Abstract: A three-dimensional shaped defect inspecting method including a three-dimensional shape detection region selecting step for detecting a two-dimensional picture signal by taking a two-dimensional optical picture fluorescence emitted from a detection object and selecting a three-dimensional shape detection region in respect of the detection object based on the detected two-dimensional picture signal, and a three-dimensional shape determining step for detecting a picture signal by taking an optical picture in accordance with a height by reflected light from the detection object and sampling height information with a desired two-dimensional pixel size in respect of the selected three-dimensional shape inspection region with respect to the detected picture signal, thereby calculating and determining a three-dimensional shape, whereby a defect caused by a deficiency in thickness or the like on a wiring pattern of a solid shape, formed on a detection object of a circuit board or the like, can be detected in a short

Abstract: A wiring pattern inspecting method comprises irradiating a test object provided with wiring patterns formed in a plurality of layers with x-rays, obtaining a variable-density image signal corresponding to the thickness of the wiring patterns superposed in a plurality of layers including superposed sections of the wiring patterns, extracting a plurality of image signals, the number of which corresponding to that of the superposed wiring patterns, from the variable-density image signal, and comparing end point information or isolated point information about the wiring patterns obtained from image signal representing a larger number of superposed wiring patterns, and branch information about the end points or the isolated points on the wiring points, obtained from the extracted image signal representing a smaller number of superposed wiring patterns to inspect the wiring patterns for defects in the wiring patterns. The wiring pattern inspecting method is carried out by a wiring pattern inspecting system.