Patent · US Active

Segmentation for wafer inspection

US8831334B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
265References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 15, 2013
Grant dateSep 9, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 13, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T2207/30148
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and systems for segmenting pixels for wafer inspection are provided. One method includes determining a statistic for individual pixels based on a characteristic of the individual pixels in an image acquired for a wafer by an inspection system. The method also includes assigning the individual pixels to first segments based on the statistic. In addition, the method includes detecting one or more edges between the first segments in an image of the first segments and generating an edge map by projecting the one or more edges across an area corresponding to the image for the wafer. The method further includes assigning the individual pixels to second segments by applying the first segments and the edge map to the image for the wafer thereby segmenting the image. Defect detection is performed based on the second segments to which the individual pixels are assigned.

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