Patent ID: 6873747
Filing Date: 2005-03-29
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for measuring pitch in data obtained from metrology and imaging systems, the method comprising: obtaining a data set from a metrology or an imaging instrument; converting the data set into digital format if not already in that format; mapping the digitized data set into a one-dimensional profile data if the digitized data set is not already one-dimensional, the one-dimensional profile data being denoted by f(x) being a function of x position values corresponding to equally spaced or nearly equally spaced pixels; constructing a criteria function g(T) as a one-dimensional data array from the profile data f(x) or any of its derivatives and a translation of the profile data f(x) denote by f(x+T) or any of its derivatives, wherein T represents the amount of translation, and g(T) being a function of T translation values corresponding to equally spaced or nearly equally spaced pixels; determining a value of translation T either as a whole pixel or with subpixel interpolation such that the magnitude of g(T) would be either a maximum or a minimum whichever appropriate at said value, wherein said value is not zero; and reporting said value as the pitch in the data set.