Abstract: A sample holder is offered which is used when a sample is inspected by irradiating the sample with a primary beam consisting of a charged-particle beam (such as an electron beam) via a film. Furthermore, method and apparatus for preventing destruction of the film due to a pressure difference by detecting damage to the film during inspection are offered.

Abstract: A pattern defect inspection apparatus capable of detecting minute defects on a sample with high sensitivity without generating speckle noise in signals is realized. Substantially the same region on a surface of a wafer is detected by using two detectors at mutually different timings. Output signals from the two detectors are summed and averaged to eliminate noise. Since a large number of rays of illumination light are not simultaneously irradiated to the same region on the wafer, a pattern defect inspection apparatus capable of suppressing noise resulting from interference of a large number of rays, eliminating noise owing to other causes and detecting with high sensitivity minute defects on the sample without the occurrence of speckle noise in the signal can be accomplished.

Abstract: A specimen holder, a specimen inspection apparatus, and a specimen inspection method permitting a specimen consisting of cultured cells to be observed or inspected. Also, a method of fabricating the holder is offered. The holder has an open specimen-holding surface. At least a part of this surface is formed by a film. A specimen cultured on the specimen-holding surface of the film can be irradiated via the film with a primary beam for observation or inspection of the specimen. Consequently, the cultured specimen (e.g., cells) can be observed or inspected in vitro. Especially, if an electron beam is used as the primary beam, the specimen in vitro can be observed or inspected by SEM. Because the specimen-holding surface is open, a manipulator can gain access to the specimen. A stimulus can be given to the specimen using the manipulator. The reaction can be observed or inspected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of inspecting a sample, in which the sample is inspected under a plurality of inspection conditions, and inspection data obtained by inspecting the sample under each of the plurality of inspection conditions and position information on the sample of the inspection date in correspondence with the respective inspection conditions, are stored. The inspection data for each of the plurality of inspection conditions is against each other by the use of the position information on the sample to determine a position to be inspected in detail, and an image of the sample at a position to be inspected in detail is obtained. The obtained image is classified, the inspection condition of the sample by the use of information of classification of the image is determined.

Abstract: Sample inspection apparatus, sample inspection method, and sample inspection system are offered which can give a stimulus to a sample held on a film when the sample is inspected by irradiating it with a primary beam (e.g., an electron beam or other charged-particle beam) via the film. The apparatus has the film, a vacuum chamber, primary beam irradiation column, signal detector, and a controller for controlling the operations of the beam irradiation column and signal detector. The sample is held on a first surface of the film opened to permit access to the film. The vacuum chamber reduces the pressure of the ambient in contact with a second surface of the film. The irradiation column irradiates the sample with the primary beam via the film from the second surface side. The detector detects a secondary signal produced from the sample in response to the irradiation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting defects on a specimen includes an illumination optical unit which obliquely projects a laser focused onto a line on a surface of the specimen, a table unit which mounts the specimen and which is movable, a detection optical unit which detects with an image sensor an image of light formed by light reflected from the specimen and passed through a filter which blocks diffraction light resulting from patterns formed on the specimen, a signal processor which processes a signal outputted from the image sensor of the detection optical unit to extract defects of the specimen, and a display unit which displays information of defects extracted by the signal processor. The filter is adjustable.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting defects on a specimen including an illumination optical unit which obliquely projects a laser onto a region which is longer in one direction than in a direction transverse to said one direction on a surface of a specimen, a table unit which mounts said specimen and which is movable, a detection optical unit which detects with an image sensor an image of light formed by light reflected from said specimen in both directions of the one direction and the direction transverse and which reflected light in both directions is formed on said image sensor while said table is moving, a signal processor which processes a signal outputted from said image sensor of said detection optical unit to extract defects of said specimen. A display unit which displays information of defects extracted by said signal processor.

Abstract: According to the present invention, for a pattern inspection apparatus that compares images in corresponding areas of two patterns that are identical and that determines an unmatched portion between the images is a defect, a plurality of detection systems and a plurality of corresponding image comparison methods are provided. With this configuration, the affect of uneven brightnesses for a pattern that occurs due to differences in film thicknesses can be reduced, a highly sensitive pattern inspection can be performed, a variety of defects can be revealed, and the pattern inspection apparatus can be applied for processing performed within a wide range. Furthermore, the pattern inspection apparatus also includes a unit for converting the tone of image signals of comparison images for a plurality of different processing units, and when a difference in brightness occurs in the same pattern of the images, a defect can be correctly detected.

Abstract: A particle beam system is offered which can prevent contamination of the inside of the objective lens, the objective lens being located at the front end of the optical column. The particle beam system has an optical column equipped with a particle beam source for emitting a particle beam and a beam passage pipe through which the beam passes. The system further includes a vacuum chamber connected with the front end portion of the column. The beam passed through the pipe is released from the front end of the column. An inner pipe is detachably disposed inside the beam passage pipe located at the front-end side of the column.

Abstract: A method of inspecting defects of a sample includes a first step for, on a basis of position information of defects on a sample placed on a movable table which is previously detected and obtained by an other inspection system, driving the table so that the defects come into a viewing field of an optical microscope having a focus which is adjusted, a second step for re-detecting the defects to obtain a first detection result, a third step for correcting the position information of defects on a basis of position information of defects re-detected of the first detection result, and a fourth step for reviewing the defects whose position information is corrected to obtain a second detection result. The method includes classifying types of defects on basis of the first detection result and the second detection result.

