second control computer belonging to the second defect inspection system and using the bus system to communicate between the first control computer and the second control computer; (d) using the first defect inspection system to record a portion of the sub-area of the first mask and using the first control computer to construct a first image from the portion; (e) using the second defect inspection system to record a portion of the sub-area of the reference mask and using the second control computer to construct a second image from the portion of the reference mask; (f) using the bus system to perform an operation selected from the group consisting of transferring the first image from the first control computer to the second control computer and transferring the second image from the second control computer to the first control computer; (g) comparing the first image with the second image; and (h) classifying the first mask based on a result of the comparing step.