Abstract: Provided are a defect inspection apparatus and a defect inspection method that can inspect various types of defects in a synthesized image. The defect inspection apparatus synthesizes a first detection signal from a first detector and a second detection signal from a second detector with a first synthesis ratio to generate a first synthesized image, and synthesizes the first detection signal and the second detection signal with a second synthesis ratio different from the first synthesis ratio to generate a second synthesized image. The defect inspection apparatus generates a first inspection image based on the first synthesized image and generates a second inspection image based on the second synthesized image. The defect inspection apparatus executes a logical operation on the first inspection image and the second inspection image to generate a synthesized inspection image. The defect inspection apparatus executes defect determination on the synthesized inspection image.

Abstract: An object of the disclosure is to provide a pattern inspection and measurement apparatus that can accurately specify a corner point formed on a sample. The pattern inspection and measurement apparatus according to the disclosure specifies a pair of corner points as a corner pair candidate on design data, and specifies a corner point on an actually formed shape pattern in accordance with a relative relation between the corner pair candidate on the design data and the corner pair candidate in the shape pattern (see FIG. 13).

Abstract: Provided are a defect inspection apparatus and a defect inspection method that can inspect various types of defects in a synthesized image. The defect inspection apparatus synthesizes a first detection signal from a first detector and a second detection signal from a second detector with a first synthesis ratio to generate a first synthesized image, and synthesizes the first detection signal and the second detection signal with a second synthesis ratio different from the first synthesis ratio to generate a second synthesized image. The defect inspection apparatus generates a first inspection image based on the first synthesized image and generates a second inspection image based on the second synthesized image. The defect inspection apparatus executes a logical operation on the first inspection image and the second inspection image to generate a synthesized inspection image. The defect inspection apparatus executes defect determination on the synthesized inspection image.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a pattern height information correction system which includes a contour line information of a pattern extracted from an acquired image including at least an AFM (atomic force microscope) module, a design information database that stores design information including at least layer information, and a computer system that divides the extracted pattern into regions based on the design information stored in the design information database relating to the extracted pattern and associates the divided regions with layer information, in which the computer system specifies a horizontal region designated as horizontal in advance from the divided regions, creates an approximated curved surface based on the specified horizontal region corresponding to the same layer information, and corrects height information of the extracted pattern using the approximated curved surface.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a pattern height information correction system which includes a contour line information of a pattern extracted from an acquired image including at least an AFM (atomic force microscope) module, a design information database that stores design information including at least layer information, and a computer system that divides the extracted pattern into regions based on the design information stored in the design information database relating to the extracted pattern and associates the divided regions with layer information, in which the computer system specifies a horizontal region designated as horizontal in advance from the divided regions, creates an approximated curved surface based on the specified horizontal region corresponding to the same layer information, and corrects height information of the extracted pattern using the approximated curved surface.