US5798831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Defect inspecting apparatus and defect inspecting method
Assignee: Nikon Corp
•
Filing: 1997-08-04
•
Granted: 1998-08-25
•
Expires: 2017-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A defect inspecting apparatus and a defect inspecting method are provided to conduct discriminating detection of minute circuit patterns and foreign particles as well as to detect defectives on the surface of a substrate with a high precision. The beams from a laser light source are converged by a lens to be incident upon an inspecting point. The light emitted from the inspecting point by the incident beam is detected by a photoreceiver. On the light receiving surface of the photoreceiver, a plurality of light receiving areas are provided. Each of the light receiving areas has longitudinal direction and shorter direction on its positively projected view. The arrangement of the light receiving areas is selected in accordance with the arrangement information of the patterns formed on the substrate. The foreign particles and the patterns are distinguished by obtaining the logical product of the output signals from the selected light receiving area.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsuneyuki Hagiwara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/94
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
383 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a light source for radiating light onto a substrate on which a pattern is formed; (b) a focusing system focusing the light radiated by said light source onto said substrate with an angular aperture; (c) a moving device for relatively moving the focused light and said substrate; (d) an input optical system for inputting light from said substrate; (e) a light-intercepting device for intercepting at least the center area of the focused light and dividing the focused light into two focused lights; (f) a detecting device including an array of light-receiving elements for receiving light from said substrate and independently outputting photoelectric signals according to the quantity of light received, said focused lights incident on said pattern producing discrete diffracted light components having a periodic distribution in a first direction, n light receiving elements of said array being arranged in order along a direction of arrangement determined by said first direction, each of said n light receiving elements having a light-receiving surface disposed on a Fourier transform plane in said input optical system for said pattern, a minimum width defined between the light-receiving surfaces of light-receiving elements located at respective ends of said array being substantially equal to or slightly larger than a maximum width defined between two Fourier spectra formed on said Fourier transform plane by the light corresponding with one of the said two focused lights from said substrate along said direction of arrangement and the light corresponding with another of said two focused lights from said substrate along said direction of arrangement, and a maximum width defined between the light-receiving surfaces of adjacent light receiving elements of said n light receiving elements being substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a minimum width defined between the two Fourier spectra formed on said Fourier transform plane by the light corresponding with one of the said two focused lights from said substrate along said direction of arrangement and the light corresponding with another of said two focused lights from said substrate along said direction of arrangement; and (g) a discrimination system for discriminating whether a foreign particle is present on said substrate by whether the quantity of light received by each of said light receiving elements is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
383 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus comprising: (a) a light source for radiating light onto a substrate on which a pattern is formed; (b) a focusing system focusing the light radiated by said light source onto said substrate with an angular aperture; (c) a moving device for relatively moving the focused light and said substrate; (d) an input optical system for inputting light from said substrate; (e) a light-intercepting device for intercepting at least the center area of the focused light and dividing the focused light into two focused lights; (f) a detecting device including an array of light-receiving elements for receiving light from said substrate and independently outputting photoelectric signals according to the quantity of light received, said focused lights incident on said pattern producing discrete diffracted light components having a periodic distribution in a first direction, n light receiving elements of said array being arranged in order along a direction of arrangement determined by said first direction, each of said n light receiving elements having a light-receiving surface disposed on a Fourier transform plane in said input optical system for said pattern, a minimum width defined between the light-receiving surfaces of light-receiving elements located at respective ends of said array being substantially equal to or slightly larger than a maximum width defined between two Fourier spectra formed on said Fourier transform plane by the light corresponding with one of the said two focused lights from said substrate along said direction of arrangement and the light corresponding with another of said two focused lights from said substrate along said direction of arrangement, and a maximum width defined between the light-receiving surfaces of adjacent light receiving elements of said n light receiving elements being substantially equal to or slightly smaller than a minimum width defined between the two Fourier spectra formed on said Fourier transform plane by the light corresponding with one of the said two focused lights from said substrate along said direction of arrangement and the light corresponding with another of said two focused lights from said substrate along said direction of arrangement; and (g) a discrimination system for discriminating whether a foreign particle is present on said substrate by whether the quantity of light received by each of said light receiving elements is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said discrimination system discriminates a foreign particle based on whether all the quantity of light received is greater than the threshold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selector to select an arrangement of said light-receiving surfaces in accordance with information regarding said pattern.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said selector selects the arrangement of said light-receiving surfaces on a positively projected view formed by positively projecting onto said substrate a curved section where an imaginary sphere, having an arbitrary radius with an inspecting point on said substrate as its center and said substrate as its equator, and a beam of light from said inspecting point to said light-receiving surfaces are superposed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selector selects photoelectric signals corresponding to the arrangement of light-receiving surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said selector selects the arrangement of light-receiving surfaces by moving said detection device mechanically.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said information regarding said pattern includes the pitch of arrangement of said pattern and the direction of arrangement of said pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said light-receiving surfaces have said length dimensions and said width dimensions in a positively projected view formed by positively projecting onto said substrate a curved section where an imaginary sphere, having an arbitrary radius with an inspecting point on said substrate as its center and said substrate as its equator, and a beam of light from said inspecting point to said light-receiving surfaces are superposed, and at least two of said light-receiving surfaces are arranged so that their length dimensions are parallel to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein intervals between said width dimensions are set in accordance with a positively projected view formed by projecting onto said substrate an area where said imaginary sphere and an incident beam of focused light upon said inspecting point are superposed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a measuring device to measure a distribution condition of light beams from said substrate, and said selector selects an arrangement of said light-receiving surfaces in accordance with said distribution condition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said measuring device comprises a Fourier transform lens and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements two-dimensionally arranged on a Fourier transform plane near a rear focal plane of said Fourier transform lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
