Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for detecting abnormal patterns

US4952058A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
3References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 22, 1988
Grant dateAug 28, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 22, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N2021/95676
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system for detecting abnormal patterns in a surface pattern on the surface of a sample wherein, when the abnormal pattern has a portion smaller than the surface pattern, the light for illuminating the sample is stopped down to an opening so that the abnormal pattern can be distinguished over the surface pattern, the surface pattern is limited to a predetermined opening by the illumination light to form an image on a detector, and the surface pattern detected by the detector is processed to detect the abnormal pattern in the surface pattern. Further, the plurality of light rays having good directivity are illuminated onto a point on the surface of the sample from dissimilar directions maintaining a predetermined angle of incidence, the detect signals are separated to be corresponded to said light rays, and the above processing is carried out to enhance the precision of detection.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.