Patent · US Expired

Feature-based defect detection

US6539106B1 · kind B1 · utility

252Cited by
12References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 8, 1999
Grant dateMar 25, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 8, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/2817
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for inspecting a patterned substrate, comprising: preparing a reference image and a test image, extracting features from the reference image and extracting features from the test image, matching features of the reference image and features of the test image; and comparing features of the reference image and of the test image to identify defects. Embodiments include apparatus for inspecting patterned substrates, computer-readable media containing instructions for controlling a system having a processor for inspecting patterned substrates, and computer program products comprising a computer usable media having computer-readable program code embodied therein for controlling a system for inspecting patterned substrates. The images can be electron-beam voltage-contrast images.

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