238 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus, comprising: (a) a light source for radiating light onto a substrate on which a pattern is formed; (b) a focusing system focusing the light radiated by said light source onto said substrate with an angular aperture; (c) a moving device for relatively moving the focused light and said substrate; (d) an input optical system for inputting light from said substrate; (e) an optical member for providing a phase to a part of the focused light; (f) a light intercepting device for intercepting at least the center area of the focused light and dividing the focused light into two focused lights; (g) a detecting device including an array of light-receiving elements for receiving light form said substrate and independently outputting photoelectric signals according to the quantity of light received, said focused lights incident on said pattern producing discrete diffracted light components having a periodic distribution in a first direction, n light receiving elements of said array being arranged in order along a direction of arrangement determined by said first direction, each of said n light receiving elements having a light-receiving surface disposed on a Fourier transform plane in said input optical system for said pattern; and (h) a discrimination system for discriminating whether a foreign particle is present on said substrate by whether the quantity of light received by each of said light receiving elements is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
238 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus, comprising: (a) a light source for radiating light onto a substrate on which a pattern is formed; (b) a focusing system focusing the light radiated by said light source onto said substrate with an angular aperture; (c) a moving device for relatively moving the focused light and said substrate; (d) an input optical system for inputting light from said substrate; (e) an optical member for providing a phase to a part of the focused light; (f) a light intercepting device for intercepting at least the center area of the focused light and dividing the focused light into two focused lights; (g) a detecting device including an array of light-receiving elements for receiving light form said substrate and independently outputting photoelectric signals according to the quantity of light received, said focused lights incident on said pattern producing discrete diffracted light components having a periodic distribution in a first direction, n light receiving elements of said array being arranged in order along a direction of arrangement determined by said first direction, each of said n light receiving elements having a light-receiving surface disposed on a Fourier transform plane in said input optical system for said pattern; and (h) a discrimination system for discriminating whether a foreign particle is present on said substrate by whether the quantity of light received by each of said light receiving elements is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said discrimination system discriminates a foreign particle based on whether all the quantity of light received is greater than the threshold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
310 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus which comprises: a) a light source for radiating light onto a substrate on which a periodic pattern is formed; b) a focusing optical system for focusing the light radiated by said light source onto said substrate with an angular aperture; c) a moving device for relatively moving the focused light and said substrate; d) an input optical system for inputting light from said substrate; e) a detection device including an array of light-receiving elements for receiving light from said substrate and independently outputting photoelectric signals according to the quantity of light received, focused light incident on said pattern producing discrete diffracted light components having a periodic distribution in a first direction, n light-receiving elements of said array being arranged in order along a direction of arrangement determined by said first direction, each of said n light-receiving elements having a light-receiving surface disposed on a Fourier transform plane in said input optical system for said pattern, a minimum width defined between the light-receiving surfaces of the light-receiving elements located at respective ends of said array being substantially equal to or slightly larger than a width of one of Fourier spectra formed on said Fourier transform plane by the light from said substrate along said direction of arrangement, and a maximum width defined between the light-receiving surfaces of adjacent light-receiving elements in said array being equal to or smaller than the pitch between adjacent diffracted light components along said direction of arrangement, and each of said light-receiving surfaces having a length dimension and a smaller width dimension, and wherein the width dimension is along said direction of arrangement; and f) a discrimination system for discriminating whether a foreign particle is present on said substrate by whether the quantity of light received by each of said n light-receiving elements is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
310 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus which comprises: a) a light source for radiating light onto a substrate on which a periodic pattern is formed; b) a focusing optical system for focusing the light radiated by said light source onto said substrate with an angular aperture; c) a moving device for relatively moving the focused light and said substrate; d) an input optical system for inputting light from said substrate; e) a detection device including an array of light-receiving elements for receiving light from said substrate and independently outputting photoelectric signals according to the quantity of light received, focused light incident on said pattern producing discrete diffracted light components having a periodic distribution in a first direction, n light-receiving elements of said array being arranged in order along a direction of arrangement determined by said first direction, each of said n light-receiving elements having a light-receiving surface disposed on a Fourier transform plane in said input optical system for said pattern, a minimum width defined between the light-receiving surfaces of the light-receiving elements located at respective ends of said array being substantially equal to or slightly larger than a width of one of Fourier spectra formed on said Fourier transform plane by the light from said substrate along said direction of arrangement, and a maximum width defined between the light-receiving surfaces of adjacent light-receiving elements in said array being equal to or smaller than the pitch between adjacent diffracted light components along said direction of arrangement, and each of said light-receiving surfaces having a length dimension and a smaller width dimension, and wherein the width dimension is along said direction of arrangement; and f) a discrimination system for discriminating whether a foreign particle is present on said substrate by whether the quantity of light received by each of said n light-receiving elements is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said light is radiated onto said substrate from an inclined direction with respect to said substrate, and said width of said Fourier spectra has a length dimension and a smaller width dimension, and wherein the width dimension is along said direction of arrangement.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a selector to select an arrangement of said light-receiving surfaces in accordance with information regarding said pattern.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
