Abstract:
An electron beam system using a scanning electron microscope equipped with a function for controlling a charged state of a sample to be observed includes electron optics for obtaining image data of the scanning electron microscope, and a monitor that displays a relationship between an equation for determining a degree of separation of peaks which appear in a histogram obtained on a basis of the image data and at least one parameter among parameters for controlling the charged state of the sample. An optimized parameter for controlling the charged stage of the sample can be visually distinguished on the monitor.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/098,699, filed Apr. 5, 2005, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       CLAIM OF PRIORITY  
       [0002]     The present invention claims priority from Japanese application JP 2004-111061 filed on Apr. 5, 2004, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference on to this application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The preset invention relates to board production technology for boards having microscopic circuit patterns such as semiconductor devices and liquid crystal and, more particularly, to a technique for inspecting patterns of semiconductor devices, photomasks, and the like.  
         [0004]     Semiconductor devices are manufactured by repeating a process of printing a pattern formed with a photomask on a wafer by lithography and etching. To inspect such a pattern, identifying a defect by obtaining a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) image of the pattern is performed. Recently, as patterns have become finer and finer, contact holes become more difficult to form. The number of disconnected failure patterns occurring inside the contact holes notably increases and there is a need for a high sensitivity defect detection technique.  
         [0005]     A wafer cross section view  400  is shown in  FIG. 4  to depict a contact hole defect. This section of a wafer structure is made by growing a silicon oxide film  405  on a silicon substrate  404 , patterning contact holes, and filling the holes with metal. Among the contact holes, there are a normal pattern  401  and a disconnected failure pattern  402 . To detect this defective contact hole, after charging the wafer, a voltage contrast image should be obtained to distinguish between the normal pattern and the disconnected failure pattern having different electrical resistances resulting in different potentials of changing voltage which are represented as difference in the number of secondary electrons.  
         [0006]     A method of obtaining a voltage contrast image and a principle of defect detection are described. A voltage contrast image may be obtained by either (1) positively charging or (2) negatively charging the surface of a sample. The polarity of charging appropriate for inspection differs, depending on the wafer structure to be inspected. The polarity of charging can be changed, depending on a condition for inspection. For instance, there is a method of changing incident electron beam energy (e.g., refer to L. Reimer: Scanning Electron Microscopy, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 1998).  
         [0007]     Now, let us discuss another method in which the voltage of charging voltage control electrodes  407  installed facing toward the wafer is changed. For both positive charging and negative charging, the energy of an incident electron beam  410  onto the wafer is controlled so that the efficiency of secondary electron emission from the wafer will be 1 or more (e.g., 500 eV).  
         [0008]     (1) In the case of positive charging; the voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  407  is set so that an electric field generated in the vicinity of the wafer accelerates the secondary electrons. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5  (an enlarged view of a beam irradiation area), a positive charging voltage potential  501  is formed above the wafer. When the electron beam hits the normal pattern  401  and the disconnected failure pattern  402 , the secondary electrons  502  emitted therefrom are accelerated by the potential  501  and the disconnected failure pattern  402  is positively charged. The normal pattern  401  is not charged because it is electrified from the substrate  404 . Because of the positively charged state of the disconnected failure pattern  402 , a low energy portion of secondary electrons  503  from it is drawn back to the wafer. On the other hand, because the normal pattern  401  is not charged with the beam, all secondary electrons  504  from it are emitted. As a result, a voltage contrast  505  is obtained and the disconnected failure can be detected as a dark object in the image (e.g., refer to H. Nishiyama, et al.: SPIE 4344, p. 12 (2001), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-313322).  
         [0009]     (2) In the case of negative charging; the voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  407  is set so that the electric field generated in the vicinity of the wafer decelerates the secondary electrons to make them back to the wafer. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 6  (an enlarged view of a beam irradiation area), a negative charging voltage potential  601  is formed above the wafer. When the electron beam hits the normal pattern  401  and the disconnected failure pattern  402 , the secondary electrons  602  emitted therefrom are drawn back to the wafer by the potential  601  and, consequently, the disconnected failure pattern  402  is negatively charged. Because of the negatively charged state of the disconnected failure pattern  402 , the secondary electrons  603  from it are accelerated and emitted without being drawn back by the negative charging voltage potential  601 . On the other hand, because the normal pattern is not charged with the beam, all secondary electrons  604  from it are drawn back to the wafer. As a result, a voltage contrast image  605  is obtained and the disconnected failure can be detected as a light object in the image (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-121561).  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The above charging voltage potential can be changed by changing the voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  407 . When a positive charging voltage contrast is obtained, increasing the voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  407  makes it easy to emit the secondary electrons and, consequently, the charging voltage potential increases. For negative charging, decreasing the voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  407  make more secondary electrons back to the wafer and, consequently, the charging voltage potential decreases. However, unless the charging voltage potential for a wafer is set optimum, the sensitivity of inspection decreases. If the charging amount (in proportional to the absolute value of the charging voltage potential) is too large or too small, the sensitivity decreases.  
         [0011]     (1) When the charging amount is too large; charge leakage occurs in a disconnected failure pattern and the pattern cannot be charged fully. There is a fear that the failure pattern is erroneously recognized as a normal pattern. When the charging amount is too large, the secondary electrons are bent to a greater degree, which affects the efficiency of detecting the secondary electrons. As a result, distortion and light spots occur in the image obtained and the accuracy of defect detection decreases.  
         [0012]     (2) When the charging amount is too small; difference in charging between the normal pattern and the disconnected failure pattern is small, which results in a small contrast therebetween, making it hard to detect a defect.  
         [0013]     As noted above, for high sensitivity inspection, it is needed to ensure a sufficient contrast between normal and failure patterns, while keeping the charging amount within a limit. The condition for inspection has heretofore been set manually by the operator&#39;s experience. For this reason, the setting operation takes time and the repeatability of inspection is poor, and an accuracy problem of inspection exists.  
