Patent ID: 7212282

Claim:
A method for characterizing and repairing defects using image reconstruction from diffraction patterns, comprising: providing a sample for testing for the location of a defect within said sample; illuminating, with a beam, a series of areas of said sample, to create a series of two-dimensional diffraction patterns; producing a three-dimensional diffraction pattern from said series of two-dimensional diffraction patterns; computationally producing a reconstructed image of said sample from said three-dimensional diffraction pattern; determining the location of said defect within said sample from said reconstructed image; repairing said defect by applying an appropriate repair technique depending upon the location of said defect within said sample, wherein said sample or said beam is rotated around an axis, wherein Θ is the angular position of said beam with respect to said axis, and recording a two-dimensional diffraction pattern at said series of positions.