Patent · US Active

System and method for detecting design and process defects on a wafer using process monitoring features

US9710903B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
24References
50Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 2009
Grant dateJul 18, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 15, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L2924/0002
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Various systems and methods for detecting design and process defects on a wafer, reviewing defects on a wafer, selecting one or more features within a design for use as process monitoring features, or some combination thereof are provided. One system is configured to detect design defects and process defects at locations on a wafer at which images are acquired by an electron beam review subsystem based on defects in a design, additional defects in the design, which are detected by comparing an image of a die in the design printed on the wafer acquired by the electron beam review subsystem to an image of the die stored in a database, and defects detected on the wafer by a wafer inspection system.

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