Finding patterns in a design based on the patterns and their surroundings
First Claim
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1. A system configured to find patterns in a design for a specimen, comprising:
- an inspection subsystem comprising at least an energy source and a detector, wherein the energy source is configured to generate energy that is directed to a specimen, and wherein the detector is configured to detect energy from the specimen and to generate output responsive to the detected energy; and
one or more computer subsystems configured for;
searching for a target pattern in a design for the specimen to thereby find multiple instances of the target pattern in the design;
separating the multiple instances of the target pattern into different groups based on information for surrounding patterns within a predefined window around the target pattern such that each of the different groups corresponds to a different combination of the target pattern and the surrounding patterns; and
setting up an inspection process for the specimen based on results of said separating and information for how the surrounding patterns affect the output generated by the detector at locations of the multiple instances on the specimen, wherein the inspection subsystem performs the inspection process on the specimen.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for finding patterns in a design for a specimen are provided. One system includes one or more computer subsystems configured for searching for a target pattern in a design for a specimen to thereby find multiple instances of the target pattern in the design. The one or more computer subsystems are also configured for separating the multiple instances of the target pattern into different groups based on information for surrounding patterns within a predefined window around the target pattern such that each of the different groups corresponds to a different combination of the target pattern and the surrounding patterns.
20 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system configured to find patterns in a design for a specimen, comprising:
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an inspection subsystem comprising at least an energy source and a detector, wherein the energy source is configured to generate energy that is directed to a specimen, and wherein the detector is configured to detect energy from the specimen and to generate output responsive to the detected energy; and one or more computer subsystems configured for; searching for a target pattern in a design for the specimen to thereby find multiple instances of the target pattern in the design; separating the multiple instances of the target pattern into different groups based on information for surrounding patterns within a predefined window around the target pattern such that each of the different groups corresponds to a different combination of the target pattern and the surrounding patterns; and setting up an inspection process for the specimen based on results of said separating and information for how the surrounding patterns affect the output generated by the detector at locations of the multiple instances on the specimen, wherein the inspection subsystem performs the inspection process on the specimen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, storing program instructions executable on a computer system for performing a computer-implemented method for finding patterns in a design for a specimen, wherein the computer-implemented method comprises:
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searching for a target pattern in a design for a specimen to thereby find multiple instances of the target pattern in the design; separating the multiple instances of the target pattern into different groups based on information for surrounding patterns within a predefined window around the target pattern such that each of the different groups corresponds to a different combination of the target pattern and the surrounding patterns; and setting up an inspection process for the specimen based on results of said separating and information for how the surrounding patterns affect the output generated by a detector of an inspection subsystem at locations of the multiple instances on the specimen, wherein the inspection subsystem performs the inspection process on the specimen.
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21. A computer-implemented method for finding patterns in a design for a specimen, comprising:
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searching for a target pattern in a design for a specimen to thereby find multiple instances of the target pattern in the design; separating the multiple instances of the target pattern into different groups based on information for surrounding patterns within a predefined window around the target pattern such that each of the different groups corresponds to a different combination of the target pattern and the surrounding patterns; and setting up an inspection process for the specimen based on results of said separating and information for how the surrounding patterns affect the output generated by a detector of an inspection subsystem at locations of the multiple instances on the specimen, wherein the inspection subsystem performs the inspection process on the specimen, and wherein said searching, said separating, and said setting up are performed by one or more computer systems.
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Specification