Patent ID: 7489395
Filing Date: 2009-02-10
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for inspecting pattern defects, comprising: a light source for emitting an ultraviolet light; a light beam shape switching unit for switching a shape of the ultraviolet light; an illumination system for irradiating the ultraviolet light onto a sample; an image-former for forming an image of reflection light reflected from the sample by the irradiation of the ultraviolet light from the illumination system; a detector which includes a time delay integration image sensor for receiving the image of the reflection light and for converting it into a detected image signal; a monitor which monitors the image formed by the image-former; and an image processor for detecting defects on patterns formed on the sample in accordance with the detected image signal; wherein the light beam shape switching unit switches the shape of the ultraviolet light to change an illumination area on the sample irradiated by the ultraviolet light to a slit illumination area on the sample which is longer in one direction on the sample when receiving the image detected by the detector and to a wide illumination area on the sample which is larger than the slit area on the sample when monitoring the image by the monitor.