Patent ID: 7034298

Claim:
An inspection method using an electron beam, comprising the steps of: designating a defect region on a sample on which a pattern is formed, the defect region having been selected by an operator from a defect distribution chart containing a graphical display of defects for the sample, the defect region comprising one defect area or operator-combined defect areas having a same type of defect; positioning the sample for irradiation based on the defect location; irradiating the sample on which a pattern is formed with an electron beam; generating an inspection image and a reference image based on a secondary electron or a reflected electron emitted by the sample; determining an abnormal pattern based on a difference in the halftone values in each pixel between the inspection image and the reference image; generating an abnormal pattern image from the abnormal pattern determined; displaying simultaneously at least the inspection image, the reference image, and the abnormal pattern extraction image; determining a plurality of feature quantities of the abnormal pattern including differentiated halftone values between pairs of adjacent pixels based on the image of the abnormal pattern; and designating a range for classifying the type of the abnormal pattern based on the distribution of the plurality of feature quantities of the abnormal pattern.