JP2010010234A - Device and method for inspecting workpiece - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device for inspecting a workpiece, capable of stabilizing accuracy in coordinates of defects or contamination detected on the workpiece. <P>SOLUTION: The scattered light reflected on a predetermined region subjected to irradiation with laser beam at the outer peripheral part of a wafer 1 is photo-detected with a line sensor to extract the feature values of a bevel 101 and an edge roll-off 102, thereby detecting a positional state at inspection. Depending on a detected position state at inspection, the position coordinates of a detected defect or contamination is corrected based on the central coordinates of the workpiece. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection object inspection apparatus and an inspection object inspection method. In particular, the present invention relates to an inspection apparatus and inspection method for an inspection object that inspects the surface of an inspection object such as a wafer by irradiating light to the surface of the inspection object to check the state of foreign matter and defects.

  As an example of an inspection apparatus that inspects an inspection object such as a wafer, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of an inspection object inspection apparatus that inspects the wafer surface of the inspection object.

  In the technique of the wafer surface inspection apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, a laser beam output from a laser light source becomes a laser spot Sp (hereinafter referred to as a spot Sp) by a lens system, and the surface of the wafer to be inspected. The whole surface of the wafer is scanned by scanning the surface of the wafer spirally according to the movement of the wafer. If foreign matter e, defects such as scratches and crystal defects (COP) exist on the surface of the wafer, the spot Sp output from the laser light source is scattered light over a wide range of angles (directions) due to the foreign matter e and defects such as COP. Se is generated, and a part of the scattered light Se is collected by a condenser lens and received by a photomultiplier tube (hereinafter referred to as PMT) of a light receiver which is a photoelectric converter. The scattered light Se incident on the PMT is converted into an electrical signal here, and the number and size of the defects such as the foreign matter e and COP, the foreign matter e and the defect are processed by data processing of the converted electrical signal (light reception signal). An example in which foreign matter data indicating the position of the foreign matter is generated and the state of the foreign matter e and defects is displayed on a printer or a display (not shown) or the like is shown.

  Further, in the wafer surface inspection apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example, the offset amount of the position coordinate in the rotation direction (θ direction) is calculated from both ends of the orientation flat part of the wafer detected by the capacitance sensor, A technique for correcting the coordinates of detected foreign matter by an offset amount is disclosed.

JP-A-9-304289 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-13044

  Incidentally, in recent years, in semiconductor device manufacturing lines and semiconductor wafer manufacturing lines, appearance shape observation and component analysis of foreign matters and defects detected by an optical inspection apparatus are often performed. From the appearance shape and component analysis results, characterization and analysis of foreign matter and defects are performed to determine the location and cause of occurrence, or to determine whether or not a fatal defect occurs. In general, the appearance observation and component analysis are performed by an SEM appearance inspection apparatus provided with an EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray) analyzer. However, although the SEM visual inspection apparatus has a high resolution but a narrow field of view, it takes a lot of time to find out if the position coordinates of the foreign object or defect to be measured are shifted. Therefore, in addition to high-sensitivity detection of foreign matter and defects, optical inspection equipment has high-accuracy coordinates (coordinate accuracy) of foreign matter and defects, and positions of foreign matters and defects that can be properly matched with other analyzers. Information data is required.

  However, in the above conventional inspection technology, no consideration has been given to the coordinate accuracy of the foreign matter or defect detected from the inspection object, and if the installation position on the stage is shifted by the wafer transfer mechanism, etc. There is a risk that foreign objects and defects of objects may be detected with positional coordinates shifted.

  In the conventional inspection technique, in the case of V notches, which are currently in the mainstream, both ends to be detected are close to each other, so that the θ shift detection accuracy is lowered and the θ shift correction accuracy is also lowered. In addition, since the correction is only for the rotation direction (θ direction) of the wafer, if the installation position on the stage is shifted in a direction other than the rotation direction (θ direction) by the wafer transfer mechanism or the like, the inspection target There is a risk that foreign objects and defects of objects may be detected with positional coordinates shifted. In particular, in an edge grip type stage used for inspecting an object to be inspected in a non-contact manner on the back surface, the object to be inspected is supported by a slight contact surface of the edge portion. Misalignment is likely to occur. In addition to the control error of the wafer transfer mechanism, the positional deviation on the stage is added, so it is extremely difficult to maintain the coordinate accuracy of the detected foreign matter or defect.

  Incidentally, in general, a wafer transfer mechanism system and the like include random errors having different sizes for each transfer. Even if the same wafer is used, the installation position on the stage varies slightly with each transfer, and is not reproduced at the same installation position. For this reason, in the detection of ultra-fine foreign objects and defects that require higher coordinate accuracy, the position coordinates of the foreign objects and defects fluctuate every time the inspection object is inspected, and the position coordinates cannot be determined. This causes a problem in the accuracy of coordinates that cannot be obtained. This random error in the transport system is not limited to the optical inspection apparatus, but is also included in other inspection apparatuses such as an appearance inspection apparatus, and the state and level of each apparatus are different. This is also one of the causes that make it difficult to match the position information data of the foreign matter or defect of the optical inspection device to the stage of another analysis device.

  One object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus and method that can detect the coordinates of a foreign object or a defect with high accuracy without being affected by the installation position of the inspection object with respect to the stage.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus and method capable of appropriately matching the position coordinates of a foreign object or defect detected by one inspection apparatus with the stage of another analysis apparatus.

  The present invention has a plurality of detectors for detecting light emitted from the surface of the inspection object by a laser beam applied to the inspection object, and detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors One feature is that a region to be classified is discriminated based on the shape of the surface of the object to be inspected, and inspection is performed based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors. And

  Specific features of the present invention are listed below.

  The inspection object inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes a projection optical system that irradiates a laser beam to the inspection object, a rotation drive mechanism that rotates the table by placing the inspection object on a table, and the rotation drive. A moving mechanism for moving a mechanism in a direction in which the inspection object is transferred; a plurality of detectors for detecting light emitted from the surface of the inspection object by a laser beam applied to the inspection object; A data processing device for inspecting an inspection object by determining a boundary position corresponding to a flat area on the surface of the inspection object and a bevel portion of the outer periphery of the inspection object based on a detection signal of light detected by a detector It is characterized by comprising.

  The inspection apparatus for an inspection object according to the present invention includes a light projecting optical system that irradiates the inspection object with a laser beam, a rotation drive mechanism that rotates the table by placing the inspection object on a table, and the rotation A moving mechanism that moves the driving mechanism in the transfer direction of the object to be inspected, a drive controller that transmits position coordinate information of the rotational driving mechanism and the moving mechanism, and a laser beam irradiated to the object to be inspected. A plurality of detectors for detecting light emitted from the surface of the inspection object, and a boundary position corresponding to the bevel portion of the outer peripheral portion of the inspection object based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors And a data processing device that outputs the boundary position in the circumferential direction of the inspection object in association with the position coordinate information from the drive controller and inspects the inspection object.

  The inspection apparatus for an inspection object according to the present invention includes a light projecting optical system that irradiates the inspection object with a laser beam, a rotation drive mechanism that rotates the table by placing the inspection object on a table, and the rotation A moving mechanism that moves the driving mechanism in the transfer direction of the object to be inspected, a drive controller that transmits position coordinate information of the rotational driving mechanism and the moving mechanism, and a laser beam irradiated to the object to be inspected. A plurality of detectors for detecting light emitted from the surface of the inspection object, and a boundary position corresponding to the bevel portion of the outer peripheral portion of the inspection object based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors Then, the boundary position in the circumferential direction of the inspection object is output in association with the position coordinate information from the drive controller, and the approximate center of the inspection object is based on the boundary position in the circumferential direction of the inspection object Output coordinates, Characterized by being configured to include a data processing apparatus for inspecting a test object.

  The inspection method for an inspection object according to the present invention is the inspection object inspection method in which the table on which the inspection object is mounted is rotated and the inspection object is inspected by irradiating the inspection object with a laser beam. The light emitted from the surface of the object to be inspected by the irradiated laser beam is detected by a plurality of detectors, and the data processing device performs arithmetic processing based on detection signals of the lights detected by the plurality of detectors. The inspection object is inspected by discriminating a boundary position corresponding to a flat region on the surface of the inspection object and a bevel portion of the outer periphery of the inspection object.

  Further, the inspection method for an inspection object according to the present invention is the inspection object inspection method in which the table on which the inspection object is placed is rotated, and the inspection object is irradiated with a laser beam. By a data processing device that detects light emitted from the surface of the object to be inspected by a laser beam irradiated on a plurality of detectors and performs arithmetic processing based on detection signals of the lights detected by the plurality of detectors A boundary position corresponding to a flat area on the surface of the inspection object and a bevel portion of the outer periphery of the inspection object is determined in association with the coordinate information of the table, and a boundary position distribution of the inspection object is output, It is characterized by inspecting an object.

  Further, the inspection method for an inspection object according to the present invention is the inspection object inspection method in which the table on which the inspection object is placed is rotated, and the inspection object is irradiated with a laser beam. By a data processing device that detects light emitted from the surface of the object to be inspected by a laser beam irradiated on a plurality of detectors and performs arithmetic processing based on detection signals of the lights detected by the plurality of detectors The boundary position corresponding to the flat area of the surface of the inspection object and the bevel portion of the outer periphery of the inspection object is determined in association with the coordinate information of the table, and the boundary position distribution of the inspection object is output, and this boundary A substantially central coordinate of the inspection object is output based on the position distribution, and the inspection object is inspected.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the coordinates of a foreign object or a defect can be detected with high accuracy without being affected by the installation position of the inspection object with respect to the stage.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the position coordinates of a foreign object or a defect detected by one inspection apparatus can be appropriately matched with the stage of another analysis apparatus.

  An inspection object inspection apparatus and an inspection object inspection method according to embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  Examples of the inspection object and inspection method for the inspection object described in the embodiments of the present invention include semiconductor wafers such as silicon and compound semiconductors, insulator wafers (for example, sapphire, quartz, glass, A flat substrate such as a substrate made of ceramic.

  In the embodiments described below, an inspection object inspection method and inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a semiconductor wafer is applied as an inspection object, will be described.

  In the wafer surface inspection apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, while irradiating a laser beam from the substantially central portion to the outer peripheral portion of the wafer, the scattered light emitted from the wafer surface is received, and based on the received scattered light. Inspect the wafer surface.

  FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the wafer outer peripheral portion. In the wafer inspection apparatus, when the laser beam hits the edge roll-off 101 or the bevel 102 (edge portion) of the wafer outer peripheral portion, strong diffracted light is emitted from the wafer surface. As a result, the noise signal of the detector is increased, or the detector is damaged, and the detection sensitivity is lowered. For this reason, in a normal wafer inspection apparatus, a region where the noise signal is increased due to the influence of diffracted light is set as a non-inspection region, and is excluded from the inspection region on the wafer surface, thereby avoiding the obstacle of diffracted light.

  However, if the wafer peripheral area where the noise signal is high due to the influence of diffracted light is excluded from the inspection area on the wafer surface, the scattered light emitted from this area can no longer be received, so that it adheres to the wafer surface in the area. It is not possible to obtain information on foreign matters or defects generated on the surface. Further, since the outer peripheral portion of the wafer is excluded from the inspection region, the edge roll-off 101 and the bevel 102 (edge portion) region shown in FIG. 1 cannot be detected.

  Therefore, in the inspection apparatus for an object to be inspected according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of detectors (light receivers) for detecting scattered light emitted from the wafer surface by a laser beam irradiated on the wafer surface are installed, and the wafer The obstacle of the diffracted light is avoided by utilizing the characteristic that strong diffracted light emitted from the bevel 102 (edge portion) is always radiated in substantially the same direction (orientation). From these multiple detectors (photodetectors), select a detector (photoreceiver) arranged in a direction (azimuth, elevation) that is not affected by the diffracted light generated at the wafer bevel 102 (edge portion). By receiving the scattered light, information on foreign matters attached to the wafer surface and defects generated on the surface can be collected over the entire wafer surface.

  In the inspection apparatus for an inspection object according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of detectors (light receivers) for detecting scattered light emitted from the wafer surface by a laser beam irradiated on the wafer surface are installed. A flat plane area on the wafer surface irradiated with the laser beam and an edge roll on the outer periphery of the wafer outside the plane area by performing arithmetic processing based on the detection signal of the scattered light received by the detector (receiver) The boundary position with a predetermined area corresponding to the off 101 or the bevel 102 (edge portion) can be determined.

  Further, in the inspection object inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of detectors (light receivers) for detecting scattered light emitted from the wafer surface by a laser beam irradiated on the wafer surface are installed. In the calculation process based on the detection signal of the scattered light received by the detector (receiver), the boundary position of the predetermined area is determined, and multiple reference positions of the surface-inspected wafer are calculated and detected from the boundary position The coordinate position of the foreign matter or defect thus made can be corrected based on the reference position.

  The inspection object inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. First, FIG. 2 shows a semiconductor wafer 1 as an inspection object and irradiation to the semiconductor wafer 1. The intensity of the strong diffracted light 202 and the weak diffracted light 203 generated at the bevel 102 (edge portion) of the wafer 1 by the irradiation of the laser beam 204, and the foreign matter on the surface of the wafer 1 by the irradiation of the laser beam 204. It is the conceptual diagram which showed the scattered light Se which generate | occur | produces.

  2A is a top view showing the strong diffracted light 202 and the weak diffracted light 203 generated at the bevel 102 (edge part) of the wafer 1 from above, and FIG. 2B is the bevel 102 (edge part) of the wafer 1. FIG. 2C is a side view showing the strong diffracted light 202 generated in FIG. 2B from the side, and FIG. 2C shows the state of scattered light Se generated from a foreign substance or defect (COP, stacking fault, scratch, crack, etc.) 205 existing on the wafer 1 surface. It is explanatory drawing which showed.

  A laser spot 201 formed by the laser beam 204 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is scanned from the approximate center of the surface of the wafer 1 toward the outer peripheral end in the radius (r) direction. As the laser spot 201 advances from the edge roll-off 101 region of the wafer 1 to the bevel 102 region, the diffracted light gradually increases. In the bevel 102 region, strong diffracted light 202 is generated in the diameter direction of the wafer 1, and the tangent line of the wafer 1 is generated. In the direction, weak (small) diffracted light 203 is generated. FIG. 2B shows a side view of the strong diffracted light 202 generated by the bevel 102 when the laser beam 204 is irradiated onto the bevel 102 region of the wafer 1. The laser beam 204 in the laser spot 201 is shown in FIG. Diffracted by the bevel 102 of the wafer 1, strong diffracted light 202 is formed in the radial direction of the wafer.

  This intense diffracted light 202 is controlled by the irradiation position of the laser spot 201 irradiated on the surface of the wafer 1 being constant, and the wafer 1 is linearly moved in a predetermined constant direction while rotating in the circumferential direction indicated by an arrow. Always occurs in the diameter direction of the wafer 1.

  Therefore, the strong diffracted light 202 generated in the bevel 102 region is always located in the same direction (azimuth, elevation angle) with respect to a detector (light receiver) described later. Due to the influence of the strong diffracted light 202, the scattered light Se generated from the foreign matter or the defect 205 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 is buried in the noise signal due to the strong diffracted light 202, and a desirable detection signal of the scattered light Se. It becomes difficult to obtain.

  FIG. 2C shows a state where a laser spot 201 composed of a laser beam 204 irradiated on the surface of the wafer 1 is scanning a flat planar region on the wafer surface. When the laser spot 201 scans over the foreign matter or defect 205 existing on the surface of the wafer 1, scattered light corresponding to the type of the foreign matter or defect 205 is emitted from the foreign matter or defect 205. In the case of fine foreign matter, scattered light Se is generated at a wide range of angles (directions). In the case of structural defects such as COP and scratches, scattered light having directivity is emitted upward.

  However, when the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 irradiated on the surface of the wafer 1 is located in the bevel 102 region at the end of the wafer 1, the noise signal is caused by the influence of the strong diffracted light 202 generated in the bevel 102 region. Will increase. Therefore, even if the foreign matter or defect 205 exists in the bevel 102 region on the surface of the wafer 1, the detection signal due to the scattered light Se generated from the foreign matter or defect 205 is buried in the noise signal, and the foreign matter in the bevel 102 region. Or, the defect 205 cannot be detected.

  Therefore, in the inspection object inspection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the influence of noise caused by the strong diffracted light 202 from the bevel 102 region is eliminated or reduced by the following configuration, and the foreign matter or defect 205 on the surface of the wafer 1 is detected. The generated scattered light Se can be effectively detected.

  FIG. 4 is a simplified configuration diagram of a detection system constituting an inspection apparatus for an inspection object according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows an outline of a detector constituting the inspection apparatus shown in FIG. 3A is a top view showing the arrangement of detectors, and FIG. 3B shows processing contents of detection signals when scattered light generated on the surface of the wafer 1 is detected by the detector. FIG.

  The configuration of a wafer inspection apparatus for inspecting the surface of the wafer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3A shows detectors (light receivers) 371 to 374 for high angles (high elevation angles) made of a photomultiplier tube (PMT) for detecting scattered light from the wafer 1, and for high angles. An example of the arrangement of low-angle (low elevation) detectors (light receivers) 381 to 386 that detect scattered light on the lower angle side is viewed from above. FIG. 3B shows an example of an arrangement in which a part of the high angle detectors 371 to 374 and the low angle detectors 381 to 386 shown in FIG. .

  The high angle detectors 371 to 374 follow an angle (elevation angle) of about 50 to 70 ° from the surface of the wafer 1 among the scattered light Se emitted from the foreign matter or the defect 205 by the laser beam 204 irradiated on the surface of the wafer 1. Are arranged so as to be incident. When viewed from above, the high-angle detectors 371 to 374 are arranged in the circumferential direction by varying the arrangement direction (azimuth) by about 90 ° from each other in the circumferential direction.

  Similarly, the low-angle detectors 381 to 386 have an angle (elevation angle) of about 20 to 40 ° from the surface of the wafer 1 out of the scattered light Se emitted from the foreign matter or the defect 205 by the laser beam 204 irradiated on the surface of the wafer 1. It arrange | positions so that it may inject along. When viewed from above, the low-angle detectors 381 to 386 are arranged in the circumferential direction by changing the arrangement direction (azimuth) thereof by about 60 ° in the circumferential direction.

  Among these high-angle detectors 371 to 374 and low-angle detectors 381 to 386, a detector that is greatly affected by the strong diffracted light 202 generated in the bevel 102 region of the wafer 1 by irradiation with the laser beam 204 is used. , Detectors 372 and 374 for high angles arranged along the diameter direction of the wafer 1, and the next detectors affected by the strong diffracted light 202 are detectors 384 and 385 for low angles, and detectors for low angles Detectors 381 and 382.

  In addition, the above-described detector that is less affected by the strong diffracted light 202 is arranged at a right angle to the diameter direction of the wafer 1, that is, a detector 371 for high angle arranged in a positional relationship parallel to the tangential direction of the wafer 1. And 373. The detectors having the next least influence by the strong diffracted light 202 are the low-angle detectors 383 and 386.

  FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of the wafer surface inspection apparatus of the present embodiment. The wafer surface inspection apparatus includes a table 21 on which the wafer 1 is placed, a rotation drive mechanism 23 such as a spindle motor that rotates the table 21, and the table 21 and the rotation drive mechanism 23. A linear movement mechanism 22 (advance / retreat drive mechanism) that moves in a linear direction, a light projecting optical system 400, a drive controller 51 that controls the rotation drive mechanism 23 and the linear movement mechanism 22, a signal processing device 4, and a data processing device 52 and a display device 75 composed of a display or the like. The wafer 1 to be inspected placed on the rotary table 21 is controlled to a predetermined rotational speed, and is linearly moved in a predetermined direction from a substantially center toward the bevel 102 by the linear moving mechanism 22.

  The light projecting optical system 400 disposed on the upper portion of the wafer 1 includes two light projecting optical systems. In the first light projecting optical system, the laser beam 204 output from the laser light source 31 including the laser oscillator is reflected by a mirror 331 (optical path switching mechanism) that changes the optical path downward, and the laser spot Sp is vertically downward. (Hereinafter referred to as spot Sp) is formed and projected substantially vertically onto the surface of the wafer 1 (vertical irradiation).

  In the second light projecting optical system, the mirror 331 for changing the optical path is moved from the optical path of the laser beam 204 output from the laser light source 31 to an upper position in the vertical direction indicated by a two-dot chain line, and on the extension line of the optical path. The laser beam 204 is reflected downward in the vertical direction by the mirror 332 that constitutes the second light projecting optical system disposed in the vertical direction. Next, the reflected laser beam 204 is reflected by a mirror 35 (incident angle control mechanism) that controls the incident angle on the surface of the wafer 1, and the laser spot 201 is projected onto the surface of the wafer 1 at a predetermined incident angle (obliquely). Irradiation).

  The vertical irradiation laser spot 201 or the oblique irradiation laser spot 201 scans the surface of the wafer 1 by the movement of the wafer 1 driven by the rotation driving mechanism 23 and the linear movement mechanism 22.

  The wafer 1 placed on the table 21 is rotated at a predetermined rotation speed by the rotation drive mechanism 23, and in the radial direction of the table 21 according to the rotation speed (X direction: white arrow direction in the figure). Toward, the linear movement mechanism 22 moves in a substantially linear direction.

  Therefore, the laser spot 201 irradiated on the surface of the wafer 1 is scanned in a spiral shape on the surface of the wafer 1 from the approximate center of the wafer 1 toward the bevel 102 on the outer peripheral side in the radial direction. It is possible to scan across.

  The driving of the rotation drive mechanism 23 and the linear movement mechanism 22 is controlled by the data processing device 52 via the drive controller 51. The rotary drive mechanism 23 is an optical reading type rotary encoder that detects the coordinate position (θ) in the rotation direction, and the linear movement mechanism 22 is an optical reading type linear that detects the coordinate position (r) in the linear direction (X direction). Each encoder is arranged. The scanning position on the surface of the wafer 1 is detected based on coordinate signals transmitted from the rotary encoder and the linear encoder, sent to the data processing device 52 via the drive controller 51, and associated with the detection signal of the foreign matter or defect 205. And stored in the memory 72. In this embodiment, an optical reading type linear encoder is used as a position coordinate detection sensor. However, as long as the sensor can detect an angle or a position on a straight line with high accuracy, it uses another detection principle. But it ’s okay. The rotational speed of the rotation drive mechanism 23 and the movement speed of the linear movement mechanism 22 are input from the recipe screen provided on the display device 75 via the input device 76 and registered in the data processing device 52. Based on the input data, it is controlled by the drive controller 51.

  In the wafer surface inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2C, when a foreign matter or defect 205 exists on the surface of the wafer 1, it is based on the foreign matter or defect 205 by the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204. Scattered light Se is emitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, a part of the scattered light Se scattered from the foreign matter or defect 205 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 is collected and a photomultiplier tube which is a photoelectric converter. The light is received by high angle detectors 371 to 374 and low angle detectors 381 to 386, respectively (which will be referred to as PMT hereinafter).

  Scattered light Se from the foreign matter or defect 205 incident on the high angle detectors 371 to 374 and the low angle detectors 381 to 386 is used as the high angle detectors 371 to 374 and the low angle detectors 381 to 386. Are converted into detection signals (electrical signals) in accordance with the intensity of each scattered light Se incident on the light, and these converted detection signals (electrical signals) are input to the signal processing device 4.

  The detection signal input to the signal processing device 4 is subjected to signal processing on the detection signals of the high-angle detectors 371 to 374 and the low-angle detectors 381 to 386 by the signal processing device 4. Sent. Next, each detection signal is converted into digital data by an A / D conversion circuit (A / D) 71 provided in the data processing device 52, and is temporarily stored as digital data in a memory 72 provided in the data processing device 52. Is done.

  Next, a predetermined program is executed by an arithmetic unit (MPU) 73 provided in the data processing device 52. The digital data of the high angle detectors 371 to 374 and the low angle detectors 381 to 386 once recorded in the memory 72 is the coordinate data of the scanning position on the surface of the wafer 1 input via the drive controller 51 ( Along with θ, r), the data is processed and processed by a calculator (MPU) 73 of the data processor 52.

  Based on the detection data of the detection signal and the coordinate data (θ, r) by data processing by the computing unit (MPU) 73 of the data processing device 52, for example, the size of the foreign matter or defect 205 existing on the surface of the wafer 1, the wafer 1 The position coordinates on the surface, the number of foreign matters or defects 205, the separation and identification results of foreign matters and defect types, and the like are output.

  Further, when the arithmetic unit (MPU) 73 of the data processing device 52 executes a predetermined program, characteristic data of the foreign matter or defect 205 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 is generated, and the number, size, The position coordinates on the surface of the wafer 1 and the result of separation / identification of foreign matters and defect types are output as a map display to a display device 75 such as a printer or a display.

  Next, a method for inspecting a predetermined area on the outer peripheral portion of the wafer 1 corresponding to the edge roll-off 101 area and the bevel 102 area in the inspection apparatus of this embodiment shown in FIG. 4 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the laser beam 204 irradiates a predetermined region 10 of the wafer 1, and FIG. 5B shows high-angle detectors 371 to 374 and low-angle detection. FIG. 5C is a diagram showing an example of a threshold setting screen on the screen of the display device 75. FIG.

  First, the state in the predetermined region 10 corresponding to the edge roll-off 101 region and the bevel 102 (edge or chamfer) region on the surface of the wafer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. When the peripheral portion of the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 irradiating the surface of the wafer 1 is scanned from the planar region occupying most of the surface of the wafer 1 toward the outer edge in the radial direction of the wafer 1, the edge roll-off 101 Strong diffracted light 202 from the surface of the wafer 1 gradually becomes stronger than the portion (boundary position) Rp where the inclination starts. Further, when the bevel 102 reaches a portion (boundary position) Ep where the inclination starts, the intensity of the strong diffracted light beam 202 in the diametric direction shown in FIG. The detection of the scattered light Se generated from the foreign matter or the defect 205 existing in the region begins to have a great influence.

  Therefore, by capturing the change in the state of the diffracted light, the predetermined region 10 in the outer peripheral portion of the wafer 1 has a strong diffracted light from a portion (edge roll-off boundary position Rp) where the strong diffracted light 202 on the surface of the wafer 1 begins to gradually increase. Edge roll-off 101 between a portion where 202 suddenly increases, a bevel 102 region extending from the portion where the above-described inclination where strong diffracted light 202 suddenly increases (bevel boundary position Ep) to the radially outer end of wafer 1 Can be detected as

  In the above case, the boundary between the planar region forming the most part of the surface of the wafer 1 and the predetermined region 10 is the portion where the edge roll-off 101 starts to be inclined (boundary position) Rp or the portion where the bevel 102 starts to be inclined (boundary position). Ep can be the boundary with the planar region. Alternatively, since the influence on the yield of the semiconductor device differs depending on the foreign matter or defect 205 existing in each region, two boundary positions are provided, and the inspection region is a plane region, edge roll-off 101 region, and bevel 102 region May be separated into a plurality of regions.

  Next, a method for detecting the boundary position Rp of the edge roll-off 101 and the boundary position Ep of the bevel 102 will be described. When the scanning of the surface of the wafer 1 by the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 irradiated on the surface of the wafer 1 is applied from the plane region to the predetermined region 10, it is arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which strong diffracted light is emitted. High angle detectors (371, 373) and low angle detectors (383, 386) at low angles (azimuth) that do not receive diffracted light (or are less affected by diffracted light), and directions in which strong diffracted light is emitted High-angle detectors (372, 374) and low-angle detectors (381, 382) that receive diffracted light (or have a large influence on the diffracted light) arranged in a direction substantially parallel to or close to the angle (azimuth). , 384, 385), a large difference appears in the noise level due to the diffracted light mixed in the detection signal.

  FIG. 5B shows a detector disposed at an angle (azimuth) that does not receive diffracted light (or that is less affected by diffracted light) and an angle (orientation) that receives diffracted light (or that is more affected by diffracted light). Is received by the detectors arranged in FIG. 3 to receive the scattered light Se, the strong diffracted light 202, and the weak diffracted light 203, respectively, and compare the output signals from the signal processing device 4 shown in FIG. 3B and FIG. It is a thing. Here, the output voltage from the detector arranged at an angle that receives the diffracted light (or the influence of the diffracted light is large) is V1, and the detection is arranged at an angle that does not receive the diffracted light (or the influence of the diffracted light is small). An output voltage (V1 / V2) obtained by calculating an output signal with respect to the radial direction (r) of the wafer 1 is expressed together with thresholds Th1 and Th2 with an output voltage from the chamber being V2.

  The value of the output voltage ratio V1 / V2 shown in FIG. 5B indicates that the position of the surface of the wafer 1 irradiated with the laser spot 201 of the scanning laser beam 204 is outward from the plane region in the radial direction of the wafer 1. When reaching the predetermined region 10 at the end, strong diffracted light 202 as shown in FIG. 2A is generated, and the output is affected by the strong diffracted light 202 (or the influence of the diffracted light increases). The value of the voltage ratio increases. First, it gradually becomes larger than the portion (boundary position) Rp where the inclination of the edge roll-off 101 starts, and suddenly increases when it reaches the portion (boundary position) Ep where the inclination of the bevel 102 begins. Therefore, by comparing the value of the output voltage ratio V1 / V2 with the threshold value, the boundary positions Rp and Ep of the predetermined region 10 corresponding to the edge roll-off 101 and the bevel 102 of the planar region and the outer end portion of the wafer 1 are obtained. It becomes possible to determine accurately.

  The setting screen shown in FIG. 5C is an example of a threshold setting screen provided on the display device 75 in order to compare and determine the output voltage ratio V1 / V2 value. Since the threshold values Th1 and Th2 of the output voltage ratio V1 / V2 vary depending on the conditions of the laser beam 204 applied to the surface of the wafer 1, the output voltage ratio is set in the inspection condition setting screen 504 (condition setting means). The threshold values Th1 and Th2 of V1 / V2 can be arbitrarily set from the input device 76. This threshold setting screen 501 is provided with threshold setting means 502 for determining the boundary position Ep of the bevel 102 and threshold setting means 503 for determining the boundary position Rp of the edge roll-off 101. Based on the set values of the plurality of threshold setting means 502 and 503 for determining the bevel boundary position Ep and the edge roll-off boundary position Rp, the predetermined region 10 is separated and identified. The calculation unit 73 of the data processing device 52 performs the comparison operation, and the position where the value of the output voltage ratio V1 / V2 shown in FIG. 5B gradually increases and exceeds the threshold Th2 is the boundary position between the plane region and the edge roll-off 101. Rp is determined. Next, the position where the value of the output voltage ratio V1 / V2 suddenly increases and exceeds the threshold Th1 is determined as the boundary position Ep between the edge roll-off 101 region and the bevel 102 region. Further, the entire area exceeding the threshold Th1 is determined as the predetermined area 10 corresponding to the bevel 102 on the surface of the wafer 1.

  As described above, based on detection signals received by a plurality of detectors having different degrees of influence of diffracted light in the predetermined region 10, the calculation unit 73 of the data processing device 52 performs a comparison operation to calculate the planar region on the surface of the wafer 1. The boundary position with the predetermined region 10 (edge roll-off boundary position Rp, bevel boundary position Ep) can be accurately determined.

  As a result, it is possible to set the effective range in which the surface of the wafer 1 is scanned by irradiating the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 to a wide range that is extended to the limit with high accuracy.

  Further, in the present inspection apparatus, the range of the predetermined region 10 on the surface of the wafer 1 can be set with high accuracy by performing the comparison operation with the arithmetic unit 73 of the data processing device 52 based on the detection signal received by the detector as described above. When the predetermined area 10 is scanned by irradiating the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204, a detector placed at a position not affected by or less affected by the diffracted light is selected, and the foreign matter or defect 205 is removed. A detection signal for determination can be selected.

  As a result, the state of the foreign matter or the defect 205 existing in the predetermined region 10 can be detected without being affected by the diffracted light or with less influence.

  That is, when the predetermined area 10 of the wafer 1 is irradiated with the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 and the foreign matter or the defect 205 existing in the predetermined area 10 is measured, it corresponds to the edge roll-off 101 area and the bevel 102 area. When the boundary positions Rp and Ep are detected, the detector selection process is performed by the calculator 73 of the data processing device 52 (detector selection means). For example, the angle which does not receive the strong diffracted light 202 generated in the predetermined region 10 on the surface of the wafer 1 (or is less influenced by the diffracted light) from the high angle detectors 371 to 374 and the low angle detectors 381 to 386. The high-angle detectors 371 and 373 and the low-angle detectors 383 and 386 arranged in the selected area 10 are selected based on the detection signals detected by the selected detectors. Is detected. Accordingly, the state of the foreign matter or the defect 205 existing in the predetermined region 10 can be accurately measured without being influenced by (or reducing the influence of) the strong diffracted light 202 generated in the predetermined region 10 of the wafer 1. Can do.

  Alternatively, detector selection processing and sensitivity correction processing may be performed by the arithmetic unit 73 of the data processing device 52. For example, the high angle arranged at an angle that receives the strong diffracted light 202 generated in the predetermined region 10 (or is greatly influenced by the diffracted light) from the high angle detectors 371 to 374 and the low angle detectors 381 to 386. Operation (detection sensitivity control means) for selecting the detectors 372 and 374 (or the low-angle detectors 381 and 384 and the detectors 382 and 385) and reducing the detection sensitivity of the selected detector. Do. Or you may perform the process (output control means) which controls the output of the laser light source 31 so that the intensity | strength (power) of the laser beam 204 irradiated to the wafer 1 surface may be reduced and irradiated.

  A foreign object or defect 205 existing in a predetermined region 10 on the surface of the wafer 1 is determined based on a detection signal from a detector for sensitivity correction processing or a detection signal from a laser beam 204 with reduced intensity. As a result, the state of the foreign matter or the defect 205 existing in the predetermined region 10 is accurately measured without being influenced by (or reducing the influence of) the noise caused by the strong diffracted light 202 generated in the predetermined region 10 of the wafer 1. be able to. In addition, since damage to the detector due to the strong diffracted light 202 can be suppressed, damage to the detector can be prevented.

  Next, a method for correcting the position coordinates of the foreign matter or defect 205 detected from the surface of the wafer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a spiral scanning driving method for the table 21 on which the wafer 1 is placed, and FIG. 7 shows a method for obtaining the edge roll-off boundary position Rp and the bevel boundary position Ep at each θ coordinate.

  As described in FIG. 4, the wafer 1 placed on the table 21 is rotated to a predetermined rotation speed (θ direction) by the rotation drive mechanism 23, and the radial direction of the table 21 (in accordance with the rotation speed ( In the direction of r), the linear movement mechanism 22 moves in a substantially linear direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the table 21 on which the wafer 1 is placed has the laser spot 201 relatively spirally scan the wafer 1 by a combination of the rotational movement amount θ and the translational movement amount r. Become. The reference position 601 is position coordinates that are controlled by position coordinate signals from the above-described rotary encoder and linear encoder and that are the starting points of the inspection start. Starting from the reference position 601, the table 21 moves by Δr toward the outer periphery in the radial direction between the first scanning lane 602 to the m-th scanning lane 605, which are each scanning lane in which the table 21 rotates once. If the diameter of the laser spot 201 is smaller than Δr, the inspection area is missing, and therefore Δr is usually set smaller than the diameter of the laser spot 201. Accordingly, when the same θ coordinate is cut out on the horizontal axis, the shape change of the surface of the wafer 1 is inspected without omission toward the outer peripheral portion in the radial direction while moving by Δr. Note that, as the translational movement Δr in each of the scanning lanes 602 to 605 is smaller, the detection sensitivity of the shape change is improved, but the throughput of the inspection apparatus is lowered. It is preferable that the translational movement Δr is controlled to be small when the laser spot 201 is scanned near (near) the outer peripheral portion of the wafer 1.

  The reference position 601 is the center of the temporary wafer 1 in the table 21, and the actual center of the wafer 1 is such that the mounting position of the wafer 1 changes for each transfer due to random errors of different sizes of the transfer mechanism system. It changes for each conveyance due to a positional deviation after mounting. Therefore, the deviation amount between the actual center of the wafer 1 and the reference position 601 varies for each inspection.

  FIG. 7 shows the digital data D1 of the detector stored in the memory 72 of the data processing device 52 described above and arranged at an angle (azimuth) that receives the diffracted light (or has a large influence of the diffracted light), and the diffracted light. An output voltage ratio D1 with respect to the translational movement amount r (movement distance) is calculated by the data processing device 52 based on the digital data D2 of the detector arranged at an angle (azimuth) not received (or less influenced by diffracted light). The change of / D2 is plotted with the same θ coordinate. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the translational movement amount r (movement distance) approaches the outer periphery of the wafer, it gradually becomes larger than the portion Rp (boundary position) where the edge roll-off 101 starts to be inclined. When it reaches the part Ep (boundary position) where the inclination starts, it suddenly increases. The change in the output voltage ratio D1 / D2 curve corresponding to the edge roll-off boundary position Rp and the bevel boundary position Ep corresponds to the position of each θ coordinate in accordance with the amount of deviation of the wafer 1 and the state of eccentricity. Change. Therefore, the edge roll-off boundary position Rp, for each arbitrary θ coordinate in the circumferential direction of the wafer is determined by the threshold Th1 for determining the boundary position Ep of the bevel 102 and the threshold Th2 for determining the boundary position Rp of the edge roll-off 101. If the position of the translational movement amount r (movement distance) of the boundary position Ep of the bevel is detected, the deviation amount and the eccentric state of the wafer 1 can be known.

The position of the notch can also be detected by a similar method. Θy shown in FIG. 7 captures a notch region. Since the notch region is a notch formed in the wafer 1, the change in the output voltage ratio D1 / D2 appears earlier than other θ coordinates. The position of the notch can be detected by capturing the position of the θ coordinate. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of θ coordinates (for example, θy _−2n , θy _−n , θy, θy _{+ n} , θy _{+ 2n in} the figure) near the region of the notch 803 are cut out, and the bevel 102 at each θ coordinate is extracted. The movement distance (r) 801 in which the boundary position Ep is detected is detected. The position of the θ coordinate (θy) at which the moving distance (r) 801 is the smallest is set as the coordinate of the notch 803. When the center portion of the notch 803 is the flat portion 802 and the position cannot be specified, the moving distance (r) 801 of the flat portion 802 region is differentiated, and the center of the region where the value is substantially 0 is notched 803. The coordinates of

  In FIG. 9, based on the reference position 601 of the table 21, the movement distance 801 where the boundary position Ep of the bevel 102 is detected for each θ coordinate in the circumferential direction of the wafer and the boundary position Rp of the edge roll-off 101 are detected. The movement distance 901 is plotted on the XY coordinates. The reference position 601 of the table 21 is a (0, 0) coordinate, the 0 ° and 180 ° lines of the θ coordinate passing through this coordinate are the X axis, and the 90 ° and 270 ° lines orthogonal to this are the Y axis. From the substantially circular center drawn from the boundary position Ep of the bevel 102 and the boundary position Rp of the edge roll-off 101, and the θ coordinate of the notch 803, the deviation amount and the eccentric state of the wafer 1 can be detected.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a method for obtaining the approximate center of a substantially circular shape drawn from the boundary position Ep of the bevel 102. The vertical bisector of the string is an example of finding the center using passing through the center of the circle, and any method can be used as long as the center is obtained. For example, the coordinates of three points on the movement distance 801 where the bevel boundary position Ep is detected may be arbitrarily selected and derived from a circle equation of x ² + y ² + ax + by + c = 0. Alternatively, the boundary position Rp of the edge roll-off 101 may be obtained. A more stable result can be obtained when the signal strength of the output voltage ratio D1 / D2 is obtained from the boundary position Ep of the bevel 102. Here, an example of a method for obtaining from the boundary position Ep of the bevel 102 is shown.

  The coordinates of intersection points A (X1, Y1) and B (X2, Y2) of the moving distance 801 where the bevel boundary position Ep is detected are calculated by the linear function f (x) 1 stored in the data processing device 52 in advance. An equation f (x) 3 of a perpendicular bisector passing through the point C (X3, Y3), which is the midpoint of the line segment AB, is calculated. Similarly, from the linear function f (x) 2, the coordinates of the intersection points D (X4, Y4) and E (X5, Y5) of the movement distance 801 where the bevel boundary position Ep is detected are obtained by calculation processing. A vertical bisector equation f (x) 4 passing through the point C (X3, Y3), which is the midpoint of the segment D-E, is obtained. From the simultaneous equations of the vertical bisector equation f (x) 3 of the line segment AB and the vertical bisector equation f (x) 4 of the line segment DE, the intersection of the vertical bisectors , The substantially circular substantially center H (X7, Y7) point drawn from the bevel boundary position Ep is derived. That is, the approximate center H of the wafer 1 when the surface inspection is performed while rotating at high speed is obtained. In order to improve the position accuracy of the approximate center H, it is preferable to use three or more vertical bisectors. By averaging or weighted averaging the coordinates of a plurality of approximate centers H derived from the intersections of a plurality of vertical bisectors, the position accuracy can be improved. Similarly, when the approximate center H is derived from the equation of the circle, a plurality of sets of three-point coordinates are selected, and the position accuracy is obtained by averaging or weighted average the obtained coordinates of the approximate centers H. Can be improved. Improving accuracy by averaging or weighted averaging has the same effect in other methods.

  Next, a first reference line 1001 for correcting the position coordinate of the detected foreign matter or defect 205 is obtained using the axis passing through the coordinates of the notch 803 obtained in FIG. 8 and the coordinates of the approximate center H derived from FIG. (Vertical reference line of the inspection object), passing through the coordinates of the approximate center H, and the axis in the direction substantially orthogonal to the first reference line is the second reference line 1002 (horizontal reference line of the inspection object). . A coordinate conversion table for aligning the X axis and the Y axis based on the reference position 601 of the table 21 with the first reference line 1001 and the second reference line 1002 is created. Based on the coordinate conversion table, the stored position coordinates of the foreign matter or defect 205 are corrected with the approximate center H of the wafer 1 to be inspected as the center coordinates. The arrow shown in FIG. 10 is the direction of coordinate correction. In this embodiment, the coordinate conversion table is used, but a coordinate correction formula may be calculated and the calculation process may be performed on the stored position coordinates of the foreign object or defect 205. Further, the first reference line 1001 may be the only reference for correction. If the approximate center H of the wafer 1 to be inspected and the θ coordinate of the notch 803 are known, coordinate correction can be performed. Although the accuracy is slightly reduced, it can be processed at high speed. Further, the second reference line 1002 may intersect with the first reference line 1001 at a predetermined angle without passing through the approximate center H. Any second reference line 1002 can be used as long as the second reference line 1002 can be aligned with the coordinate form configured based on the reference position 601 of the table 21. In this embodiment, the display device 75 displays the notch 803 so that the position of the notch 803 is always located at a predetermined position. The coordinate correction of the foreign matter or defect 205 with respect to the display may be performed after the correction of the coordinates of the approximate center H of the wafer 1 to be inspected, or the coordinate correction calculation process may be performed.

  As described above, the inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment captures the feature amount of the predetermined area of the bevel 102 and the edge roll-off 101 to thereby detect the position shift and the Θ shift state of the approximate center H of the wafer 1 itself to be inspected. Can be detected. Also, coordinate correction can be performed based on the approximate center H of the wafer 1 itself based on the positional deviation and Θ deviation.

  As a result, since the coordinates are corrected based on the inspection state of the wafer 1 to be inspected, even if the transfer mechanism system has a random error and the installation position of the wafer 1 on the stage varies for each transfer, stable foreign matter Alternatively, the coordinate accuracy of the defect 205 can be obtained. Further, high coordinate accuracy can be maintained by suppressing the influence of the eccentricity of the spindle motor. Since a high-performance spindle motor is not required, the device manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, since the machine difference of the inspection apparatus can be suppressed, the matching of the coordinates of the foreign matter or the defect 25 with other inspection apparatuses can be improved.

  In addition, since the coordinates are corrected based on the approximate center H of the wafer 1 itself, the correction coefficient is multiplied by the degree of expansion of the surface to be inspected of the wafer 1 due to the rotational speed and the degree of reduction of the wafer 1 due to a change in the amount of deflection. Coordinate correction is easy.

  Next, using the flowchart shown in FIG. 11, the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 is irradiated for the presence or absence of foreign matters or defects 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 by the wafer surface inspection apparatus in this embodiment shown in FIG. 4. A measurement flow for scanning the surface of the wafer 1 will be described.

  First, in step 1101 for setting the inspection condition of the wafer plane area, the data processing device 52 of the wafer surface inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. Set the inspection conditions.

  Next, in step 1102 for starting measurement, the rotation of the table 21 of the wafer surface inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment is started by a command from the drive controller 51, and the wafer 1 placed on the table 21 is rotated while the wafer 1 is rotated. Measurement (scanning) is started while moving the position of the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 irradiating the surface of 1 toward the radially outer end from the radial center of the wafer 1.

  In step 1104 during the plane area scanning, the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 is irradiated to the plane area on the surface of the wafer 1 while moving the laser spot 201 toward the radially outer end from the radial center of the wafer 1. Scan the surface.

  In step 1105 for calculating a level obtained by averaging the detection signals received by the next light receivers for each turn, the scattered light Se detected by the light receivers while the laser spot 201 makes a round on the surface of the wafer 1. The level obtained by averaging the detection signals is calculated.