         [0014]     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inspection technique using a charged particle beam by which a method of setting the condition for optimally charging an object to be inspected without relying on the operator&#39;s experience is established and a voltage contrast image with higher efficiency of defect detection than ever before can be obtained.  
         [0015]     To achieve the foregoing object, from the perspective of “finding the condition for minimizing the charging amount, while keeping the contrast level required for inspection”, the present inventors found out acquiring histograms of voltage contrast images and using the forms of the histograms for determining that condition.  
         [0016]     A basic constitution of the present invention will be described below.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a voltage contrast image  703  and its histogram  704 . In the histogram  704 , there are two peaks  702 ,  701  respectively produced by pattern areas (contact holes, wiring, etc.) and other insulation areas.  
         [0018]     First, the image histogram is fit to the sum of two Gaussian functions (Equation 1) (i=1, 2).  
               p   ⁡     (   x   )       =       ∑   i     ⁢         A   i         2   ⁢           ⁢     πσ   i   2           ⁢     exp   (     -         (     x   -     μ   i       )     2       2   ⁢           ⁢     σ   i   2           )                 (     Equation   ⁢           ⁢   1     )             
 
 where x is a signal value and p (x) is the frequency of appearance of the signal value x. 
 
         [0019]     Then, the Gaussian functions are assumed to have averages μ 1  and μ 2  and standard deviations σ 1  and σ 2 , respectively.  
         [0020]     Now, |μ 1 −μ 2 |/(σ 1 +σ 2 ) is evaluated depending on a condition for inspection which is altered (e.g., the voltage Vcc of the charging voltage control electrodes  407 ). An optimal condition is determined subject to a constraint of Equation 2.  
               ɛ   1     &lt;              μ   1     -     μ   2                σ   1     +     σ   2         &lt;     ɛ   2             (     Equation   ⁢           ⁢   2     )             
 
 where, typically, 1 and 3 are assigned to ε 1  and ε 2  respectively, though these values may be altered by situational decision-making. 
 
         [0021]     As for functions to which the histogram should be fit, other than the above Gaussian functions, a function with an isolate peak such as a Lorentz function (Equation 3) may be used.  
               p   ⁡     (   x   )       =       ∑   i     ⁢       a   i   2           (     x   -     x     0   ,   i         )     2     +     a   i   2                   (     Equation   ⁢           ⁢   3     )             
 
         [0022]     In the present means, it is important to evaluate the histogram and, therefore, auto brightness and contrast control of signal values must not be performed, when the image is obtained, while changing the electron irradiation condition.  
         [0023]     While the instance where two peaks are present in the histogram has been discussed herein, if there are three or more peaks, the same evaluation must be performed for adjacent peaks.  
         [0024]     As an example of optimizing the inspection condition, now let us discuss optimizing the voltage Vcc of the charging voltage control electrodes  407 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  shows negative changing voltage contrast images  801  to  803  respectively obtained when the voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  407  is set at −8440 V, −8460 V, and −8510 V, as inspection conditions and their histograms  804  to  806 . As the voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  407  decreases, the negative charging voltage decreases. When the charging amount is small, because two separate peaks do not appear (a histogram  804 ), the patterns are not clear (a voltage contrast image  801 ), and it becomes hard to inspect the patterns. On the other hand, when the charging amount is large, two separate peaks appear (a histogram  805 ) and the patterns are clear (a voltage contrast image  802 ) and can be inspected well. However, when the charging amount becomes too large (a histogram  806  and a voltage contrast image  803 ), this results in a decrease in sensitivity. In view of the above, an optimum condition is determined, according to the following method:  
         [0000]     (1) obtain voltage contrasts and their histograms, while altering the voltage Vcc of the charging voltage control electrodes  407  installed facing toward the wafer;  
         [0000]     (2) choose histograms where two peaks respectively produced by the insulation areas and the pattern areas appear; and  
         [0000]     (3) apply a constraint equation (2) (ε 1 =1, ε 2 =3) as the condition for ideal separate peaks and determine Vcc=−8460 V as the optimal condition, as is shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0026]     (4) The results of actual inspection are shown in  FIG. 10  where the number of defects detected is the most under the optimal condition (Vcc=−8460 V) and a smaller number of defects is detected at other voltages because some defects cannot be detected under other conditions.  
         [0027]     As above, the optimal condition for inspection can be determined. However, as the inspection condition is changed, remaining charges may affect the subsequent voltage contrast image. In that event, the charges should be neutralized by irradiating the wafer with ultraviolet light. Alternatively, a wafer portion from where an image is obtained should be shifted from one portion to another whenever an image is acquired.  
         [0028]     A type of defects to be inspected is disconnected failure of contact holes and line patterns, which represents a major part of defects.  
