Patent ID: 7043071

Claim:
A method of inspecting a mask, the method including: obtaining a test image from the mask, wherein the test image includes a defect; computing a transmission, a phase, and a shape of the defect; and generating a simulated test wafer image based on the computing associated with the defect; obtaining a reference image, wherein the reference image provides a defect-free image of the test image; generating a defect image by subtracting the reference image from the test image, wherein computing the transmission, the phase, and the shape of the defect uses the defect image; generating a host image by subtracting the defect image from the test image; computing a transmission, a phase, and a shape of the host image; and generating a corrected test image based on the computing associated with the host image and the defect image, wherein generating the simulated test wafer image uses the corrected test image.