Visual inspection method and apparatus and image analysis system

1. A visual inspection method detecting a defect with the use of a detected signal obtained by illuminating one of a light and an electron beam onto a substrate to be inspected, the visual inspection method comprising the steps of:

calculating an image feature based on an image of the detected defect;

calculating a coordinate feature based on mutual position information of more than three defects; and

outputting real defect information by performing false alarm judgment by processing with respect to one of the image feature and the coordinate feature.

2. The visual inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the processing includes the steps of:

performing teaching of whether the detected defect is a real defect or a false alarm; and

calculating an image feature based on an image of the detected defect, calculating a coordinate feature based on position coordinates of the detected defect, calculating a histogram of a real defect and a false alarm for every feature, choosing automatically one of the image feature and the coordinate feature based on the histogram, and deciding a threshold value.

3. The visual inspection method of claim 1 , wherein the processing includes the steps of:

calculating the image feature based on an image of the detected defect;

calculating the coordinate feature based on the position coordinates of the detected defect;

choosing one of the image feature and the coordinate feature;

displaying an image of the detected defect in one of ascending order and descending order of the chosen feature; and

setting a boundary to separate one region from another, so that the one region may include no false alarm;

wherein, as for another defect, the step of choosing the feature and the subsequent steps thereof are recursively repeated.

4. A visual inspection apparatus comprising:

a stage operable to hold a substrate to be inspected;

image detection means operable to detect an image of the substrate to be inspected by illuminating one of a light and an electron beam onto the substrate to be inspected;

defect detecting means operable to detect a defect by image processing of the detected image;

image feature calculating means operable to calculate an image feature based on an image of the detected defect;

coordinate feature calculating means operable to calculate a coordinate feature based on mutual position information of more than three defects; and

false alarm judging means operable to output real defect information by performing false alarm judgment according to a processing with respect to one of the image feature and the coordinate feature.

5. The visual inspection apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

display means operable to be used for judging whether the detected defect is a real defect or a false alarm; and

false alarm judging condition setting means for the processing by calculating a histogram of a real defect and a false alarm for every feature, choosing automatically one of the image feature and the coordinate feature based on the histogram, and deciding a threshold value.

6. The visual inspection apparatus of claim 4 further comprising:

display means operable to choose one of the image feature and the coordinate feature, to display an image of the detected defect in one of ascending order and descending order of the chosen feature, and to set a boundary separating one region from another, so that the one region may include no false alarm; and

false alarm judging condition setting means for the processing by recursively repeating the processing of choosing the feature and the subsequent processing thereof, as for another defect.