Patent ID: 6969837

Claim:
A system to collect image data which is representative of an aerial image of a mask used in the manufacture of integrated circuits, wherein the image of the mask is produced by an optical system having a platform moveable between a plurality of locations in a first direction and a plurality of locations in a second direction, the system comprising: an image sensor unit disposed on or within the moveable platform, the image sensor unit includes: a sensor array, located in a wafer plane of the optical system, including a plurality of sensor cells wherein each sensor cell includes an active area to sample the intensity of light of a predetermined wavelength that is incident thereon; and a film, disposed over selected portions of the active areas of the plurality of sensor cells, to increase the spatial resolution of each sensor cell wherein the film is comprised of a material that impedes passage of light of the predetermined wavelength; and a processing unit, coupled to the image sensor unit, to generate image data which is representative of the aerial image, wherein the processing unit generates the aerial image of the mask by interleaving the intensity of light sampled by each sensor cell at the plurality of location of the platform.