Intra-die defect detection
First Claim
1. A system configured to detect defects on a specimen, comprising:
- an imaging 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 images responsive to the detected energy; and
one or more computer subsystems configured for;
acquiring images generated by the imaging subsystem at multiple instances of a pattern of interest within a die formed on the specimen, wherein the multiple instances comprise two or more instances that are located at aperiodic locations within the die;
generating a pattern of interest reference image from two or more of the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die, wherein the one or more computer subsystems pick a selection of the images used for generating the pattern of interest reference image by eliminating any one or more outliers in the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die from use in generative the pattern of interest reference image;
comparing the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die to the pattern of interest reference image; and
detecting defects in the multiple instances of the pattern of interest based on results of the comparing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for detecting defects on a specimen are provided. One system includes one or more computer subsystems configured for acquiring images generated by an imaging subsystem at multiple instances of a pattern of interest (POI) within a die formed on the specimen. The multiple instances include two or more instances that are located at aperiodic locations within the die. The computer subsystem(s) are also configured for generating a POI reference image from two or more of the images generated at the multiple instances of the POI within the die. The computer subsystem(s) are further configured for comparing the images generated at the multiple instances of the POI within the die to the POI reference image and detecting defects in the multiple instances of the POI based on results of the comparing.
16 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system configured to detect defects on a specimen, comprising:
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an imaging 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 images responsive to the detected energy; and one or more computer subsystems configured for; acquiring images generated by the imaging subsystem at multiple instances of a pattern of interest within a die formed on the specimen, wherein the multiple instances comprise two or more instances that are located at aperiodic locations within the die; generating a pattern of interest reference image from two or more of the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die, wherein the one or more computer subsystems pick a selection of the images used for generating the pattern of interest reference image by eliminating any one or more outliers in the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die from use in generative the pattern of interest reference image; comparing the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die to the pattern of interest reference image; and detecting defects in the multiple instances of the pattern of interest based on results of the comparing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, storing program instructions executable on a computer system for performing a computer-implemented method for detecting defects on a specimen, wherein the computer-implemented method comprises:
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acquiring images generated by an imaging subsystem at multiple instances of a pattern of interest within a die formed on a specimen, wherein the multiple instances comprise two or more instances that are located at aperiodic locations within the die, wherein the imaging subsystem comprises at least an energy source and a detector, wherein the energy source is configured to generate energy that is directed to the specimen, and wherein the detector is configured to detect energy from the specimen and to generate images responsive to the detected energy; generating a pattern of interest reference image from two or more of the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die, wherein the method further comprises nicking a selection of the images used for generating the pattern of interest reference image by eliminating any one or more outliers in the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die from use in generating the pattern of interest reference image; comparing the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die to the pattern of interest reference image; and detecting defects in the multiple instances of the pattern of interest based on results of the comparing, wherein said acquiring, said generating, said comparing, and said detecting are performed by the computer system.
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22. A computer-implemented method for detecting defects on a specimen, comprising:
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acquiring images generated by an imaging subsystem at multiple instances of a pattern of interest within a die formed on a specimen, wherein the multiple instances comprise two or more instances that are located at aperiodic locations within the die, wherein the imaging subsystem comprises at least an energy source and a detector, wherein the energy source is configured to generate energy that is directed to the specimen, and wherein the detector is configured to detect energy from the specimen and to generate images responsive to the detected energy; generating a pattern of interest reference image from two or more of the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die, wherein the method further comprises nicking a selection of the images used for generating the pattern of interest reference image by eliminating any one or more outliers in the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die from use in generating the pattern of interest reference image; comparing the images generated at the multiple instances of the pattern of interest within the die to the pattern of interest reference image; and detecting defects in the multiple instances of the pattern of interest based on results of the comparing, wherein said acquiring, said generating, said comparing, and said detecting are performed by one or more computer systems.
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Specification