| 摘要 |
The present invention provides a pattern inspection apparatus whereby, even if a large number of defects are detected during inspection it is possible to continue inspection without interruption of the inspecting operation. The apparatus comprises optical means (4) and (5) for generating pattern image data from a pattern under test (9) held by the moving holding means (3), image comparison sections (71) that compare the pattern under inspection with reference pattern image information so as to make a judgment as to whether or not a defect exists in the partial patterns under inspection. The image comparison sections (71) have a pattern image information storage means (712), which stores pattern image data from a partial pattern under inspection, reference pattern image information storage means (711 and/or 713) which store reference pattern image data corresponding to the partial patterns under inspection and an image processing means (715) that perform a comparison between the pattern image data and the reference pattern image data so as to make a judgment as to whether or not there is a defect in the pattern under inspection. This apparatus (100) further has a defect information accumulation means (83) which sequentially stores defect information of a prescribed partial pattern under inspection in the respective inspection regions output by the image processing means (715) in the image comparison sections (71) and a reviewing means (8), which outputs defect information at a prescribed time. <IMAGE> |
