Patent ID: 8194301

Claim:
A multi-spot scanning method comprising: selecting a number of spots N for a one-dimensional (1D) spot array; determining a separation M between the spots in the spot array to minimize crosstalk; performing a scan on a wafer using the spot array and a full field of view (FOV) for each scan line cycle; performing a complete scan without overlapping/missing tracks by providing that: a pitch of a swath of the array equals the number of spots N; and M j - 1 ≠ N i - 1 where i=2,3, . . . N and j=2,3, . . . M, wherein performing the complete scan includes performing a plurality of scan line cycles, each scan line cycle filling in gaps left by previous scan line cycles; and using a table to determine allowable combinations of M and N, the table being organized using (1) a spot index i and the separation M, or (2) a swath index j and the number of spots N.