Patent ID: 7820341

Claim:
A method of generating a calibration model, said method comprising the steps of: defining a set of calibration patterns, said calibration patterns being represented in a data format; printing said calibration patterns on a substrate utilizing an imaging system; determining a first set of contour patterns corresponding to said calibration patterns imaged on said substrate, which includes a determination of a positional offset of said first set of contour patterns relative to said calibration patterns and compensating for said positional offset; generating a function for approximating the imaging performance of said imaging system, said function having a first variable and a second variable, where said first variable and said second variable represent a location on said substrate; determining a second set of contour patterns by utilizing said function to define how said calibration patterns will be imaged in said substrate; comparing said first set of contour patterns and said second set of contour patterns to determine the difference between said first set of contour patterns and said second set of contour patterns and adjusting said function until said difference between said first set of contour patterns and said second set of contour patterns is below a predefined error tolerance.