         [0029]     According to the present invention, the inspection technique using a charged particle beam can be realized by which the method of setting the condition for optimally charging an object to be inspected without relying on the operator&#39;s experience is established and a voltage contrast image with higher efficiency of defect detection than ever before can be obtained. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]      FIG. 1  is a diagram to explain an SEM inspection system configuration for use in a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 2A  is a flowchart to explain an example of an inspection flow in the first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 2B  is a flowchart to explain an example of a flow of inspection condition optimization included in the inspection flow of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart to explain another example of the flow of inspection condition optimization included in the inspection flow of  FIG. 2A ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  is a diagram to explain a principle of obtaining a voltage contrast image;  
         [0035]      FIG. 5  is a diagram to explain a principle of obtaining a voltage contrast image by positive charging;  
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a diagram to explain a principle of obtaining a voltage contrast image by negative charging;  
         [0037]      FIG. 7  is a diagram to explain a voltage contrast image and its histogram in the present invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 8  is a diagram to explain voltage contrast images and their histograms depending on Vcc in the present invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 9  is a graph used to determine an optimal condition for inspection in the present invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 10  is a graph to describe variance in the number of defects detected, depending on Vcc in the present invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 11  is a graph used to determine optimum incident electron beam energy in a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0042]      FIG. 12  is a graph used to determine an optimum electron beam current in a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 13  is a diagram to explain a voltage contrast image of a wafer with a less number of patterns and a principle of image processing for inspection condition optimization in a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0044]      FIG. 14  is a graph to describe a histogram of the voltage contrast image of a wafer with a less number of patterns shown in  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0045]      FIG. 15  is a graph to describe a histogram obtained after processing the voltage contrast image of a wafer with a less number of patterns shown in  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 16  is a review SEM system configuration for use in a fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0047]      FIG. 17  is a flowchart to explain an example of an inspection procedure in the fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0048]      FIG. 18  is a graph used to determine an optimal value of Vcc in a sixth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0049]      FIG. 19  is a graph used to determine a Vcc value according to the flow of inspection condition optimization in the sixth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0050]      FIG. 20  is a diagram showing a wafer having a plurality of patterns formed in a seventh embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0051]      FIG. 21  is a diagram showing a cross section structure of a pattern in an eighth embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0052]      FIG. 22  is a diagram to explain a database of conditions for inspection for the pattern shown in  FIG. 21 ; and  
         [0053]      FIG. 23  is a diagram showing a cross section structure of a wafer inspected in the eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0054]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0055]      FIG. 1  shows an inspection system configuration according to a first embodiment of the invention. The inspection system (SEM inspection system) is equipped with a chamber for inspection  2  which is degassed and evacuated and a reserve chamber (not shown in this embodiment) for feeding a wafer  9  as a sample inside the chamber for inspection  2 . This reserve chamber is arranged so that it can be degassed and evacuated independently of the chamber for inspection  2 . The inspection system also includes a control unit  6  and an image processing unit  5  in addition to the chamber for inspection  2  and the reserve chamber. The internals of the chamber for inspection  2  roughly comprise electron optics  3 , a charging voltage control unit, a detection unit  7 , a sample chamber  8 , and an optical microscopy unit  4 .  
         [0056]     The electron optics  3  comprise a cathode  10 , electron beam extraction electrodes  11 , condenser lenses  12 , blanking deflectors  13 , apertures  14 , objective lenses  16 , converter electrodes  17 , and ExB (E cross B) deflectors  18 . A detector  20  out of the detection unit  7  is placed above one objective lens  16  within the chamber for inspection  2 . An output signal of the detector  20  is amplified by a preamplifier  21  installed outside of the chamber for inspection  2  and converted into digital data by an AD converter  22 .  
         [0057]     The charging voltage control unit comprises charging voltage control electrodes  65  installed facing toward the stage, a charging voltage control electrode control unit  66 , and a charging voltage control electrode power supply  67 .  
         [0058]     The detection unit  7  comprises the detector  20  within the degassed vacuum chamber for inspection  2 , the preamplifier  21 , the AD converter  22 , an optical signal converter  23 , an optical fiber  24 , an electrical signal converter  25 , a high voltage power supply  26 , a preamplifier power supply  27 , an AD converter power supply  28 , and a reverse bias power supply  29  which are external to the chamber for inspection  2 . The detector  20  out of the detection unit  7  is placed above one objective lens  16  within the chamber for inspection  2 . The detector  20 , preamplifier  21 , AD converter  22 , optical signal converter  23 , and preamplifier power supply  28  are floated to positive voltage by the high-voltage power supply  26 . The sample chamber  8  comprises a sample holder  30 , an X-direction stage  31 , a Y-direction stage  32 , a rotation stage  33 , a stage position monitoring sensor  34 , and an optical height sensor  35 .  
         [0059]     The optical microscopy unit  4  is installed near the electron optics  3  within the chamber for inspection  2 , but separated from the optics by a distance enough to avoid a mutual effect on each other. The distance between the electron optics  3  and the optical microscopy unit  4  is known. The X-direction stage  31  and the Y-direction stage  32  are arranged to reciprocate over the known distance between the electron optics  3  and the optical microscopy unit  4 . The optical microscopy unit  4  comprises a light source  40 , an optical lens  41 , and a CCD camera  42 .  
         [0060]     Instructions for causing each component of the system to operate and conditions for operation are input to the control unit  6  and output therefrom to each component. Various conditions of an acceleration voltage when an electron beam is generated, electron beam deflection width, deflection speed, signal capturing timing of the detection unit, speed at which the sample holder moves, etc. are input in advance to the control unit  6  so that any of the conditions can be set arbitrarily or selected and set, according to the purpose. Using a correction control circuit  43 , the control unit  6  monitors for deviation in position and height, according to signals from the stage position monitoring sensor  34  and the optical height sensor  35 , generates a correction signal, according to the results of the monitoring, and sends the correction signal to a lens power supply  45  and a scanning signal generator  44  so that an electron beam always hits a correct spot.  
         [0061]     To obtain an image of a wafer  9 , a narrow focused electron beam  19  is applied to the wafer to emit secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  51  from the wafer  9 . By detecting these electrons in synchronization with scanning the electron beam  19  and the movements of the stages  31  and  32 , an image of the wafer  9  surface is obtained.  
         [0062]     For the cathode  10 , a thermal field emission cathode of a diffusion resupply type is used. By using this cathode  10 , it is ensured that more stable electron beam current is generated than a conventionally used cathode such as, e.g., a tungsten (W) filament cathode and a cold field emission cathode, and, consequently, a voltage contrast image with less variation in luminance can be obtained. The electron beam  19  is drawn from the cathode  10  by applying a voltage between the cathode  10  and the extraction electrodes  11 . The electron beam  19  is accelerated by applying a negative high voltage potential of high voltage to the cathode  10 .  
         [0063]     By being thus accelerated, the electron beam  19  with energy corresponding to its potential travels toward the sample holder  30 . The electron beam  19  is converged by the condenser lenses  12 , narrow focused by the objective lenses  16 , and applied to the wafer  9  mounted on the X- and Y-direction stages  31  and  32  on the sample holder  30 . The scanning signal generator  44  which generates a scanning signal and a blanking signal is connected to the blanking def lectors  13  and the lens power supply  45  is connected to the condenser lenses  12  and the objective lenses  16 . A negative voltage (retarding voltage) can be applied to the wafer  9  from a retarding power supply  36 . By adjusting this retarding power supply  36 , a primary electron beam is decelerated and the electron beam irradiation energy to the wafer  9  can be adjusted to an optimal value without changing the voltage of the cathode  10 .  
