Patent ID: 6011619
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A semiconductor wafer scanning method for determining defects on a semiconductor wafer, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing an optical scanning system for scanning semiconductor wafer defects;(b) providing at least one semiconductor wafer to be analyzed for manufacturing defects;(c) determining an area of a swath on said wafer to be scanned;(d) programming said optical scanning system with a maximum quantity of allowable defects in a swath area;(e) scanning and analyzing a swath area on said wafer for manufacturing defects;(f) counting and tabulating manufacturing defects to determine a defect count;(g) comparing said defect count against said maximum quantity of allowable defects in said swath area;(h) completing said steps (e), (f) and (g) on all of said swath area if said defect count is less than said maximum quantity of allowable defects in said swath area, otherwise, stop performing said steps (e), (f) and (g) on said swath area if said defect count is equal to said maximum quantity of allowable defects in said swath area; and(i) repeating said steps (e), (f), (g) and (h) until said wafer is completely scanned regardless of whether said defect count in said step (f) is equal to, or less than, said maximum quantity of allowable defects in an individual swath area.