  The scattered light Se scattered from the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 by continuously irradiating the surface of the wafer 1 with the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 is substantially high angle detectors 371 to 374. The detection signals 381 to 386 are received by the low-angle detectors, and the detection signals, which are received light signals, are averaged for each round by the data processing device 52 as described above to calculate the average level of the detection signals.

  Next, the output voltage V1 output from the light receiver disposed at the angle of the wafer 1 and receiving the diffracted light (or the influence of the diffracted light is large) and the radial direction of the wafer 1 are disposed. The wafer voltage direction (V1) for calculating the ratio (V1 / V2) of the output voltage to the output voltage V2 output from the light receiver arranged at an angle that is not subjected to diffracted light (or is less influenced by diffracted light) ) And the signal ratio of the photoreceivers in the radial direction (V2), the process proceeds to step 1106.

  The ratio (V1 / V2) of the output voltage (V1 / V2) of the light receiving signal detected by the light receiving device arranged in the diameter direction of the wafer 1 by the data processing device 52 and the light receiving signal detected by the light receiving device arranged in the radial direction. calculate.

  The position at which the surface of the wafer 1 is irradiated with the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 moves from the center of the surface of the wafer 1 toward the outer peripheral edge in the radial direction. The movement of the position of the laser spot 201 is a linear movement mechanism 22. This is associated with the movement of the position of the wafer 1 by driving.

  Therefore, the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 is compared while comparing the input value of the moving amount of the linear moving mechanism 22 shown in FIG. 4 with the set value of the distance from the center of the wafer 1 to the predetermined region 10 on the surface of the wafer 1. The surface of the wafer 1 is scanned while being moved, and if the irradiation position approaches the predetermined area 10 from the plane area, the feed speed for moving the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 is set finely to adjust the wafer 1 The surface can be scanned substantially concentrically.

  Then, the scattered light Se scattered from the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 received by the light receiver together with the position data of the scanning position (detection position) of the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 that scans the surface of the wafer 1. Are processed by the arithmetic unit (MPU) 73 of the data processing device 52.

  Then, the process proceeds to step 1107 for determining the threshold value (Th1) <V1 / V2, and the calculated value of the ratio V1 / V2 of the output voltage calculated by the calculator 73 of the data processing device 52 is shown in FIG. The laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 is irradiated to the surface of the wafer 1 at a position where the calculated value of the output voltage ratio V1 / V2 exceeds the threshold Th1 by comparing with the preset threshold Th1 shown in FIG. The determined position is determined to be the boundary position Ep between the planar area on the surface of the wafer 1 and the predetermined area 10 corresponding to the bevel 102 of the wafer 1.

  In order to accurately measure the bevel boundary position Ep between the planar area of the surface of the wafer 1 and the predetermined area 10, the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 irradiating the surface of the wafer 1 is in the vicinity of the predetermined area 10. When approaching, the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 is finely fed to irradiate the surface of the wafer 1 with the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 substantially concentrically.

  When the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 is irradiated in this manner, even if a foreign matter or defect 205 exists at the irradiation position on the surface of the wafer 1 scanned in a substantially concentric manner, the foreign matter or defect 25 is generated. From the detection signal obtained by detecting the scattered light Se to be detected by the detector, the detection signal by the scattered light Se generated from the foreign matter or the defect 25 is detected from a plurality of adjacent circumferential positions obtained by scanning the surface of the wafer 1 substantially concentrically. Therefore, if the detection signal by the scattered light Se generated from the foreign matter or the defect 25 is deleted by the calculation of the calculator 73 of the data processing device 52, the planar area of the surface of the wafer 1 and the bevel 102 of the wafer 1 are It becomes possible to accurately determine the boundary position Ep with the corresponding predetermined region 10.

  The feed amount of the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 that irradiates the surface of the wafer 1 when approaching the vicinity of the predetermined region 10 may be set finely to 1/4 to 1/2 of the normal feed amount. .

  Next, the entire region where the calculated value of the output voltage ratio V1 / V2 exceeds the threshold Th1 is determined as the predetermined region 10 on the surface of the wafer 1 corresponding to the edge portion d of the wafer 1.

  Then, the process proceeds to step 1108 where the predetermined region 10 on the surface of the wafer 1 is discriminated as the predetermined region and the inspection conditions are changed so as to correspond to the inspection in which the laser beam 204 is irradiated and scanned. When the computing unit 73 of the data processing device 52 determines that the scanning position by irradiating the spot 201 has shifted from the planar region to the predetermined region beyond the boundary position Ep of the bevel, the data processing device 52 The calculation condition of the predetermined area for scanning by irradiating the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 onto the predetermined area 10 of the wafer 1 is set by changing the calculator 73 of FIG.

  That is, the intensity of the laser beam 204 irradiated from the laser light source 31 that irradiates the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 that scans the predetermined region 10 on the surface of the wafer 1 is adjusted to be lowered, or the scattered light Se is received. The light receiving sensitivity of the detector is adjusted so as to lower the light receiving sensitivity of the detector disposed at the position where the scattered light Se generated from the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing in the predetermined region 10 on the surface of the wafer 1 is received.

  If the inspection conditions in the predetermined area 10 are changed and set as described above, the influence of the strong diffracted light 202 generated by the bevel 102 on the surface of the wafer 1 is reduced, and the foreign matter existing in the predetermined area 10 on the surface of the wafer 1 is reduced. Alternatively, the scattered light Se generated from the defect 25 can be detected, and as a result, the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing in the predetermined region 10 can be detected.

  Then, when the inspection in step 1108 for determining the predetermined region and changing the inspection condition is completed, and the calculated value of the output voltage ratio V1 / V2 in step 1107 for determining threshold (Th1) <V1 / V2 Is only smaller than the threshold value Th1, the process proceeds to step 1103 for determining the measurement end position, and the scanning is completed until the position of the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 reaches the measurement end position on the surface of the wafer 1. If YES, the process proceeds to step 1109 where measurement is completed, and measurement of the surface of the wafer 1 is completed.

  In the above-described wafer surface inspection apparatus of the present embodiment, the wafer 1 placed on the table 21 is rotated to irradiate the surface of the wafer 1 with the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204. The scattered light Se generated from the defect 25 is received by the detector and the state of the foreign matter or the defect 25 is inspected. The deterioration of the detector and the decrease in the detection accuracy of the scattered light Se are suppressed by the following measures. is doing.

  That is, in the wafer surface inspection apparatus according to this embodiment, the detection sensitivity of the scattered light Se in the inspection of the predetermined region 10 on the surface of the wafer 1 corresponding to the bevel 102 of the wafer 1 is suppressed. The detector of the arrangement direction in which the strong diffracted light 202 generated at the bevel 102 of the wafer 1 is not incident as much as possible is selected from a plurality of detectors that detect scattered light generated from the foreign matter or defect 25 existing in the wafer. Thus, the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 is detected with high accuracy using the received light signal obtained by detecting the scattered light by the selected detector.

  Further, since the direction of the strong diffracted light 202 generated from the edge portion d of the wafer 1 is generated in the diameter direction of the wafer which is always the same direction with respect to the rotation of the wafer 1, the angle at which the strong diffracted light 202 is received is set. A detector which is arranged at the removed position and detects scattered light Se generated from the foreign matter or defect 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 is selected, and the wafer is based on the light reception signal of the scattered light Se by the selected detector. The foreign matter or the defect 25 existing on the surface of 1 is detected with high accuracy.

  That is, in the wafer surface inspection apparatus of the present embodiment, the detector for detecting the scattered light Se is not affected by the strong diffracted light 202 generated by the bevel 102 of the wafer 1 shown in FIG. As detectors for detecting scattered light generated from a foreign object or defect 25 existing on the surface of one, detectors 371 and 373 for high angles and detectors 383 and 386 for low angles among detectors arranged in large numbers. By selecting and effectively detecting the scattered light Se generated from the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 by these selected detectors, the state of the foreign matter or the defect 25 is measured with high accuracy (inspection). )is doing.

  Further, the number of detectors and the positions where they are arranged may be set as appropriate so as to avoid the strong diffracted light 202.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, when the surface of the inspection object is inspected by irradiating the laser beam, the flat area to be inspected of the inspection object can be set as wide as possible. And an inspection object inspection apparatus and inspection object inspection method for accurately inspecting and inspecting a boundary position between a predetermined area corresponding to an edge portion of the inspection object adjacent to the planar area.

  Next, an inspection object inspection apparatus and an inspection object inspection method according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The inspection object inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment has the same configuration and operation as the inspection object inspection apparatus according to the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. The description of this configuration is omitted, and only a different configuration will be described below.

  In FIG. 12, in the inspection apparatus for an object to be inspected according to the present embodiment, in order to determine the boundary position Ep between the predetermined area 10 corresponding to the bevel 102 on the surface of the wafer 1 and the flat planar area, the wafer 1 The half mirror 512 that captures the shape of the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 irradiated on the surface of the laser beam and the periphery of the shape of the laser spot 201, and the shape of the laser spot 201 reflected by the half mirror 512 and the periphery of the shape of the laser spot 201 And an observation camera 500 for photographing Based on the image data of the shape of the laser spot 201 photographed by the observation camera 500 and the image data around the shape of the laser spot 201, the bevel boundary position Ep is discriminated and the predetermined area is determined by the image recognition technique in the data processing device 52. 10 ranges are discriminated.

  That is, the half mirror 512 is arranged in the optical path for irradiating the laser beam 204 in the vertical direction from the upper part of the surface of the wafer 1 as the inspection object toward the surface of the inspection object. Further, the image of the shape of the laser spot 201 irradiated with the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 that has passed through the half mirror 512 and the peripheral image of the shape of the laser spot 201 are irradiated via the half mirror 512. And an observation camera 500 that captures an image of the shape of the laser spot 201 reflected and an image of the periphery of the shape of the laser spot 201.

  That is, the laser beam 204 output from the laser light source 31 in the projection optical system is reflected by the mirror 331 and vertically projected downward in the vertical direction toward the surface of the wafer 1 and the surface of the wafer 1 is irradiated. In order not to interfere with the image of the position of the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204, the laser beam 204 is transmitted, and the position of the laser spot 201 irradiated on the surface of the wafer 1 and the surrounding image are as follows. A half mirror 512 is provided to reflect and image in the arrangement direction of the observation camera 500.

  The observation camera 500 is configured to capture the shape of the laser spot 201 irradiated with the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 irradiated by the light projecting optical system onto the surface of the wafer 1, and the number of pixels that can capture an image of the periphery of the laser spot 201. And have resolution.

  In the present embodiment, the surface of the wafer 1 is irradiated with the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 and the shape of the laser spot 201 irradiated on the surface of the wafer 1 during scanning is scanned, and the periphery of the laser spot 201 is The image of the image is taken by the observation camera 500, sequentially obtained as image data, and the image data is analyzed by an image recognition technique by the data processing device 52 provided in the inspection apparatus of the present embodiment to obtain the surface of the wafer 1 The bevel boundary position Ep between the planar area and the predetermined area and the range of the predetermined area 10 corresponding to the bevel 102 of the wafer 1 are discriminated.

  That is, the shape of the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 photographed by the observation camera 500 is, for example, circular when the position irradiated with the laser spot 201 is in the plane area of the surface of the wafer 1. When the irradiation position of the laser spot 201 changes from the plane area to the predetermined area 10 corresponding to the edge portion d of the wafer 1 and enters the boundary position Ep of the bevel, the shape of the laser spot 201 is changed by the inclined surface of the bevel 102. It changes to an ellipse.

  For this reason, if an image recognition technique for pattern-matching the shape of the laser spot 201 photographed by the observation camera 500 in the data processing device 52 is applied, the plane region between the surface of the wafer 1 and the predetermined region 10 is applied. The bevel boundary position Ep can be determined with high accuracy.

  Further, the range of the predetermined region 10 corresponding to the edge portion d of the wafer 1 can be determined by the same method as described above.

  Further, the scattered light Se scattered by the foreign matter e existing on the surface of the wafer 1 and the defects such as scratches and crystal defects (COP) are detected by the high angle detectors 371 to 374 and the low angle detector as in the previous embodiment. The light reception signal detected by the detectors 381 to 386 and detected by the detector is sent to the signal processing device 4 and the data processing device 52 for calculation processing, and the size or position of the foreign matter or defect 25 is displayed on the display 75 or the like. It is configured to be displayed.

  In this embodiment, the determination of the boundary position Ep of the bevel and the determination of the state of the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 are the same as in the previous embodiment described with reference to FIGS. The description is omitted because it is present, but the boundary position Ep of the bevel between the planar area on the surface of the wafer 1 and the predetermined area 10 is determined with high accuracy, and is generated from the foreign matter or defect 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1. It is possible to effectively detect the scattered light Se that is detected by a detector and measure the state of the foreign matter or the defect 25 with high accuracy.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, when the surface of the inspection object is inspected by irradiating the laser beam, the flat area to be inspected of the inspection object can be set as wide as possible. And an inspection object inspection apparatus and inspection object inspection method for accurately inspecting and inspecting a boundary position between a predetermined area corresponding to an edge portion of the inspection object adjacent to the planar area.

  Next, an inspection object inspection apparatus and inspection object inspection method according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  The inspection apparatus for inspecting objects of this embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is mostly the same in configuration and operation as the inspection apparatus for inspection objects of the previous embodiments shown in FIGS. Therefore, the description of the configuration common to both is omitted, and only the configuration that is different will be described below.

  In the inspection apparatus for an object to be inspected according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. And the state of the foreign matter or defect 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 are determined by irradiating the surface of the wafer 1 with the laser spot 201 of the laser beam 204 and scattering light Se scattered on the surface of the wafer 1. In order to receive light, a plurality of condensing mirrors 613 that are installed above the wafer 1 to reflect the scattered light Se, and to receive the scattered light Se reflected by the plurality of condensing mirrors 613. For example, a line sensor 600 having a configuration in which a large number of sensors are arranged in an annular shape is installed, and a line sensor that receives scattered light Se reflected by the condenser mirror 613 is received. Depending on the position of the sensor 600, the received signal from the received sensor is sent to the signal processing device 4 and the data processing device 52 for arithmetic processing, and the size or position of the foreign matter or defect 25 is displayed on the display 75 or the like. It is comprised so that.

  As a result, the bevel boundary position Ep between the flat planar region on the surface of the wafer 1 and the predetermined region 10 corresponding to the edge portion d, the determination of the range of the predetermined region 10, and the surface of the wafer 1 are determined. The status of the existing foreign matter or defect 25 is determined, and the position of the bevel boundary position Ep and the size and position of the foreign matter or defect 25 are displayed on the display 75 or the like.

  The effect of using the line sensor 600 that receives the scattered light Se in the present embodiment is that even if strong diffracted light is incident as compared with the detector of the previous embodiment using a photomultiplier tube (PMT). The point which is hard to do is raised.

  Also in the line sensor 600 of this embodiment, similarly to the case where the scattered light Se is received by the detector of the previous embodiment, the line sensor 600 is affected by or is affected by the strong diffracted light 202 generated in the diameter direction of the wafer 1. The light reception signal V1 of the scattered light Se scattered from the surface of the wafer 1 in the region susceptible to the diffracted light 202 and the weak diffracted light 203 generated in the tangential direction of the bevel 102 of the wafer 1 are affected by this weak diffraction. A received light signal V2 of the scattered light Se scattered from the surface of the wafer 1 in a region susceptible to the light 203 is acquired.

  Similar to the arithmetic processing in the case of the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the ratio between the output voltage V1 of the received light signal detected by the plurality of sensors of the line sensor 600 and the output voltage V2 of the received light signal ( The value of V1 / V2) is compared with an arbitrarily set threshold Th1, and the position of the surface of the wafer 1 exceeding the threshold Th is determined to correspond to the flat surface region of the wafer 1 and the bevel 102 of the wafer 1. It becomes possible to accurately determine the boundary position Ep between the regions.

  Further, in the line sensor 600 of this embodiment, the scattered light Se scattered by the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing on the surface of the wafer 1 can be received without being affected by the diffracted light so much. The situation can be detected with high accuracy.

  Further, when measuring the state of the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing in the predetermined region 10 corresponding to the edge portion, the sensor of the line sensor 600 located within an angle range that is not affected by the strong diffracted light 202 that becomes noise. By selecting the portion, it is possible to minimize the decrease in sensitivity and to inspect the state of the foreign matter or the defect 25 existing in the predetermined region 10.

  Thus, by accurately determining the bevel boundary position Ep between the surface area of the wafer 1 and the predetermined area, not only can the flat planar area on the surface of the wafer 1 be used to the maximum, Therefore, it becomes possible to manage the state of the foreign matter or the defect 25 in a predetermined region corresponding to the bevel 102 of the wafer 1 that could not be measured, and the fatal defect of the wafer 1 is not overlooked.

  Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the defects of the semiconductor IC manufactured from the wafer 1 inspected by applying this embodiment.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, when the surface of the inspection object is inspected by irradiating the laser beam, the flat area to be inspected of the inspection object can be set as wide as possible. And an inspection object inspection apparatus and inspection object inspection method for accurately inspecting and inspecting a boundary position between a predetermined area corresponding to an edge portion of the inspection object adjacent to the planar area.

  Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, based on the output of the detector for inspecting the inspection object, the vicinity of the outer periphery of the inspection object such as a wafer is determined as a plurality of regions, Since the boundary can be discriminated, there is a remarkable effect that a special detector for detecting a bevel (edge) region such as a wafer is unnecessary.

  In addition, since the outputs of a plurality of detectors for inspecting an object to be inspected are used, the edge roll-off region and the edge roll-off region that cannot be detected by a special detector for detecting a bevel (edge) region such as a wafer are used. Further, the inner peripheral flat region and the boundary thereof (for example, the boundary Ep between the bevel region and the edge roll-off region, or the boundary Rp between the edge roll-off region and the inner flat region) are discriminated. Therefore, there is a remarkable effect that it is not necessary to provide a dedicated detector for detecting each.

  Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention can be applied to an inspection apparatus and an inspection method for an inspection object for inspecting the surface condition of the inspection object such as a wafer. In particular, the vicinity of the outer periphery of an inspection object such as a wafer can be determined as a plurality of regions, and further, the plurality of boundaries can be determined. For example, not only the position of the physical outer edge, but also a bevel area, an edge roll-off area, an area that is further flat on the inner circumference than the edge roll-off area, and a boundary between them (for example, a bevel area and an edge roll-off area) The boundary Ep or the boundary Rp between the edge roll-off region and the inner peripheral flat region can be discriminated and used for the inspection process.

