Patent · US Active

Computer-implemented methods for determining if actual defects are potentially systematic defects or potentially random defects

US7975245B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
239References
13Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateAug 20, 2008
Grant dateJul 5, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 7, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R31/318371
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Various computer-implemented methods for determining if actual defects are potentially systematic defects or potentially random defects are provided. One computer-implemented method for determining if actual defects are potentially systematic defects or potentially random defects includes comparing a number of actual defects in a group to a number of randomly generated defects in a group. The actual defects are detected on a wafer. A portion of a design on the wafer proximate a location of each of the actual defects in the group and each of the randomly generated defects in the group is substantially the same. The method also includes determining if the actual defects in the group are potentially systematic defects or potentially random defects based on results of the comparing step.

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