Detecting defects on a wafer using template image matching
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer-implemented method for detecting defects on a wafer, comprising:
- generating a template image using information about a device being formed on a wafer, wherein at least some pixels in the template image are associated with regions in the device having different characteristics;
acquiring output of an electron beam inspection system for the wafer;
separating the template image into different regions that correspond to different regions in the device prior to acquiring the output;
determining which of the different regions in the device that the pixels in the template image are located in based on results of said separating prior to acquiring the output;
matching the template image to the output based on patterns in the template image and the output;
identifying the regions in the device that pixels in the output are located within based on the pixels of the template image that match the pixels in the output and the different regions in the device in which the pixels of the template image are located, wherein said generating, said acquiring, said separating, said determining, said matching, and said identifying are performed prior to defect detection performed for the wafer; and
applying defect detection parameters to the pixels in the output based on the regions in the device that the pixels in the output are located within to thereby detect defects on the wafer, wherein said generating, said acquiring, said separating, said determining, said matching, said identifying, and said applying are performed using a computer system.
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Abstract
Various embodiments for detecting defects on a wafer are provided. Some embodiments include matching a template image, in which at least some pixels are associated with regions in the device having different characteristics, to output of an electron beam inspection system and applying defect detection parameters to pixels in the output based on the regions that the pixels in the output are located within to thereby detect defects on the wafer.
455 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for detecting defects on a wafer, comprising:
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generating a template image using information about a device being formed on a wafer, wherein at least some pixels in the template image are associated with regions in the device having different characteristics; acquiring output of an electron beam inspection system for the wafer; separating the template image into different regions that correspond to different regions in the device prior to acquiring the output; determining which of the different regions in the device that the pixels in the template image are located in based on results of said separating prior to acquiring the output; matching the template image to the output based on patterns in the template image and the output; identifying the regions in the device that pixels in the output are located within based on the pixels of the template image that match the pixels in the output and the different regions in the device in which the pixels of the template image are located, wherein said generating, said acquiring, said separating, said determining, said matching, and said identifying are performed prior to defect detection performed for the wafer; and applying defect detection parameters to the pixels in the output based on the regions in the device that the pixels in the output are located within to thereby detect defects on the wafer, wherein said generating, said acquiring, said separating, said determining, said matching, said identifying, and said applying are performed using a computer system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing program instructions stored therein for causing a computer system to perform a computer-implemented method for detecting defects on a wafer, wherein the computer-implemented method comprises:
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generating a template image using information about a device being formed on a wafer, wherein at least some pixels in the template image are associated with regions in the device having different characteristics; acquiring output of an electron beam inspection system for the wafer; separating the template image into different regions that correspond to different regions in the device prior to acquiring the output; determining which of the different regions in the device that the pixels in the template image are located in based on results of said separating prior to acquiring the output; matching the template image to the output based on patterns in the template image and the output; identifying the regions, in the device that pixels in the output are located within based on the pixels of the template image that match the pixels in the output and the different regions in the device in which the pixels of the template image are located, wherein said generating, said acquiring, said separating, said determining, said matching, and said identifying are performed prior to defect detection performed for the wafer; and applying defect detection parameters to the pixels in the output based on the regions in the device that the pixels in the output are located within to thereby detect defects on the wafer.
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19. A system configured to detect defects on a wafer, comprising:
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an electron beam inspection subsystem configured to acquire output for a wafer; and a computer subsystem configured to; generate a template image using information about a device being formed on the wafer, wherein at least some pixels in the template image are associated with regions in the device having different characteristics; separate the template image into different regions that correspond to different regions in the device prior to acquisition of the output by the electron beam inspection subsystem; determine which of the different regions in the device that the pixels in the template image are located in based on results of separating the template image into the different regions prior to acquisition of the output by the electron beam inspection subsystem; match the template image to the output based on patterns in the template image and the output; identify the regions in the device that pixels in the output are located within based on the pixels of the template image that match the pixels in the output and the different regions in the device in which the pixels of the template image are located, wherein the computer subsystem is further configured to generate the template image, separate the template image, determine which of the different regions, match the template image, and identify the regions prior to defect detection performed for the wafer; and apply defect detection parameters to the pixels in the output based on the regions in the device that the pixels in the output are located within to thereby detect defects on the wafer. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification