Patent ID: 7271891
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: G01N,G03F,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of providing selective defect sensitivity in inspection of semiconductor reticles, the method comprising: a) providing a target portion of a reticle, wherein the target portion comprises a plurality of pattern portions; b) analyzing the pattern portions of the reticle to thereby determine a characteristic of defect susceptibility for each pattern portion, wherein each characteristic of defect susceptibility is a quantification of the predicted impact of a defect in the corresponding pattern portion of the reticle on a corresponding portion of a wafer that is to be fabricated with such each pattern portion of the reticle; c) determining and storing a sensitivity level for inspection of each pattern portion of the reticle that corresponds to the determined defect susceptibility characteristic of such each pattern portion; and d) inspecting each portion of the reticle using the determined sensitivity level for such reticle portion, wherein the operation of analyzing the pattern portions of the reticle comprises: