Detecting defects on a wafer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method for detecting defects on a wafer, comprising:
- acquiring raw output for a wafer generated by an inspection system;
identifying one or more characteristics of the raw output that correspond to one or more geometrical characteristics of patterned features formed on the wafer;
assigning individual output in the raw output to different segments based on the identified one or more characteristics of the raw output such that the one or more geometrical characteristics of the patterned features that correspond to each of the different segments are different, wherein the one or more geometrical characteristics that correspond to one of the different segments comprise one or more geometrical characteristics of page breaks, and wherein the one or more geometrical characteristics that correspond to another of the different segments comprise one or more geometrical characteristics of array areas;
separately assigning one or more defect detection parameters to the different segments; and
applying the assigned one or more defect detection parameters to the individual output assigned to the different segments to thereby detect defects on the wafer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for detecting defects on a wafer are provided.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A computer-implemented method for detecting defects on a wafer, comprising:
-
acquiring raw output for a wafer generated by an inspection system; identifying one or more characteristics of the raw output that correspond to one or more geometrical characteristics of patterned features formed on the wafer; assigning individual output in the raw output to different segments based on the identified one or more characteristics of the raw output such that the one or more geometrical characteristics of the patterned features that correspond to each of the different segments are different, wherein the one or more geometrical characteristics that correspond to one of the different segments comprise one or more geometrical characteristics of page breaks, and wherein the one or more geometrical characteristics that correspond to another of the different segments comprise one or more geometrical characteristics of array areas; separately assigning one or more defect detection parameters to the different segments; and applying the assigned one or more defect detection parameters to the individual output assigned to the different segments to thereby detect defects on the wafer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A computer-readable medium, comprising program instructions executable on a computer system for performing a method for detecting defects on a wafer, wherein the method comprises:
-
acquiring raw output for a wafer generated by an inspection system; identifying one or more characteristics of the raw output that correspond to one or more geometrical characteristics of patterned features formed on the wafer; assigning individual output in the raw output to different segments based on the identified one or more characteristics of the raw output such that the one or more geometrical characteristics of the patterned features that correspond to each of the different segments are different, wherein the one or more geometrical characteristics that correspond to one of the different segments comprise one or more geometrical characteristics of page breaks, and wherein the one or more geometrical characteristics that correspond to another of the different segments comprise one or more geometrical characteristics of array areas; separately assigning one or more defect detection parameters to the different segments; and applying the assigned one or more defect detection parameters to the individual output assigned to the different segments to thereby detect defects on the wafer.
-
-
18. A system configured to detect defects on a wafer, comprising:
-
an inspection subsystem configured to generate raw output for a wafer by scanning the wafer; and a computer subsystem configured to; acquire the raw output; identify one or more characteristics of the raw output that correspond to one or more geometrical characteristics of patterned features formed on the wafer; assign individual output in the raw output to different segments based on the identified one or more characteristics of the raw output such that the one or more geometrical characteristics of the patterned features that correspond to each of the different segments are different, wherein the one or more geometrical characteristics that correspond to one of the different segments comprise one or more geometrical characteristics of page breaks, and wherein the one or more geometrical characteristics that correspond to another of the different segments comprise one or more geometrical characteristics of array areas; separately assign one or more defect detection parameters to the different segments; and apply the assigned one or more defect detection parameters to the individual output assigned to the different segments to thereby detect defects on the wafer.
-
Specification