Patent ID: 8213705

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for binning defects detected in an array area formed on a wafer, comprising: identifying an edge of a care area for the array area, wherein said identifying comprises determining a value for a difference image as a function of position from a position known to be inside the array area to a position known to be outside of the array area, determining a threshold from an average of the values for the difference image known to be inside the array area, and identifying the position that is located closest to the inside of the array area and that has the value greater than the threshold as a position of the edge of the care area; determining distances between positions of the defects and the edge of the array area; and binning the defects in groups such that the distances determined for the defects in each of the groups are at least similar, wherein said identifying, said determining, and said binning are performed using a computer system.