Patent · US Expired

Image processing system for multi-beam inspection

US6738506B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by
14References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 17, 2002
Grant dateMay 18, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 17, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2207/30148
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An image processing system for use in semiconductor wafer inspection comprises a multiplicity of self-contained image processors for independently performing image cross-correlation and defect detection. The system may also comprise an image normalization engine for performing image brightness and contrast normalization. The self-contained image processors and image normalization engine access image data from a memory array; the array is fed data from a multiplicity of imaging modules operating in parallel. The memory array is configured to allow simultaneous access for data input, normalization, and cross-correlation and defect detection. Multiple image processing systems can be configured in parallel as a single image processing computer, all sending defect data to a common display module.

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