Patent · US Expired

Feature targeted inspection

US6931297B1 · kind B1 · utility

2Cited by
3References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 5, 2004
Grant dateAug 16, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 5, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F7/7065
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of inspecting a subject integrated circuit. A set of historical integrated circuits is inspected to detect defects and produce historical data. Features of the historical integrated circuits that have an occurrence of defects that is greater than a given limit are designated as high risk features, based on the historical data. Locations of the high risk features are identified on the subject integrated circuit. The locations of the high risk features are input into an inspection tool, and the locations of the high risk features on the integrated circuit are inspected to at least one of detect defects and measure critical dimensions, and produce subject data.

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