The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 25, 2014
Filed:
May. 29, 2013
Applicants:
Xiaofeng Liu, Campbell, CA (US);
Rafael C. Howell, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Inventors:
Xiaofeng Liu, Campbell, CA (US);
Rafael C. Howell, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Assignee:
ASML Netherlands B.V., Veldhoven, NL;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 17/50 (2006.01); G03F 1/70 (2012.01); G03F 7/20 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 17/5068 (2013.01); G03F 1/70 (2013.01); G03F 7/70483 (2013.01); G03F 7/70125 (2013.01); G03F 7/705 (2013.01);
Abstract
Described herein is a method for a lithographic process for imaging a portion of a design layout onto a substrate using a lithographic imaging apparatus, the lithographic process having a plurality of design variables, the method comprising: calculating a gradient of each of a plurality of evaluation points or patterns of the lithographic process, with respect to at least one of the design variables; and selecting a subset of evaluation points from the plurality of evaluation points or patterns based on the gradient.