         [0064]     The secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  51  emitted by applying the electron beam  19  to the wafer  9  are accelerated by a negative voltage applied to the wafer  9 . The ExB deflectors  18  are located above the wafer  9  to deflect the secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  51  toward predetermined directions. The magnitude of the deflection can be adjusted by changing the voltage and the magnetic field energy applied to the ExB deflectors  18 . This electromagnetic field can be varied in conjunction with the negative voltage applied to the sample. The secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  51  deflected by the ExB deflectors  18  strike against the converter electrodes  17  under a predetermined condition. When the accelerated secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  51  strike against the converter electrodes  17 , second secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  52  are emitted from the converter electrodes  17 .  
         [0065]     The second secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  52  emitted when the electrons strike against the converter electrodes  17  are guided to the detector  20  by an attractive electric field. The detector  20  is configured to, in concurrence with timing of scanning the electron beam  19 , detect the second secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  52  emitted when the secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  51  emitted during the application of the electron beam  19  to the wafer  9  are then accelerated and strike against the converter electrodes  17 . An output signal of the detector  20  is amplified by the preamplifier  21  installed outside of the chamber for inspection  2  and converted into digital data by the AD converter  22 . The AD converter  22  is configured to convert an analog signal detected by the detector  20  into digital signal immediately after being amplified by the preamplifier  21  and transmit the digital signal to the image processing unit  5 . Because the detected analog signal is digitized and transmitted immediately after being detected, a signal to be handled at a high speed and with a high S/N ratio can be obtained. As the detector  20  employed herein, for example, a semiconductor detector may be used.  
         [0066]     The wafer  9  is mounted on the X- and Y-direction stages  31  and  32 . Either of the following methods of scanning can be selected: a method of scanning the electron beam  19  in two dimensions with the X- and Y-direction stages  31  and  32  standing still when inspection is executed; and a method of scanning the electron beam  19  linearly in the X direction while moving the X- and Y-direction stages  31  and  32  in the Y direction continuously at a constant speed when inspection is executed. If a specific relatively small area is inspected, the former method for inspection by scanning with the stages standing still is effective. If a relatively wide area is inspected, the latter method for inspection by scanning while moving the stages continuously at a constant speed is effective. When it is necessary to blank the electron beam  19 , the electron beam  19  is deflected by the blanking deflectors  13  and can be controlled not to pass through the apertures  14 .  
         [0067]     As the stage position monitoring sensor  34 , a length measuring sensor using laser interference is used in this embodiment. The positions of the X- and Y-direction stages  31  and  32  can be monitored in real time and the measurements are transferred to the control unit  6 . The mechanism is configured such that data for the rotating speeds or the like of the motors of the X-direction stage  31 , Y-direction stage  32 , and rotation stage  33  are also transferred to the control unit  6 . Based on the above data, the control unit  6  can correctly identify an area and position being irradiated with the electron beam  19  and is arranged to make real-time correction for deviation in position to be irradiated with the electron beam  19  by the correction control circuit  43 , if necessary. An area irradiated with the electron beam can be stored per wafer.  
         [0068]     As the optical height sensor  35 , an optical sensor based on a measurement method other than using an electron beam, for example, a laser interference sensor ora reflected light sensor which measures a change in reflected light position. This sensor is configured to measure the height of the wafer  9  mounted on the X- and Y-direction stages  31  and  32  in real time. In this embodiment, a method in which white light emitted from a light source  37  is applied to the wafer  9 , the reflected light position is detected by a position detecting monitor, and a change in height is calculated from a change in the position is used. Based on the measurement data obtained by the optical height sensor  35 , the focal length of the objective lenses  16  to narrow focus the electron beam  19  is corrected dynamically, so that an area to be inspected can always be irradiated with the electron beam  19  focused on that area. The mechanism can also be configured to measure warpage and height distortion of a wafer  9  in advance before irradiation with the electron beam and to set conditions for correcting the focal length of the objective lenses  16  per area to be inspected, based on the measurement data.  
         [0069]     The image processing unit  5  comprises an image storing unit  46 , a calculation unit  48 , and a monitor  50 . Wafer  9  image signals detected by the above detector  20  are amplified by the preamplifier  21  and converted into digital signals by the AD converter  22 . Then, the digital signals are converted into optical signals by the optical signal converter  23 , the optical signals are transmitted through the optical fiber  24  and converted into electrical signals by the electrical signal converter  25 , and the electrical signals are stored into the image storing unit  46 .  
         [0070]     Electron beam irradiation conditions for generating an image and various detection conditions for the detection unit are set in advance when an inspection condition setting operation is performed and stored into files and on a database.  
         [0071]     Next, a procedure of inspection with the inspection system shown in  FIG. 1  will be described with a flowchart shown in  FIG. 2A .  
         [0072]     First, in step  201 , set a wafer in an arbitrary shelf in a wafer cassette and set the wafer cassette in place. To specify the wafer to be inspected, specify the in-cassette number of the shelf in which the wafer has been set via the monitor  50 . In step  202 , enter various conditions for inspection via the monitor  50 . Entries as the conditions for inspection include the settings of electron beam current, electron beam irradiation energy, view size of a screen (Field Of View (FOV)), voltage of the retarding power supply  36 . voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  65 , etc. Although individual parameters can be entered, combinations of various parameters for inspection for the above settings are normally stored in inspection condition files and on a database. Input operation can be performed simply by selecting appropriate inspection condition files and entering the identifiers of the files, according to the scope of inspection.  
         [0073]     In step  203 , automatic inspection gets started. In step  204 , initially, the wafer  9  that has been set is loaded from a sample exchange chamber  62  into the inspection system. The wafer handling unit can accommodate wafers  9  with different diameters and different wafer shapes such as an orientation flat wafer or a notched wafer by using a wafer holder for supporting a wafer  9  appropriate for wafer size and shape. The wafer  9  is removed from the wafer cassette and mounted on the holder by a wafer loading/unloading unit including an arm, an auxiliary vacuum chamber, etc. The wafer supported by the holder is degassed and evacuated in the wafer loading/unloading unit and carried into the chamber for inspection  2  which has already been evacuated by a vacuum unit.  
         [0074]     After the wafer is loaded, in step  205 , electron beam irradiation conditions are set on the components by the control unit  6 , based on the entered conditions for inspection. The stage  32  is moved so that a first beam calibration pattern on the wafer holder is positioned under the electron optics. A voltage contrast image of the beam calibration pattern is obtained and focusing and astigmatism adjustments are performed, according to the voltage contrast image. After a move to a predetermined place on the wafer  9  to be inspected, a voltage contrast image of the wafer  9  is obtained and contrast adjustment is performed. If it is necessary to change the electron beam irradiation conditions or the like, beam calibration can be performed again. A correlation between height information obtained by the optical height sensor  35  and the electron beam focusing condition may be obtained. Subsequently, automatic adjustment to an optimal focusing condition in accordance with the wafer height detected can be performed without executing focusing each time a voltage contrast image is obtained.  
         [0075]     In step  206 , the wafer  9  that has been set is moved by the X- and Y-direction stages  31  and  32  in order that a first coordinate for alignment is observed by the optical microscopy unit  4 . An optical microscopy image of an alignment pattern formed on the wafer  9  is observed on the monitor  50 , it is compared with the corresponding pattern image stored in advance, and a position correction value for the first coordinate is calculated. After a move to a second coordinate on which a circuit pattern similar to the pattern on the first coordinate exists, apart from the first coordinate by a given distance, an optical microscopy image of the circuit pattern is observed in a similar manner and compared with the corresponding circuit pattern image stored for alignment and a position correction value for the second coordinate and rotational displacement of the second coordinate from the first coordinate are calculated.  
         [0076]     After preparatory work including predetermined corrections with the optical microscopy unit  4 , inspection area setting, etc. is completed as above, the wafer  9  is moved to under the electron optics  3  by the movements of the X- and Y-direction stages  31  and  32 . When the wafer  9  is positioned under the electron optics  3 , the same alignment work as performed with the optical microscopy unit  4  is performed for a voltage contrast image. Obtaining an voltage contrast image is performed in the following way. Based on the corrected coordinate values in the alignment operation with the optical microscopy unit, which have been stored, the electron beam  19  is applied to the same circuit pattern as observed by the optical microscopy unit  4  and scanned in two dimensions in the X and Y directions by the scanning deflectors  15 . With this two-dimensional scanning of the electron beam, secondary electrons and back scattering electrons  51  emitted from a wafer portion to be observed are detected by the structures and actions of the above components for emission electron detection and a voltage contrast image is obtained. Because, with the optical microscopy unit  4 , inspection position check and alignment and position adjustment have been performed and rotational correction also performed beforehand, alignment, position correction, and rotational correction can be performed at higher resolution, larger magnification, and higher accuracy than with optical images. When the electron beam  19  is applied to the wafer  9 , the irradiation portion of the wafer is charged. To avoid the effect of this charging when the wafer is inspected, in the preparatory work before inspection including position and rotational correction, inspection area setting, etc., a circuit pattern to be irradiated with the electron beam  19  which exists out of the area to be inspected should be selected beforehand or arrangement is made such that the corresponding circuit pattern on a chip other than the chip to be inspected can be selected from the control unit  6  automatically. The result of the alignment thus performed is transferred to each control unit. When the wafer is inspected, rotation and the position coordinates are corrected by each control unit.  
         [0077]     In step  207 , the wafer is moved to the specified area. Then, an optimal condition for inspection is determined, according to a flow of inspection condition optimization  200  (steps  208  to  220 ), as is illustrated in  FIG. 2B . By way of example, one condition for inspection, voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  65  is discussed below; the same principle applies to other conditions such as electron beam energy and retarding voltage. First, in step  208 , a minimum voltage of Vcc, V 1 , a maximum voltage V 2 , and an increment/decrement unit ΔV in which the voltage is changed are input. In step  210 , Vcc=V 1  is input as an initial condition. In step  211 , an image is obtained. When the image is obtained, auto brightness and contrast control of signal values is not performed. In step  213 , a histogram of the image is calculated and the histogram is fit to the Gaussian functions, according to Equation 1. In step  214 , it is determined whether separate peaks appear, based on Equation 2. If it is impossible to obtain separate peaks, the Vcc value is changed in step  215 . By the decision made in step  216 , if the changed value of Vcc falls within the range specified in step  208 , an image is obtained again in step  211  and the above steps  211  to  216  are repeated. If the changed value of Vcc falls outside the range specified in step  208  by the decision made in step  216 , a range must be input again in step  208 . In this way, a condition for inspection is determined in step  220 .  
         [0078]     The result of actual execution of these steps is discussed below. First, in step  208 , V 1  was set at −8530 V, V 2  at −8420 V, and ΔV at 10 V. Images  801  to  803  obtained and a histogram  804  are shown in  FIG. 8 . These histograms are fit to Equation 1 and the averages μ 1  and μ 2  and standard deviations σ 1  and σ 2 , of the Gaussian functions are obtained. Variance of |μ 1 −μ 2 |/(σ 1 +σ 2 ) depending on Vcc which is altered, which is shown in  FIG. 9 , was obtained. From this result, it was able to find Vcc=−8460 V satisfying the condition for ideal separate peaks, ε 1 =1 and ε 2 =3 in Equation 2 (a shaded zone in  FIG. 9 ).  
         [0079]     Next, in step  221 , beam calibration is performed again in the same way as in step  205 . After the beam calibration is completed, calibration is performed in step  222 . Move to a second calibration pattern mounted on the sample holder occurs. The second calibration pattern is to match signal intensity levels with signal values in a voltage contrast image which is obtained during inspection. This pattern has contact holes with a sufficiently low resistance (10 3 Ω or below) and contact holes with a sufficiently high resistance (10 20 Ω or above) patterned. Using the voltage contrast image of this pattern, the signal values of sufficiently low resistance areas and sufficiently high resistance areas are calibrated. For the Sufficiently high resistance areas, insulation areas without patterns may be used. In light of the result of this calibration, after a move to the wafer  9 , a voltage contrast image of the pattern areas on the wafer is obtained and calibration is performed.  
         [0080]     In step  223 , inspection gets started. An image for defect detection is obtained in step  224  and saved in step  225 . After inspection is completed, the wafer is unloaded in step  226  and the procedure terminates in step  227 .  
         [0081]     According to the above-described inspection method, problems with conventional SEM inspection such as a repeatability problem and a decrease in sensitivity of detecting a defect can be solved and well-repeatable and high sensitivity inspection can be performed.  
         [0082]     While the embodiment wherein the voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  65  is automatically set has been described, settings for other conditions such as electron beam current, electron beam energy, and retarding voltage can be performed in a similar manner.  
         [0083]     While Gaussian functions are used as the functions to which histograms should be fit in this embodiment, a function with an isolated peak such as a Lorentz function may be used besides these functions.  
         [0084]     When a condition for inspection is optimized, each time the condition is changed, image acquisition is performed, but the effect of charging and contamination under the previous condition may be unignorable. In this case, to eliminate such effect, ultraviolet light irradiation may be performed. Alternatively, a wafer area from where an image is obtained may be shifted from one area to another whenever the condition for inspection is changed.  
         [0085]     If an image has shading, it is preferable to carry out the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  after shading correction is performed.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0086]     In a second embodiment, an instance where electron beam energy E 0  is optimized by using the same method as for the first embodiment is discussed. Through consideration of wafer damage, a maximum value of E 0  is set at 1.5 keV. In the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  ( FIG. 2B ), E 0  replaces Vcc and 0 keV, 1.5 keV, and 0.25 keV replace V 1 , V 2 , and ΔV, respectively. As a result, variance of |μ 1 −μ 2 |/(σ 1 +σ 2 ) depending on E 0  which is altered was obtained, as is shown in  FIG. 11 . From this result, it was able to find E 0 =1.0 keV satisfying the condition for ideal separate peaks, ε 1 =1 and ε 2 =3 in Equation 2.  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0087]     In a third embodiment, an instance where electron beam current IP is optimized by using the same method as for the first embodiment is discussed. In the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  ( FIG. 2B ), IP replaces Vcc and 0 nA, 300 nA, and 50 nA replace V 1 , V 2 , and ΔV, respectively. As a result, variance of |μ 1 −μ 2 |/(σ 1 +σ 2 ) depending on IP which is altered was obtained, as is shown in  FIG. 12 . From this result, it was able to find IP=100, 150, and 200 nA satisfying the condition for ideal separate peaks, ε 1 =1 and ε 2 =3 in Equation 2.  
       Fourth Embodiment  
       [0088]     For a wafer with a sparse pattern density denoted by reference numeral  1101  in  FIG. 13 , a good contrast appears to be obtained, but it was realized that, in a histogram drawn, a peak produced by a pattern area is merged into signals produced from silicon oxide areas, as shown in  FIG. 14 . Therefore, it was impossible to determine an optimal condition by the method described in the First Embodiment section. As is shown in a view at upper right in  FIG. 13 , extracting a pattern area  1102  and setting a region  1103  with the same area as the area-set pattern in the middle of a line from the pattern area  1102  to the nearest pattern are performed. Extracting the area  1102  corresponds to a range  1105  within the half width of a peak in a signal profile  1104  shown at lower right in  FIG. 13 . After extracting an image (signal extraction) in this way, a histogram is drawn again; as a result, the histogram which is shown in  FIG. 15  was obtained, wherein two separate peaks could be observed. Before signal extraction, shading may be removed from the image.  
         [0089]     A flow of inspection condition optimization  300  in which the foregoing is carried out is shown in  FIG. 3 . In step  208 , a minimum voltage of Vcc, V 1 , a maximum voltage V 2 , and an increment/decrement unit ΔV in which the voltage is changed are input. In step  209 , a numeric value N is set to 0; this value is used to determine whether to proceed to eliminating the shading effect and signal extraction at a later step. In step  210 , V 1  is input as an initial condition of Vcc. In step  211 , an image is obtained. When the image is obtained, auto brightness and contrast control of signal values is not performed. In step  212 , a decision is made subject to the N value. If N=0, an image histogram is calculated and Gaussian fitting according to Equation 1 is performed in step  21 . In step  214 , it is determined whether separate peaks appear, based on Equation 2. If it is impossible to obtain separate peaks, the Vcc value is changed in step  215 . By the decision made in step  216 , if the changed value of Vcc falls within the range specified in step  208 , an image is obtained again in step  211  and the above steps  211  to  216  are repeated. If the changed value of Vcc falls outside the range specified in step  208  by the decision made in step  216 , 1 is added to N in step  217 . After it is determined whether N=1 in step  218 , the procedure proceeds to steps  210 ,  211 , and  212 . Because N=0 is not true in step  212 , the procedure proceeds to step  219 . In step  219 , eliminating the shading effect and signal extraction are performed. Using the result of signal extraction, step  213  is executed and it is determined whether separate peaks appear in step  214 . If separate peaks are not present, the procedure proceeds to step  215 . If separate peaks are present, a condition for inspection is determined in step  220 . In this way, in the inspection procedure of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , this flow of inspection condition optimization  300  is applied instead of the flow of the flow of inspection condition optimization  200 ; thereby, a condition for inspection could be optimized.  
       Fifth Embodiment  
       [0090]     In a fifth embodiment, an instance of defect classification using review SEM is discussed.  
         [0091]      FIG. 16  shows an example of a review SEM system configuration. This system comprises electron optics  321 , a stage mechanism unit  322 , a wafer handling unit  323 , a vacuum unit  324 , an optical microscopy  325 , a control unit  326 , and an operation unit  327 .  
         [0092]     The electron optics  321  comprise a cathode  328 , condenser lenses  329 , objective lenses  330 , first detectors  331 , a second detector  332 , deflectors  335 , converter electrodes  336 , and wafer height detectors  337 . Reflected electrons  353  and secondary electrons  354  emitted when an electron beam  352  is applied to a wafer  351  are detected by the first detectors  331  and the second detector  332 , respectively.  
         [0093]     The stage mechanism unit  322  comprises an XY stage  338 , a holder  339  on which a wafer is mounted as a sample, and a retarding power supply  340  for applying a negative voltage to the holder  339  and the wafer  351 . A position detector by laser length measurement is attached to the XY stage  338 .  
         [0094]     The wafer handling unit  323  comprises a wafer cassette setting position  341  and a wafer loading/unloading unit  342 . The holder  339  on which the wafer  351  is mounted is moved from the wafer loading/unloading unit  342  to the XY stage  338  and vice versa.  
         [0095]     The control unit  326  comprises a signal detection control unit  343 , a beam deflection correction control unit  344 , an electron optics control unit  345 , a detector unit of wafer height sensor  346 , and a stage and other mechanics control unit  347 . The operation unit  327  comprises a operation monitor and operation unit  348 , an image processing unit  349 , and an image and inspection data storing unit  350 .  
         [0096]     A charging voltage control unit comprises charging voltage control electrodes  364  installed facing toward the stage, a charging voltage control electrode control unit  365 , and a charging voltage control electrode power supply  366 .  
         [0097]     Next, the operation of the components shown in  FIG. 16  will be described with a flowchart shown in  FIG. 17 .  
         [0098]     First, in step  1501 , set a wafer  351  in an arbitrary shelf in a wafer cassette and set the wafer cassette in the wafer cassette setting position  341  in the wafer handing unit  323 . Next, in step  1502 , to specify the wafer  351  to be reviewed, specify the in-cassette number of the shelf in which the wafer has been set via the operation monitor  348 . In review, inspection of another inspection system was performed for the wafer and, based on inspection result information including information about the location a defect or the like, an electron beam image is generated for close observation. Thus, select an inspection result file via the operation monitor and operation unit  348 . For this selection, an inspection result file obtained through communication over a network or the like may be read into the system or an inspection result file can be read from a recording medium into the system. In either case, by specifying the identifier of an inspection result file, the inspection result data is read into a data input unit  356  and may be converted into a data format and a coordinate system for use in the review SEM system by a data converter  357 . Furthermore, enter a review condition file identifier via the operation monitor and operation unit  348 . This review condition file consists of combinations of parameters for determining details of review. After entering conditions required for review execution is completed, an automatic review sequence gets started in step  1503 .  
         [0099]     When the review gets started in step  1503 , first, the wafer  351  that has been set is carried into the review system. The wafer handling unit  323  can accommodate wafers with different diameters under inspection and different wafer shapes such as an orientation flat wafer or a notched wafer by using a holder  339  for supporting the wafer  351  appropriate for wafer size and shape. The wafer under inspection is removed from the wafer cassette and mounted on the holder  339  by the wafer loading/unloading unit  342  including an arm, an auxiliary vacuum chamber, etc. The wafer supported by the holder is carried into the chamber for inspection.  
         [0100]     After the wafer  35  is loaded in step  1504 , electron beam irradiation conditions are set on the components by the electron optics control unit  345 , based on the entered conditions for review, in step  1505 . An electron beam image of a specific area on the wafer  351  is obtained and focusing and astigmatism adjustments are performed, according to the image. At the same time, the wafer  351  height is obtained by the wafer height detector  337  and a correlation between the height information and the electron beam focusing condition is obtained. Subsequently, automatic adjustment to an optimal focusing condition in accordance with the wafer height detected will be performed without executing focusing each time an electron beam image is obtained. Thereby, electron beam images can be obtained continuously at a high speed.  
         [0101]     After electron beam irradiation condition setting and focusing and astigmatism adjustments are completed, alignment for two points on the wafer is performed in step  1506 .  
         [0102]     Then, after a move to a pattern on the wafer in step  1507 , the procedure following the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  ( FIG. 2B ) or  300  ( FIG. 3 ) is performed as is the case for the first and fourth embodiments. Then, beam calibration  1508  is performed again.  
         [0103]     In step  1509 , rotational and coordinate corrections are performed, based on the result of alignment, and a move to the location of a defect to be reviewed occurs, based on information from the inspection result file that has been read beforehand.  
         [0104]     After the move to the defect location, beam irradiation is performed in step  1510  and an image is obtained in step  1511 . In step  1512 , the large magnification image obtained is stored if necessary into the image and data storing unit  350 . It is possible to set a review condition file to be stored or not to be stored in advance and to store a plurality of types of images obtained by a plurality of detectors simultaneously, if necessary, according to the setting. For example, an image generated by secondary electrons detected by the second detector  332  and an image generated by reflected electrons detected by the first detectors  331  can be stored together.  
         [0105]     Simultaneously with storing an image or images in step  1512 , the image processing unit  349  extracts defect features from the image information and automatically classifies the defect. The classification result is coded in numbers, for example, 0 to 255 and the code number is written into a field for defect classification code in the inspection result file. The above defect reviewing operation is repeated at step  1516 . Upon completion of the above series of actions for all defects specified to be reviewed on one wafer, the inspection result file (into which classification results have been written) for the wafer is automatically saved and the file is output to a destination specified. Then, the wafer is unloaded in step  1514  and review terminates in step  1515 .  
         [0106]     By using this method, defects detected by inspection SEM can be reviewed completely and classified.  
