Patent ID: 8190952

Claim:
A bit cluster analysis system to identify random and systematic bitmap failed patterns comprising: means for defining bit clusters comprising: means for selecting a radius which is specified by a maximum number of bit spaces between a fail bit and another fail bit; and means for selecting a minimum count of fail bits in a bit cluster; means for receiving a defect data set comprising fail bits; and searching means for starting with a fail bit in the defect data set and finding at least one neighboring fail bit in the defect data set using the radius to qualify the found at least one neighboring fail bit to be part of the bit cluster if each of the found at least one neighboring fail bit is within the radius and a count of the fail bit and the found at least one neighboring fail bit is greater than or equal to the minimum count of fail bits, whereby the system will stop searching and move to a next fail bit if the minimum count of fail bits is not met within the radius.