Patent ID: 7433508

Claim:
A method of inspecting a pattern, comprising the steps of: sensing images of corresponding areas of two patterns, which are originally formed so as to have an identical shape on a substrate, to obtain a reference image and an inspection image; with respect to the reference image and the inspection image obtained by sensing images of the corresponding areas, performing a first correction of a difference in brightness for each corresponding first unit area and performing a second correction of a difference in brightness for each of second unit area which covers at least one of the first unit areas; and detecting a defect using the reference image and the inspection image for which the correction of brightness for each first unit area and the correction of brightness for each second unit area have been performed; wherein a difference of brightness which occurs linearly or in a belt shape in the reference image and the inspection image is corrected by the first correction of brightness for each first unit area, and a difference of brightness which occurs at random in the reference image and the inspection image is corrected by the second correction of brightness for each second unit area.