Patent ID: 7126700

Claim:
A method of determining the profile of an integrated circuit structure, comprising: obtaining a measured metrology signal; obtaining a first simulated metrology signal, the first simulated metrology signal having an associated profile model of the structure, wherein the associated profile model is defined by a set of profile parameters; and when the measured metrology signal and the first simulated metrology signal match within a first termination criterion, a) selecting at least one profile parameter from the set of profile parameters of the profile model associated with the first simulated metrology signal; b) determining a value for the selected profile parameter; c) obtaining a second simulated metrology signal having an associated profile model of the structure defined by a set of profile parameters with at least one profile parameter equal or close to the determined value for the selected profile parameter; and d) when the measured metrology signal and the second simulated metrology signal match within a second termination criterion, determining values for one or more remaining profile parameters from the set of profile parameters of the profile model associated with the second simulated metrology signal.