Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An exposure apparatus for a charged particle beam, comprising: a pattern information acquiring section acquiring information on a character projection pattern formed in a character projection aperture mask;  a first information storing section storing a plurality of pieces of information on reference patterns; and  an identifying section identifying a shape of the character projection pattern as a shape of one of the reference patterns by comparing the information on the character projection pattern with the pieces of information on the reference patterns. 2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pattern information generating section generating information on a shape and a placement of the character projection pattern based on information on the identified shape of the character projection pattern. claim 1 3. The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a second information storing section storing the information on the shape and the placement of the character projection pattern generated by the pattern information generating section. claim 2 4. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pattern information correcting section correcting the information on the reference pattern based on information on the identified shape of the character projection pattern. claim 1 5. The apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a second information storing section storing information on the reference pattern corrected by the pattern information correcting section. claim 4 6. The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the information on the character projection pattern is acquired by detecting a reflection electron, a secondary electron, or a transmission electron of the charged beam with which the character projection aperture mask is irradiated. claim 1 7. The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the information on the character projection pattern is acquired by imaging the character projection pattern formed in the aperture mask. claim 1 8. An exposure method for a charged beam, comprising: acquiring information on a character projection pattern formed in a character projection aperture mask; and  identifying a shape of the character projection pattern as a shape of one of a plurality of reference patterns by comparing the information on the character projection pattern with a plurality of pieces of information on the reference patterns. 9. The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising generating information on a shape and a placement of the character projection pattern based on information on the identified shape of the character projection pattern. claim 8 10. The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising storing the information on the shape and the placement of the character projection pattern. claim 9 11. The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising correcting the information on the reference pattern based on information on the identified shape of the character projection pattern. claim 8 12. The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising storing the corrected information on the reference pattern. claim 11 13. The method according to  claim 8  wherein the information on the character projection pattern is acquired by detecting a reflection electron, a secondary electron, or a transmission electron of the charged beam with which the character projection aperture mask is irradiated. claim 8 14. The method according to  claim 8  wherein the information on the character projection pattern is acquired by imaging the character projection pattern formed in the aperture mask. claim 8 15. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device comprising: acquiring information on a character projection pattern formed in a character projection aperture mask;  identifying a shape of the character projection pattern as a shape of one of a plurality of reference patterns by comparing the information on the character projection pattern with a plurality of pieces of information on the reference patterns;  preparing writing data based on information on the identified shape of the character projection pattern;  generating a charged particle beam based on the writing data; and  exposing a resist film formed on a semiconductor substrate by the charged particle beam.