Patent · US Expired

Hardware configuration for parallel data processing without cross communication

US7184612B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
7References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 3, 2003
Grant dateFeb 27, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 3, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/9501
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for parallel processing of data without the need for cross-communication or synchronization between processing nodes is provided. The system is especially suitable for use in a wafer inspection system for the semiconductor industry. Embodiments include scanning a small area of the wafer, and distributing pixel data among a plurality of processing nodes, each of which accept and process an optimal amount of pixel data independently of the other processing nodes, thereby enabling increased throughput without increasing system complexity.

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