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Hitachi Tokyo Electronics Co., Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd.

Koji Abe

Hidetoshi Nishiyama

Mari Nozoe

Kenji Watanabe

Shigeaki Hijikata

An electron beam apparatus equipped with a review function of a semiconductor wafer includes a scanning electron microscope to obtain image information of a semiconductor wafer, and an information processing apparatus to process the image information. The information processing apparatus includes a data input unit to receive positional information of a defect on the wafer, a storage for storing a plurality of image information of a position on the wafer corresponding to the positional information, and an image processing unit that retrieves any of the plurality of image information, and classifies the retrieved image information corresponding to the positional information depending on the type of defect.

Method of inspecting pattern and inspecting instrument

A sample inspection system having a sample stage holding a sample to be inspected, electron beam optics so as to radiate an electron beam to the sample, a detector unit that detects a secondly generated signal generated in response to radiation of the sample by the electron beam, a storage for storing a plurality of images obtained from the generated signal and information for classifying the plurality of images by a type of defect in the sample, and an image processing unit. The image processing unit retrieves any of the plurality of images and classifies the retrieved image depending on the type of defect including an electrical defect and a defect in the figure.

A pattern inspection system for inspecting a substrate surface on which a predetermined pattern is formed with radiation of an electron beam and an optical beam. the pattern inspection system includes a radiation and which radiates an electron beam to the substrate, a detection unit which detects a secondarily generated signal attributable to the radiation of the electron beam, a retrieval unit which retrieves an image from the signal detected by the detection unit, and an image processing unit which classifies the retrieved image depending on a type of the image.

There are provided an inline inspection system and inspection method for inspecting the substrate surface on which semiconductors and circuit patterns are formed by radiating thereto white beam, laser beam or electron beam, and reviewing, inspecting and discriminating the detected roughness and figure defect, particle and moreover electrical defect on the surface with higher accuracy within a short period of time with the same instrument. Thereby, automatic movement to the position to be reviewed, acquisition of image and classification can be realized. On the occasion of identifying the position to be reviewed on a sample and forming an image through irradiation of electron beam on the basis of the positional information of defect detected with the other inspection instrument, an electrical defect can be reviewed with the voltage contrast mode by designating the electron beam irradiation condition, detectors and detecting condition depending on a kind of defect to be reviewed. The image obtained is automatically classified in the image processing unit and the result is then additionally output to the defect file.

Growing community of inventors

Hitachinaka, Japan

Koji Abe