Patent · US Active

Pattern-edge detection method, pattern-edge detection apparatus, and storage medium storing program for causing a computer to perform pattern-edge detection

US12243237B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
7References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 10, 2020
Grant dateMar 4, 2025
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 24, 2042

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2207/30164
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of detecting an edge (or a contour line) of a pattern, which is formed on a workpiece (e.g., a wafer or a mask) for use in manufacturing of semiconductor, from an image generated by a scanning electron microscope. The pattern-edge detection method includes: generating an objective image of a target pattern formed on a workpiece; generating a feature vector representing features of each pixel constituting the objective image; inputting the feature vector to a model constructed by machine learning; outputting, from the model, a determination result indicating whether the pixel having the feature vector is an edge pixel or a non-edge pixel; and connecting a plurality of pixels, each having a feature vector that has obtained a determination result indicating an edge pixel, with a line to generate a virtual edge.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.