Patent ID: 8543947
Filing Date: 2013-09-24
Classification: G03F,G06F

Abstract:
1. A method implemented by a computer, the method being of selecting a subset of target patterns from a design layout configured to be imaged onto a substrate via a lithographic process, the method comprising the steps of: generating a respective diffraction map for a plurality of target patterns from an initial larger set of target patterns from the design layout; identifying diffraction signatures from the various diffraction maps of the plurality of target patterns from the initial larger set of target patterns; grouping the plurality of target patterns from the initial larger set of target patterns into diffraction-signature groups, the target patterns in a specific diffraction-signature group having similar diffraction signature; and selecting the subset being a representative set of target patterns to cover a predefined number of diffraction-signature groups, such that the representative set of target patterns represents at least a part of the design layout for the lithographic process, wherein one or more of the above steps are performed by the computer.