Patent ID: 9311698
Filing Date: 2016-04-12
CPC Classification: G06T,H01L

Claim Text:
1. A computer-implemented method for detecting defects on a wafer, comprising: generating a template image using information about a device being formed on a wafer, wherein at least some pixels in the template image are associated with regions in the device having different characteristics; acquiring output of an electron beam inspection system for the wafer; separating the template image into different regions that correspond to different regions in the device prior to acquiring the output; determining which of the different regions in the device that the pixels in the template image are located in based on results of said separating prior to acquiring the output; matching the template image to the output based on patterns in the template image and the output; identifying the regions in the device that pixels in the output are located within based on the pixels of the template image that match the pixels in the output and the different regions in the device in which the pixels of the template image are located, wherein said generating, said acquiring, said separating, said determining, said matching, and said identifying are performed prior to defect detection performed for the wafer; and applying defect detection parameters to the pixels in the output based on the regions in the device that the pixels in the output are located within to thereby detect defects on the wafer, wherein said generating, said acquiring, said separating, said determining, said matching, said identifying, and said applying are performed using a computer system.