Method for adaptive sampling in examining an object and system thereof
First Claim
1. A method of examining an object, the method comprising:
- (a) identifying, by a processor, a plurality of potential defects, each potential defect of the plurality of potential defects being associated with a potential defect location;
(b) performing, by the processor, a first clustering of the plurality of potential defects to obtain a first subset and one or more second subsets, the clustering performed in accordance with spatial distances between potential defect locations such that potential defects in the first subset are characterized by higher density in at least one physical area than potential defects in the one or more second subsets;
(c) assigning, by the processor, first probabilities to potential defects in the first subset to be valid defects, the first probabilities being calculated in accordance with a first policy;
(d) assigning, by the processor, second probabilities to potential defects in the one or more second subsets to be valid defects, the second probabilities being calculated in accordance with one or more second policies specifying how to combine at least two second factors associated with potential defect locations;
(e) selecting, by the processor, at least one potential defect from the first subset and the one or more second subsets for review by a review tool in accordance with a third policy specifying how to combine potential defects from a plurality of subsets into a merged list, and wherein the selecting of the at least one potential defect for review by the review tool is further in accordance with a strategy indicating how to combine top elements from the merged list and randomly selected elements from the merged list in accordance with a number of reviews from the review tool;
(f) receiving, by the processor, validity or class indications for potential defects in a potential defect lists associated with the selected at least one potential defect, the validity or class indications being received subsequent to potential defects in the potential defect lists being reviewed by the review tool; and
(g) subsequent to a stopping criteria not being observed;
(i) updating, by the processor, the first, second, or third policy in accordance with validation or classification of an item in the first subset and the one or more second subsets; and
(ii) repeating, by the processor, steps (c)-(g) in accordance with the first, second, or third policy as updated, until the stopping criteria is observed.
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Abstract
Examining an object, comprising: receiving potential defects, each associated with a location; performing first clustering of the potential defects to obtain first and second subsets, the clustering performed such that potential defects in the first subset are denser in a physical area than potential defects in the second subset; automatically assigning first validity probabilities to potential defects in the first and second subsets; selecting for review potential defects from the first and second subsets, according to a third policy, and in accordance with a strategy for combining top elements and randomly selected elements from the merged list; receiving indications for potential defects in part of the potential defect lists, subsequent to potential defects being reviewed; updating the policies in accordance with validation or classification of items in the first and second subsets; and repeating said assigning, selecting, receiving and updating with the updated policies, until a stopping criteria is observed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of examining an object, the method comprising:
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(a) identifying, by a processor, a plurality of potential defects, each potential defect of the plurality of potential defects being associated with a potential defect location; (b) performing, by the processor, a first clustering of the plurality of potential defects to obtain a first subset and one or more second subsets, the clustering performed in accordance with spatial distances between potential defect locations such that potential defects in the first subset are characterized by higher density in at least one physical area than potential defects in the one or more second subsets; (c) assigning, by the processor, first probabilities to potential defects in the first subset to be valid defects, the first probabilities being calculated in accordance with a first policy; (d) assigning, by the processor, second probabilities to potential defects in the one or more second subsets to be valid defects, the second probabilities being calculated in accordance with one or more second policies specifying how to combine at least two second factors associated with potential defect locations; (e) selecting, by the processor, at least one potential defect from the first subset and the one or more second subsets for review by a review tool in accordance with a third policy specifying how to combine potential defects from a plurality of subsets into a merged list, and wherein the selecting of the at least one potential defect for review by the review tool is further in accordance with a strategy indicating how to combine top elements from the merged list and randomly selected elements from the merged list in accordance with a number of reviews from the review tool; (f) receiving, by the processor, validity or class indications for potential defects in a potential defect lists associated with the selected at least one potential defect, the validity or class indications being received subsequent to potential defects in the potential defect lists being reviewed by the review tool; and (g) subsequent to a stopping criteria not being observed; (i) updating, by the processor, the first, second, or third policy in accordance with validation or classification of an item in the first subset and the one or more second subsets; and (ii) repeating, by the processor, steps (c)-(g) in accordance with the first, second, or third policy as updated, until the stopping criteria is observed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
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a memory; and a processor, operatively coupled with the memory, to; (a) identify a plurality of potential defects, each potential defect of the plurality of potential defects being associated with a potential defect location; (b) perform a first clustering of the plurality of potential defects to obtain a first subset and one or more second subsets, the clustering performed in accordance with spatial distances between potential defect locations such that potential defects in the first subset are characterized by higher density in at least one physical area than potential defects in the one or more second subsets; (c) assign first probabilities to potential defects in the first subset to be valid defects, the first probabilities being calculated in accordance with a first policy; (d) assign second probabilities to potential defects in the one or more second subsets to be valid defects, the second probabilities being calculated in accordance with one or more second policies specifying how to combine at least two second factors associated with potential defect locations; (e) select at least one potential defect from the first subset and the one or more second subsets for review by a review tool in accordance with a third policy specifying how to combine potential defects from a plurality of subsets into a merged list, and wherein the selecting of the at least one potential defect for review by the review tool is further in accordance with a strategy indicating how to combine top elements from the merged list and randomly selected elements from the merged list in accordance with a number of reviews from the review tool; (f) receive validity or class indications for potential defects in a potential defect lists associated with the selected at least one potential defect, the validity or class indications being received subsequent to potential defects in the potential defect lists being reviewed by the review tool; and (g) subsequent to a stopping criteria not being observed; (i) update the first, second, or third policy in accordance with validation or classification of an item in the first subset and the one or more second subsets; and (ii) repeat steps (c)-(g) in accordance with the first, second, or third policy as updated, until the stopping criteria is observed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium retaining program instructions, which when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
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(a) identifying, by the processor, a plurality of potential defects, each potential defect of the plurality of potential defects being associated with a potential defect location; (b) performing, by the processor, a first clustering of the plurality of potential defects to obtain a first subset and one or more second subsets, the clustering performed in accordance with spatial distances between potential defect locations such that potential defects in the first subset are characterized by higher density in at least one physical area than potential defects in the one or more second subsets; (c) assigning, by the processor, first probabilities to potential defects in the first subset to be valid defects, the first probabilities being calculated in accordance with a first policy; (d) assigning, by the processor, second probabilities to potential defects in the one or more second subsets to be valid defects, the second probabilities being calculated in accordance with one or more second policies specifying how to combine at least two second factors associated with potential defect locations; (e) selecting, by the processor, at least one potential defect from the first subset and the one or more second subsets for review by a review tool in accordance with a third policy specifying how to combine potential defects from a plurality of subsets into a merged list, and wherein the selecting of the at least one potential defect for review by the review tool is further in accordance with a strategy indicating how to combine top elements from the merged list and randomly selected elements from the merged list in accordance with a number of reviews from the review tool; (f) receiving, by the processor, validity or class indications for potential defects in a potential defect lists associated with the selected at least one potential defect, the validity or class indications being received subsequent to potential defects in the potential defect lists being reviewed by the review tool; and (g) subsequent to a stopping criteria not being observed; (i) updating, by the processor, the first, second, or third policy in accordance with validation or classification of an item in the first subset and the one or more second subsets; and (ii) repeating, by the processor, steps (c)-(g) in accordance with the first, second, or third policy as updated, until the stopping criteria is observed.
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Specification