IP Library Granted Patent US 10,417,756
Granted Patent B2
US 10,417,756 · App. 15/545,067 · Granted Sep 17, 2019

Pattern measurement apparatus and defect inspection apparatus

Inventors: Kei Sakai (Tokyo, JP); Satoru Yamaguchi (Tokyo, JP); Kazuyuki Hirao (Tokyo, JP); Yasunori Takasugi (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
G06T7/0004G01B15/04G03F1/86G03F7/70625H01J37/22H01J37/222G01B2210/56G06T2207/10056G06T2207/30148
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,417,756
App. No.
15/545,067
Granted
Sep 17, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a pattern measurement apparatus that appropriately assesses patterns formed by patterning methods for forming patterns that do not exist on photomasks. In order to achieve this purpose, the present invention provides a pattern measurement apparatus comprising a processor that measures the dimensions of patterns formed on a sample by using data acquired by irradiating the sample with a beam, wherein the processor extracts pattern coordinate information on the basis of the data acquired by irradiating the sample with a beam, and uses the coordinate information to generate measurement reference data used when performing dimension measurements of the pattern.

Claims (7)

1. A defect inspection apparatus comprising:

a scanning electron microscope body including an electron source to provide an electron beam to irradiate a sample, a secondary electron detector to trap secondary electrons discharged from the sample when the sample is irradiated by the electron beam, and a signal amplifier receiving output from the secondary electron detector and outputting an amplified signal, and

a processor that detects a defect on the sample using data obtained from the amplified signal upon irradiating the sample with the electron beam by comparing a first image, obtained by irradiating the sample with the electron beam, and a second image, obtained by performing autocorrelation processing on the first image.

2. The defect inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor generates the second image by cutting out a portion of an image obtained by performing the autocorrelation processing, and detects the defect based on determination of a correlation between the second image and the first image.

3. The defect inspection apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processor generates a cross-correlation map based on the determination of the correlation between the first image and the second image.

4. The defect inspection apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first image is obtained by reversing luminance upon irradiating the sample with the electron beam.

5. The defect inspection apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the processor generates the first image in a case where a pattern formed on the sample is a concave pattern.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME AND ADDRESS Recorded Mar 30, 2020
From: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 052259/0227 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2017
From: SAKAI, KEI; YAMAGUCHI, SATORU; HIRAO, KAZUYUKI; TAKASUGI, YASUNORI
To: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 043060/0026 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180012349A1 · Jan 11, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,210,338