Semiconductor wafer inspection using care area group-specific threshold settings for detecting defects

    公开(公告)号:US10146036B2

    公开(公告)日:2018-12-04

    申请号:US15175101

    申请日:2016-06-07

    Abstract: In the methods and systems, optical images of inspection care areas on a semiconductor wafer are acquired and analyzed to detect defects. However, during this analysis, the same threshold setting is not used for all inspection care areas. Instead, care areas are grouped into different care area groups, based on different design layouts and properties. Each group is associated with a corresponding threshold setting that is optimal for detecting defects in the inspection care areas belonging to that group. The assignment of the care areas to the different groups and the association of the different threshold settings with the different groups are noted in an index. This index is accessible during the analysis and used to ensure that each of the inspection care areas in a specific care area group is analyzed based on a corresponding threshold setting that is optimal for that specific care area group.

Patent Agency Ranking