         [0107]     While Gaussian functions are used as the functions to which histograms should be fit in the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  or  300  in this embodiment, a function with an isolated peak such as a Lorentz function may be used besides these functions.  
         [0108]     If an image has shading, it is preferable to carry out the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  or  300  after shading correction is performed. Alternatively, it may also preferable to specify an area where no shading occurs and carry out the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  or  300 .  
         [0109]     When a condition for inspection is optimized, each time the condition is changed, image acquisition is performed, but the effect of charging and contamination under the previous condition may be unignorable. In this case, to eliminate such effect, ultraviolet light irradiation may be performed. Alternatively, a wafer area from where an image is obtained may be shifted from one area to another whenever the condition for inspection is changed.  
       Sixth Embodiment  
       [0110]     In the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  ( FIG. 2B ) or  300  ( FIG. 3 ) of the first to fifth embodiments, an instance where, when the condition for inspection is changed, faster condition setting can be performed by changing the increment/decrement unit in which the condition is changed multiple times is discussed. In the sixth embodiment, among the conditions for inspection, the Vcc value of the charging voltage control electrode power supply  67  (inspection SEM) or  366  (review SEM) is optimized. Initially, with the increment/decrement unit ΔV of 40 V for the Vcc, the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  or  300  was performed. Image histograms are fit to Equation 1 and variance of |μ 1 −μ 2 |/(σ 1 +σ 2 ) depending on Vcc which is altered, which is shown in  FIG. 18 , was obtained. Because the increment/decrement unit ΔV is large, it was unable to determine Vcc satisfying the condition for ideal separate peaks, ε 1 =1 and ε 2 =3 in Equation 2. However, it was able to find Vcc values  2002  and  2001  near to the range of the above condition. Then, between these Vcc voltages, the unit ΔV was set to a smaller value of 10 V and the flow of inspection condition optimization was performed again. As a result, it was able to find Vcc values  2101  and  2102  satisfying Equation 2. If two ore more Vcc values satisfying the condition are found, a average of th Vcc values is regarded as an optimal condition. This method allows for faster inspection condition optimization than when a smaller value is initially used as the unit ΔV.  
       Seventh Embodiment  
       [0111]     If a plurality of types of patterns are present on a wafer, it may occur that an optimal condition for inspection is not fixed to one. In the seventh embodiment, a method of determining a condition for setting in that case is discussed.  
         [0112]     A wafer  1901  shown in  FIG. 20  has regions  1903  and  1904  and patterns  1905  and  1906  are formed respectively in these regions. In the procedure following the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  or  300 , the Vcc voltage of the charging voltage control electrode power supply  67  was optimized as a condition for inspection. As a result, it was found that the condition differs, depending on the patterns. For the pattern  1905 , Vcc=−8460 V is an optimal condition, whereas, for the pattern  1906 , Vcc=−8440 V is an optimal condition. In this case, (1) a method of using an average of these Vcc values or (2) a method of executing inspection for each pattern with a different Vcc optimal for the pattern can be selected as required. A merit of the method (1) is shorter inspection time, because scanning the entire wafer surface under the same Vcc condition, though the condition somewhat differs from the optimal value. A merit of the method (2) is that inspection can be performed at higher sensitivity, because an optimal condition for inspection is applied for each pattern, though the inspection procedure must be repeated twice and takes longer.  
       Eighth Embodiment  
       [0113]     From data acquired by inspection condition optimization carried out as in the first to seventh embodiments, conditions for inspection can be stored on a database, which allows for faster inspection condition setting.  
         [0114]     An example of such database is shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 .  FIG. 21  shows a cross sectional view of pattern, where reference numeral  1601  denotes a silicon substrate,  1602  pn junction,  1603  a plug embedded in a contact hole,  1604  contact hole, and  1605  silicon oxide. As the result of classification by typical items that characterize a pattern: with or without the plug  1603  pattern, aspect ratio (of the contact hole  1604 ), and with or without pn junction  1602 , the conditions for inspection can be arranged as in  FIG. 22 . The conditions for inspection are possible in three ways (1) to (3) below: 
 
 Vac=− 10 kV, Vr=− 9.5 kV, Vcc=− 5 kV  (1) 
 
 Vac=− 10 kV, Vr=− 8.5 kV, Vcc=− 8.7 kV  (2) 
 
 Vac=− 10 kV, Vr=− 8.5 kV, Vcc=− 8.8 kV  (3) 
 
 where Vac is voltage of the cathode  10 , Vr is voltage of the retarding power supply  36 , and Vcc is voltage of the charging voltage control electrodes  65 . 
 
         [0115]     Next, using this database, wafer inspection was performed.  FIG. 23  shows a cross section structure of the wafer inspected. By fitting to the database in  FIG. 22 , because the pattern is not plugged and has a low aspect ratio and pn junction, the condition for inspection (1) was selected. Under this condition, inspection was performed and it was able to detect disconnected failure at high sensitivity. Because a condition for inspection is selected using the database, faster inspection condition optimization can be performed than when the flow of inspection condition optimization  200  ( FIG. 2B ) or  300  ( FIG. 3 ) is applied.  
         [0116]     While the foregoing embodiments relate to inspection SEM, condition setting can be performed in the same method for other SEMs (e.g., review SEM, CD-SEM). While the inspection system examples using an electron beam have been described in detail, the basic concept of the present invention can be applied to an inspection system using an ion beam or the like, not limited to the electron beam.  
         [0117]     As fully described above, according to the present invention, in inspecting partially finished circuit boards such as semiconductor devices with circuit patterns, problems with conventional SEM inspection including lack of repeatability of defect detection results and impossibility of setting conditions for high sensitivity inspection due to relying on the operator&#39;s experience can be solved. By automatically setting conditions for inspection, time to set the conditions can be shortened. Moreover, the inspection system is capable of setting well-repeatable optimal conditions with high accuracy and has improved sensitivity of detecting defects; consequently, semiconductor products can be monitored with high sensitivity.