Patent · US Expired

Inspection system and a method for aerial reticle inspection

US7400390B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
23References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 29, 2004
Grant dateJul 15, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 11, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N21/956
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for inspecting a reticle, that includes the following stages: providing a reticle designed to be exposed by light of a first wavelength during a photolithography process; defining optical characteristics of an inspection system, whereas the optical characteristics include a second wavelength that differs from the first wavelength; and configuring an inspection system in response to the defined optical characteristics. An inspection system that includes: an illumination path adapted to direct light of a second wavelength towards a reticle designed to be exposed by light of a first wavelength during a photolithography process; a collection path adapted to collect light transmitted through the reticle; whereas at least one of the illumination path and collection path is configurable such that the inspection system emulates the photolithographic process while utilizing light of the second wavelength.

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