73 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said selector selects the arrangement of said light-receiving surfaces on a positively projected view formed by positively projecting onto said substrate a curved section where an imaginary sphere, having an arbitrary radius with an inspecting point on said substrate as its center and said substrate as its equator, and a beam of light from said inspecting point to said light-receiving surfaces are superposed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said selector selects photoelectric signals corresponding to the arrangement of light-receiving surfaces.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said selector selects the arrangement of light-receiving surfaces by moving said detection device mechanically.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said information regarding said pattern includes the pitch of arrangement of said pattern and the direction of arrangement of said pattern.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
95 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said light-receiving surfaces have said length dimensions and said width dimensions in a positively projected view formed by positively projecting onto said substrate a curved section where an imaginary sphere, having an arbitrary radius with an inspecting point on said substrate as its center and said substrate as its equator, and a beam of light from said inspecting point to said light-receiving surfaces are superposed, and at least two of said light-receiving surfaces are arranged so that their length dimensions are parallel to each other.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 21, wherein intervals between said width dimensions are set in accordance with a positively projected view formed by projecting onto said substrate an area where said imaginary sphere and an incident beam of focused light upon said inspecting point are superposed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising a measuring device to measure a distribution condition of light beams from said substrate, and said selector selects an arrangement of said light-receiving surfaces in accordance with said distribution condition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
42 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said measuring device comprises a Fourier transform lens and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements two-dimensionally arranged on a Fourier transform plane near a rear focal plane of said Fourier transform lens.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 24, wherein an optical axis of said input optical system is coaxial with an optical axis of said Fourier transform lens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 24, wherein an optical axis of said input optical system crosses an optical axis of said Fourier transform lens on said substrate at a predetermined angle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the optical axis of said Fourier transform lens is perpendicular to said substrate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said selector mechanically moves said detection device to change the arrangement of said light-receiving surfaces.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said selector variably sets an interval of said width dimensions of said light-receiving surfaces such that plural light-receiving surfaces are arranged with length dimensions parallel to each other on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of said input optical system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said discrimination system discriminates a foreign particle based on whether all the quantity of light received is greater than the threshold.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
199 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus, comprising: (a) a light source for radiating light onto a substrate on which a periodic pattern is formed; (b) a focusing optical system for focusing the light radiated by said light source onto said substrate with an angular aperture; (c) a moving device for relatively moving the focused light and said substrate; (d) an input optical system for inputting light from said substrate; (e) a detection device including an array of light-receiving elements for receiving light from said substrate and independently outputting photoelectric signals according to the quantity of light received, focused light incident on said pattern producing discrete diffracted light components having a periodic distribution in a first direction, n light-receiving elements of said array being arranged in order along a direction of arrangement determined by said first direction, each of said light-receiving surfaces having a length dimension and a smaller width dimension, and wherein the width dimension is along said direction of arrangement; and (f) a discrimination system for discriminating whether a foreign particle is present on said substrate by whether the quantity of light received by each of said n light-receiving elements is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
199 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus, comprising: (a) a light source for radiating light onto a substrate on which a periodic pattern is formed; (b) a focusing optical system for focusing the light radiated by said light source onto said substrate with an angular aperture; (c) a moving device for relatively moving the focused light and said substrate; (d) an input optical system for inputting light from said substrate; (e) a detection device including an array of light-receiving elements for receiving light from said substrate and independently outputting photoelectric signals according to the quantity of light received, focused light incident on said pattern producing discrete diffracted light components having a periodic distribution in a first direction, n light-receiving elements of said array being arranged in order along a direction of arrangement determined by said first direction, each of said light-receiving surfaces having a length dimension and a smaller width dimension, and wherein the width dimension is along said direction of arrangement; and (f) a discrimination system for discriminating whether a foreign particle is present on said substrate by whether the quantity of light received by each of said n light-receiving elements is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
31 words
A foreign particle detecting apparatus according to claim 31, wherein said discrimination system discriminates a foreign particle based on whether all the quantity of light received is greater than the threshold.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-24 | 2002-02-23 | 2002-08-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-24 | 2006-02-23 | 2006-08-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-24 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-08-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |