Patent · US Active

Inspection plan optimization based on layout attributes and process variance

US7739065B1 · kind B1 · utility

84Cited by
4References
41Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 12, 2007
Grant dateJun 15, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 12, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/2894
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Methods for determining customized defect detection inspection plans are provided. One method includes fabricating a test chip and generating test chip data from the fabricated test chip. Then, defining systematic signatures from the generated test chip data and identifying a yield relevant systematic signature from the defined systematic signatures. The method includes identifying a layout pattern associated with the yield relevant systematic signature and locating the identified layout pattern on a process module layer of a product chip. Further, the method includes defining a customized defect detection inspection or metrology methodology for detecting systematic defects on the process module layer based on the identified layout pattern associated with the yield relevant systematic signature.

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