  In addition to the position of the physical outer peripheral edge of semiconductor wafers and insulator wafers, information on the bevel area, edge roll-off area, flat area further inside the edge roll-off area, and boundaries between these areas Since foreign matter / defect information can be obtained, the quality of the semiconductor wafer and the insulator wafer can be improved, and the quality of the bonded wafer obtained by bonding these can be improved.

  The present invention can be applied to an inspection object inspection apparatus and inspection object inspection method for inspecting the surface state of an inspection object such as a wafer, and in particular, inspects the surface of an inspection object such as a wafer by irradiating a laser beam. The present invention can be used for an inspection apparatus and an inspection method for an inspection object.

In the Example of this invention, it is a figure explaining the predetermined area | region of a wafer outer peripheral part. In the Example of this invention, when the semiconductor wafer of a test object is irradiated with a laser beam, it is the conceptual diagram showing the intensity | strength of the diffracted light produced with the bevel of the wafer, (a) is the diffraction produced in the bevel area | region of a wafer The top view of the light situation from above, (b) is a partial side view of the diffracted light generated in the edge region of the wafer from the side, and (c) is the scattering generated from foreign matter adhering to the wafer surface. It is explanatory drawing which showed the state of light. FIG. 5 shows an outline of a detector constituting the inspection apparatus of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, (a) is a top view showing the arrangement state of the detector, and (b) is generated on the surface of the wafer. It is the schematic which shows the content of the process of the received light signal when the scattered light detected with the detector. It is a simplified block diagram of the detection optical system which comprises the inspection apparatus of the to-be-inspected object which is one Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the inspection condition of the bevel area | region of the wafer by the inspection apparatus of the Example of this invention shown in FIG. 4, (a) is the schematic of the bevel area | region of the wafer which has irradiated the laser beam, b) is a diagram showing the intensity ratio of the noise component in the received light signal of the scattered light detected by the detector of the present embodiment, and (c) is a threshold value Th on the screen of the intensity ratio of the noise component shown in (b). It is explanatory drawing which showed the example of a setting screen. It is the schematic explaining the scanning method of the to-be-inspected object which is one Example of this invention. In the Example of this invention, it is a figure which shows the change of the D1 / D2 curve cut out for every (theta) coordinate in a to-be-inspected object. In the Example of this invention, it is the schematic explaining the method to detect the coordinate position of a notch. In the Example of this invention, it is a figure explaining the method of calculating | requiring the outer periphery of a to-be-inspected object from the bevel boundary position of a predetermined area | region. In the Example of this invention, it is a figure explaining the method of correct | amending the position coordinate of a foreign material or a defect from the outer periphery of the to-be-inspected object calculated | required from the bevel boundary position of a predetermined area | region. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the test | inspection of the wafer in the test | inspection apparatus of the Example of this invention shown in FIG. It is a simple block diagram which shows the optical system which comprises the test | inspection apparatus of the to-be-measured object which is another Example of this invention. It is a simple block diagram which shows the optical system which comprises the test | inspection apparatus of the to-be-measured object which is further another Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wafer 4 Signal processing apparatus 10 Predetermined area | region 21 Table 22 Linear movement mechanism 25 Foreign material or defect 31 Laser light source 35,331,332 Mirror 51 Drive controller 52 Data processing apparatus 75 Display 102 Bevel (edge)
201 Laser spot 202 Strong diffracted light 203 Weak diffracted light 204 Laser beam 371-374 High angle detector 381-386 Low angle detector 500 Observation camera 512 Half mirror 600 Line sensor 613 Condensing mirror Se Scattered light Ep Bevel boundary Position Th1, Th2 Threshold Rp Edge roll-off boundary position

Claims (14)

A projection optical system for irradiating a laser beam to the object to be inspected
A rotational drive mechanism for rotating the table by placing the inspection object on the table;
A moving mechanism for moving the rotation drive mechanism in the transfer direction of the inspection object;
A plurality of detectors for detecting light emitted from the surface of the inspection object by a laser beam applied to the inspection object;
Based on the detection signals of the light detected by the plurality of detectors, the boundary position corresponding to the flat area on the surface of the inspection object and the bevel portion of the outer periphery of the inspection object is determined, and the inspection object is inspected A data processing device,
A device for inspecting an object to be inspected. A projection optical system for irradiating a laser beam to the object to be inspected;
A rotational drive mechanism for rotating the table by placing the inspection object on the table;
A moving mechanism for moving the rotation drive mechanism in the transfer direction of the inspection object;
A drive controller for transmitting position coordinate information of the rotational drive mechanism and the moving mechanism;
A plurality of detectors for detecting light emitted from the surface of the inspection object by a laser beam applied to the inspection object;
Based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors, a boundary position corresponding to a bevel portion of the outer peripheral portion of the object to be inspected is determined, and associated with position coordinate information from the drive controller, A data processing device that outputs the boundary position in the circumferential direction of the inspection object and inspects the inspection object; and
A device for inspecting an object to be inspected. A projection optical system for irradiating a laser beam to the object to be inspected;
A rotational drive mechanism for rotating the table by placing the inspection object on the table;
A moving mechanism for moving the rotation drive mechanism in the transfer direction of the inspection object;
A drive controller for transmitting position coordinate information of the rotational drive mechanism and the moving mechanism;
A plurality of detectors for detecting light emitted from the surface of the inspection object by a laser beam applied to the inspection object;
Based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors, a boundary position corresponding to a bevel portion of the outer peripheral portion of the object to be inspected is determined, and the object to be detected is associated with position coordinate information from the drive controller. A data processing device that outputs the boundary position in the circumferential direction of the inspection object, outputs a substantially central coordinate of the inspection object based on the boundary position in the circumferential direction of the inspection object, and inspects the inspection object;
A device for inspecting an object to be inspected. In any one of Claim 1 thru | or 3,
The boundary position is determined based on directivity of diffracted light emitted from the surface of the inspection object. In claim 3,
An inspection apparatus for an inspection object, wherein position coordinates of a foreign object or a defect detected from the inspection object are corrected based on a substantially center coordinate of the inspection object. In claim 5,
The inspection apparatus for an inspection object, wherein the position coordinate correction of the foreign matter or the defect is corrected based on a plurality of reference lines. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 6,
The inspection object inspection apparatus, wherein the inspection object is a semiconductor wafer or an insulator wafer. In the inspection method of the inspection object for rotating the inspection object and irradiating the inspection object with a laser beam,
A plurality of detectors detect light emitted from the surface of the inspection object by the laser beam applied to the inspection object,
Based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors, a boundary position corresponding to a flat region on the surface of the inspection object and a bevel portion of the outer periphery of the inspection object is determined, and the inspection object is inspected. A method for inspecting an object to be inspected. In the inspection method of the inspection object that rotates the inspection object and irradiates the skin inspection object with a laser beam,
A plurality of detectors detect light emitted from the surface of the inspection object by the laser beam applied to the inspection object,
Based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors, a boundary position corresponding to a flat area on the surface of the object to be inspected and a bevel part of the outer periphery of the object to be inspected is determined in association with the coordinate information of the table. And
A method for inspecting an inspection object, wherein the inspection object is inspected by outputting a boundary position distribution of the inspection object. In the inspection method of the inspection object in which the inspection object is inspected by rotating the table on which the inspection object is placed and irradiating the inspection object with a laser beam.
A plurality of detectors detect light emitted from the surface of the inspection object by the laser beam applied to the inspection object,
Based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors, a boundary position corresponding to a flat area on the surface of the object to be inspected and a bevel part of the outer periphery of the object to be inspected is determined in association with the coordinate information of the table. And output the boundary position distribution of the inspection object,
An inspection method for an inspection object, comprising: outputting substantially center coordinates of the inspection object based on the boundary position distribution and inspecting the inspection object. In any one of Claims 8 to 10,
The inspection object inspection method, wherein the inspection object is a semiconductor wafer or an insulator wafer. An inspection apparatus for an object to be inspected by rotating a wafer and irradiating the wafer with a laser beam,
The light emitted from the wafer surface by the laser beam applied to the wafer is detected by multiple detectors.
An inspection apparatus for an object to be inspected, which discriminates a flat area on the surface of a wafer, an edge roll-off area and a bevel area on the outer periphery of the wafer based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors. . An inspection apparatus for an object to be inspected by rotating a wafer and irradiating the wafer with a laser beam,
The light emitted from the wafer surface by the laser beam applied to the wafer is detected by multiple detectors.
Based on detection signals of light detected by the plurality of detectors,
An inspection apparatus for an object to be inspected, which obtains boundary position information between a flat area on the surface of a wafer and an edge roll-off area at the outer periphery of the wafer, and boundary position information between the edge roll-off area and the bevel area. In claim 13,
Boundary information between the flat area of the wafer surface and the edge roll-off area of the outer periphery of the wafer,
Boundary information between the edge roll-off area and the bevel area;
Based on the coordinates of the notch of the wafer and
An inspection apparatus for an inspection object, characterized by detecting an eccentric state of a wafer.

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