Patent ID: 7162071

Claim:
A progressive self-learning (PSL) method for enhancing wafer or mask defect review and classification without reference to a pre-existing defect library to accelerate a defect review and classification process comprising the steps of: performing image processing on a scanned defect image retrieved from a scanned defect image file to produce an extracted image comprising a defect map representation comprising two basic shapes including a bulky square region and a round region; aligning the scanned defect image with a just-stored digitized defect image comprising a defect map representation comprising two basic shapes including a bulky square region and a round region; determining if there is a match between the defect map representation produced from the scanned defect image and the defect map produced from the just-stored digitized defect image; and classifying the scanned defect image according to a classification associated with the just-stored digitized defect image in the case of a match; or adding the defect map representation produced from the scanned defect image to a newly formed database comprising the just-stored digitized defect image including manually classifying said 2-bit defect map in the case there is not a match.