Patent ID: 7449689

Claim:
A scanning electron microscope system comprising: input means for inputting pattern design data of a pattern to be formed on a photomask designed by taking an optical proximity effect into account; SEM image acquiring means for acquiring a SEM image of a resist pattern formed by exposing a resist film coated on a surface of a substrate with light through the photomask; simulating means for simulating a circuit pattern to be formed on a substrate by using the pattern design data inputted by the input means; superposing means for superposing the SEM image of the resist pattern formed by the SEM image acquiring means and the simulated circuit pattern formed by the simulating means; geometrical feature extracting means for extracting one- or two-dimensional geometrical features indicating differences between the superposed SEM image and the simulated circuit pattern; and evaluating index calculating means for calculating evaluation indices for evaluating a correction of the optical proximity effect of the mask pattern formed on the photomask by using information about the one- or two-dimensional geometrical features provided by the feature extracting means.