Computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and systems for classifying defects detected in a memory device area on a wafer
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for classifying defects detected in a memory device area on a wafer, comprising:
- using a computer system to perform the following steps;
determining positions of inspection data acquired for the memory device area by an inspection system, wherein the memory device area comprises different types of blocks, and wherein the inspection data comprises data for defects detected in the memory device area;
determining positions of the defects with respect to a predetermined location within the blocks in which the defects are located based on the positions of the inspection data; and
classifying the defects based on the positions of the defects within the blocks, wherein said classifying comprises determining a ratio of the numbers of the defects detected in at least two of the different types of blocks and classifying the defects in the at least two of the different types of blocks based on the ratio.
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Abstract
Computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and systems for classifying defects detected in a memory device area on a wafer are provided.
475 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for classifying defects detected in a memory device area on a wafer, comprising:
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using a computer system to perform the following steps; determining positions of inspection data acquired for the memory device area by an inspection system, wherein the memory device area comprises different types of blocks, and wherein the inspection data comprises data for defects detected in the memory device area; determining positions of the defects with respect to a predetermined location within the blocks in which the defects are located based on the positions of the inspection data; and classifying the defects based on the positions of the defects within the blocks, wherein said classifying comprises determining a ratio of the numbers of the defects detected in at least two of the different types of blocks and classifying the defects in the at least two of the different types of blocks based on the ratio. - 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 classifying defects detected in a memory device area on a wafer, wherein the computer-implemented method comprises:
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using the computer system to perform the following steps; determining positions of inspection data acquired for the memory device area by an inspection system, wherein the memory device area comprises different types of blocks, and wherein the inspection data comprises data for defects detected in the memory device area; determining positions of the defects with respect to a predetermined location within the blocks in which the defects are located based on the positions of the inspection data; and classifying the defects based on the positions of the defects within the blocks, wherein said classifying comprises determining a ratio of the numbers of the defects detected in at least two of the different types of blocks and classifying the defects in the at least two of the different types of blocks based on the ratio.
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21. A system configured to classify defects detected in a memory device area on a wafer, comprising:
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an inspection subsystem configured to acquire inspection data for the memory device area formed on the wafer, wherein the memory device area comprises different types of blocks, and wherein the inspection data comprises data for defects detected in the memory device area; and a computer subsystem configured for; determining positions of the inspection data; determining positions of the defects with respect to a predetermined location within the blocks in which the defects are located based on the positions of the inspection data; and classifying the defects based on the positions of the defects within the blocks, wherein said classifying comprises determining a ratio of the numbers of the defects detected in at least two of the different types of blocks and classifying the defects in the at least two of the different types of blocks based on the ratio. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A computer-implemented method for classifying defects detected in a memory device area on a wafer, comprising:
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using a computer system to perform the following steps; determining positions of inspection data acquired for the memory device area by an inspection system, wherein the memory device area comprises different types of blocks, and wherein the inspection data comprises data for defects detected in the memory device area; determining positions of the defects with respect to a predetermined location within the blocks in which the defects are located based on the positions of the inspection data; classifying the defects based on the positions of the defects within the blocks; and monitoring a ratio of the numbers of the defects detected in at least two of the different types of blocks.
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41. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions executable on a computer system for performing a computer-implemented method for classifying defects detected in a memory device area on a wafer, wherein the computer-implemented method comprises:
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using the computer system to perform the following steps; determining positions of inspection data acquired for the memory device area by an inspection system, wherein the memory device area comprises different types of blocks, and wherein the inspection data comprises data for defects detected in the memory device area; determining positions of the defects with respect to a predetermined location within the blocks in which the defects are located based on the positions of the inspection data; classifying the defects based on the positions of the defects within the blocks; and monitoring a ratio of the numbers of the defects detected in at least two of the different types of blocks.
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42. A system configured to classify defects detected in a memory device area on a wafer, comprising:
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an inspection subsystem configured to acquire inspection data for the memory device area formed on the wafer, wherein the memory device area comprises different types of blocks, and wherein the inspection data comprises data for defects detected in the memory device area; and a computer subsystem configured for; determining positions of the inspection data; determining positions of the defects with respect to a predetermined location within the blocks in which the defects are located based on the positions of the inspection data; classifying the defects based on the positions of the defects within the blocks; and monitoring a ratio of the numbers of the defects detected in at least two of the different types of blocks. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification