The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 24, 2009

Filed:

Oct. 14, 2005
Applicants:

Riki Ogawa, Kawasaki, JP;

Toru Tojo, Naka-gun, JP;

Munehiro Ogasawara, Hiratsuka, JP;

Inventors:

Riki Ogawa, Kawasaki, JP;

Toru Tojo, Naka-gun, JP;

Munehiro Ogasawara, Hiratsuka, JP;

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01B 9/02 (2006.01); G01B 11/02 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

In a defect inspecting apparatus, a differential interference optical system forms a differential interference image which is produced from an optical interference of images in a predetermined direction, the images corresponding to inspecting parts of a pattern formed on a mask. A control part varies the predetermined direction so as to cause the differential interference optical system to produce another differential interference image. An image pickup sensor picks up the differential interference images in accordance with the variation of the predetermined direction. A defect detecting unit detects a defect in the pattern formed on the mask from comparing the differential interference images with reference images, respectively.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…