Patent ID: 8034641

Claim:
A method for inspection of defects on a substrate, the method comprising: positioning a probe of a scanning probe microscopy (SPM) over and spaced apart from a substrate; scanning the substrate by changing a relative position of the probe with respect to the substrate on a plane spaced apart from and parallel to the substrate, the scanning of the substrate including: vibrating the probe in a direction parallel to the substrate along a first straight line on the plane spaced apart from and parallel to the substrate, and moving the probe with respect to the substrate by moving a center of the vibration of the probe along a second straight line on the plane spaced apart from and parallel to the substrate, the second straight line being perpendicular to the first straight line; measuring a value of an induced current generated via the probe in at least two different regions of the substrate, the value of the induced current being variable according to at least a shape and a material of the substrate; and determining whether a defect exists by comparing the values of the induced currents measured in the at least two different regions of the substrate.