Patent ID: 7834992

Claim:
A method for inspecting a sample, comprising the steps of: obtaining position information, in a first coordinate system, of a first defects group detected on said sample, by inspecting said sample under a first condition using a first defect inspection apparatus; performing at least one wafer processing step on the sample; obtaining position information, in a second coordinate system, of a second defects group detected on said sample after the at least one wafer processing step, by inspecting said sample under a second condition using a second defect inspection apparatus which is different from the first defect inspection apparatus; correcting error of relative position information on said first defects group and/or said second defects group, said error being generated by misalignment between said first coordinate system and said second coordinate system; checking said first defects group and said second defects group, having error of said relative position information corrected; and outputting said checked results.