Patent ID: 7564545
Filing Date: 2009-07-21
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method of determining lithographically significant reticle defects, comprising: inspecting a reticle to find reticle defects; obtaining a mask transmission function for each reticle defect, wherein the mask transmission function for each reticle defect is obtained from at least two images of each reticle defect, wherein a constant focus offset was maintained between the focus settings of the at least two images; inputting the obtained mask transmission function for each reticle defect into simulation software and/or hardware to calculate a defect-affected pattern in the developed photo-resist of a wafer that would be fabricated with a lithographic tool using the reticle; and determining whether there are any lithographically significant reticle defects based on the defect-affected pattern that was calculated for each reticle defect.