Abstract: Specimen holder, specimen inspection apparatus, and specimen inspection method for observing or inspecting a specimen consisting of cultured cells. The specimen holder has a body portion and a film. The body portion has a specimen-holding surface opened to permit access from the outside. The film has a first surface forming the specimen-holding surface. The specimen disposed on the first surface of the film can be irradiated with a primary beam for observation or inspection of the specimen via the film. A region coated with an electrically conductive film is formed on the bottom surface of the body portion facing away from the specimen-holding surface. An optically transparent region not coated with the electrically conductive film is also formed on the bottom surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of inspecting a sample, in which the sample is inspected under a plurality of inspection conditions, and inspection data obtained by inspecting the sample under each of the plurality of inspection conditions and position information on the sample of the inspection date in correspondence with the respective inspection conditions, are stored. The inspection data for each of the plurality of inspection conditions is against each other by the use of the position information on the sample to determine a position to be inspected in detail, and an image of the sample at a position to be inspected in detail is obtained. The obtained image is classified, the inspection condition of the sample by the use of information of classification of the image is determined.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for inspecting foreign particles/defects, comprises an illumination optical system, a detection optical system, a shielding unit which is provided in said detection optical system to selectively shield diffracted light pattern coming from circuit pattern existing on an inspection object and an arithmetic processing system, wherein said shielding unit comprises a micro-mirror array device or a reflected type liquid crystal, or a transmission type liquid crystal, or an object which is transferred a shielding pattern to an optical transparent substrate, or a substrate or a film which is etched so as to leave shielding patterns, or an optical transparent substrate which can be changed in transmission by heating, sudden cold, or light illumination, or change of electric field or magnetic field, or a shielding plate of cylindrical shape or plate shape.

Abstract: A method for detecting defects on a specimen includes mounting a specimen on a table with which is movable, obliquely projecting a laser as a line onto a surface of the specimen, detecting with an image sensor an image of light formed by light reflected from the specimen and passed through a filter which blocks scattered light resulting from repetitive patterns formed on the specimen, processing a signal outputted from the image sensor to extract defects of the specimen, and a displaying information of defects extracted by the signal processor.

Abstract: A specimen holder is offered which can reduce the amount of chemical sprayed over a specimen consisting of cultured cells. The specimen holder has an open specimen-holding surface. At least a part of the specimen-holding surface is formed by a film and a tapering portion formed around the film. The specimen can be cultured on the specimen-holding surface of the film. The presence of the tapering portion can reduce the amount of used reagent. The specimen can be irradiated via the film with a primary beam for observation or inspection of the specimen. Consequently, the specimen, such as cells, can be well observed or inspected in vivo while the specimen is being cultured. Especially, if an electron beam is used as the primary beam, the specimen can be well observed or inspected in vivo by SEM (scanning electron microscopy).

Abstract: In a communication system using an IP tunnel for communication between application processing apparatuses (hereinafter, processing apparatuses), an application can be moved to an arbitrary processing apparatus, update of tunnel tables included in the respective processing apparatuses is quickly performed, and a buffer for waiting for packets during the table update is made small. A redundancy managing apparatus manages a correspondence between a virtual IP address (VIP) of an application in a communication system and an IP address (RIP) of an processing apparatus to execute the application. The processing apparatus notifies the VIP of the communication partner application of the application to the redundancy managing apparatus.

Abstract: According to the present invention, for a pattern inspection apparatus that compares images in corresponding areas of two patterns that are identical and that determines an unmatched portion between the images is a defect, a plurality of detection systems and a plurality of corresponding image comparison methods are provided. With this configuration, the affect of uneven brightnesses for a pattern that occurs due to differences in film thicknesses can be reduced, a highly sensitive pattern inspection can be performed, a variety of defects can be revealed, and the pattern inspection apparatus can be applied for processing performed within a wide range. Furthermore, the pattern inspection apparatus also includes a unit for converting the tone of image signals of comparison images for a plurality of different processing units, and when a difference in brightness occurs in the same pattern of the images, a defect can be correctly detected.

Abstract: Method and apparatus capable of observing a liquid sample. An optical image of the sample and an image using a primary beam, such as an electron beam or charged-particle beam, can be obtained at the same time. The apparatus has a film including a first surface on which the liquid sample is held. The primary beam irradiation column and optical image acquisition viewer are located on opposite sides of the film that acts to block light.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reviewing defects detected by an optical particle inspection system or an optical profile inspection system in detail by an electron microscope are provided. In order to putting defects to be reviewed in the viewing field of the electron microscope and reducing the size of the apparatus, the electron microscope reviews defects detected by an optical defect inspection system. In the electron microscope, an optical microscope for reviewing detects is arranged, and when focusing of this optical microscope is carried out, the illumination position and the detection position of the optical microscope are not changed to the sample.

Abstract: An electron microscope method for inspecting a liquid specimen and a reagent solution therefor. A culture medium and biological cells are put in the sample holder. A plugging agent is mixed into the liquid sample. The cells can be irradiated with a primary beam via a film. An image of the cells or information about the cells is obtained by detecting a resulting secondary signal. If the film is destroyed, the plugging agent plugs up the damaged portion of the film. Consequently, liquid leakage can be minimized.