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.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 03, 2017

Filed:

Mar. 25, 2011
Applicant:

John D. Greene, Santa Cruz, CA (US);

Inventor:

John D. Greene, Santa Cruz, CA (US);

Assignee:

KLA-Tencor Corporation, Milpitas, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 21/66 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 22/12 (2013.01);
Abstract

Disclosed are apparatus and methods for the generation of a stage speed profile and/or the selection of care areas for automated wafer inspection. The stage speed profile generated corresponds to a fastest speed the inspection machine is able to inspect provided a set of care areas. The set of care areas selected correspond to specific regions on the wafer which are to be imaged in detail by the inspection machine. The apparatus and methods herein may also calculate speed of inspection and coverage (and possibly other characteristics of the inspection) for a quantity of cases, and select the best trade-off of coverage versus inspection time using a cost function. Other aspects, features, and embodiments of the invention are also disclosed.


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