Patents by Inventor Kais Maayah

Kais Maayah has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8204296
    Abstract: Methods for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection and methods for inspecting a wafer are provided. One computer-implemented method for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection includes acquiring output of an inspection system for a centrally located die on a wafer and one or more dies located on the wafer. The method also includes combining the output for the centrally located die and the one or more dies based on within die positions of the output. In addition, the method includes generating the standard reference die based on results of the combining step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corp.
    Inventors: Kris Bhaskar, Mark McCord, Santosh Bhattacharyya, Ardis Liang, Richard Wallingford, Hubert Altendorfer, Kais Maayah
  • Patent number: 8139843
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for utilizing design data in combination with inspection data are provided. One computer-implemented method for binning defects detected on a wafer includes comparing portions of design data proximate positions of the defects in design data space. The method also includes determining if the design data in the portions is at least similar based on results of the comparing step. In addition, the method includes binning the defects in groups such that the portions of the design data proximate the positions of the defects in each of the groups are at least similar. The method further includes storing results of the binning step in a storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Ashok Kulkarni, Brian Duffy, Kais Maayah, Gordon Rouse
  • Publication number: 20110286656
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for utilizing design data in combination with inspection data are provided. One computer-implemented method for binning defects detected on a wafer includes comparing portions of design data proximate positions of the defects in design data space. The method also includes determining if the design data in the portions is at least similar based on results of the comparing step. In addition, the method includes binning the defects in groups such that the portions of the design data proximate the positions of the defects in each of the groups are at least to similar. The method further includes storing results of the binning step in a storage medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: KLA-TENCOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashok Kulkarni, Brian Duffy, Kais Maayah, Gordon Rouse
  • Patent number: 8041103
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for determining a position of inspection data in design data space are provided. One computer-implemented method includes determining a centroid of an alignment target formed on a wafer using an image of the alignment target acquired by imaging the wafer. The method also includes aligning the centroid to a centroid of a geometrical shape describing the alignment target. In addition, the method includes assigning a design data space position of the centroid of the alignment target as a position of the centroid of the geometrical shape in the design data space. The method further includes determining a position of inspection data acquired for the wafer in the design data space based on the design data space position of the centroid of the alignment target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Ashok Kulkarni, Brian Duffy, Kais Maayah, Gordon Rouse, Eugene Shifrin
  • Publication number: 20100329540
    Abstract: Methods for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection and methods for inspecting a wafer are provided. One computer-implemented method for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection includes acquiring output of an inspection system for a centrally located die on a wafer and one or more dies located on the wafer. The method also includes combining the output for the centrally located die and the one or more dies based on within die positions of the output. In addition, the method includes generating the standard reference die based on results of the combining step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kris Bhaskar, Mark McCord, Santosh Bhattacharyya, Ardis Liang, Richard Wallingford, Hubert Altendorfer, Kais Maayah
  • Patent number: 7796804
    Abstract: Methods for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection and methods for inspecting a wafer are provided. One computer-implemented method for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection includes acquiring output of an inspection system for a centrally located die on a wafer and one or more dies located on the wafer. The method also includes combining the output for the centrally located die and the one or more dies based on within die positions of the output. In addition, the method includes generating the standard reference die based on results of the combining step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corp.
    Inventors: Kris Bhaskar, Mark McCord, Santosh Bhattacharyya, Ardis Liang, Richard Wallingford, Hubert Altendorfer, Kais Maayah
  • Publication number: 20100119144
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for utilizing design data in combination with inspection data are provided. One computer-implemented method for binning defects detected on a wafer includes comparing portions of design data proximate positions of the defects in design data space. The method also includes determining if the design data in the portions is at least similar based on results of the comparing step. In addition, the method includes binning the defects in groups such that the portions of the design data proximate the positions of the defects in each of the groups are at least similar. The method further includes storing results of the binning step in a storage medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: KLA-TENCOR TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashok Kulkarni, Brian Duffy, Kais Maayah, Gordon Rouse
  • Patent number: 7676077
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for utilizing design data in combination with inspection data are provided. One computer-implemented method for determining a position of inspection data in design data space includes aligning data acquired by an inspection system for alignment sites on a wafer with data for predetermined alignment sites. The method also includes determining positions of the alignment sites on the wafer in design data space based on positions of the predetermined alignment sites in the design data space. In addition, the method includes determining a position of inspection data acquired for the wafer by the inspection system in the design data space based on the positions of the alignment sites on the wafer in the design data space. In one embodiment, the position of the inspection data is determined with sub-pixel accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Ashok Kulkarni, Brian Duffy, Kais Maayah, Gordon Rouse
  • Publication number: 20090041332
    Abstract: Methods for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection and methods for inspecting a wafer are provided. One computer-implemented method for generating a standard reference die for use in a die to standard reference die inspection includes acquiring output of an inspection system for a centrally located die on a wafer and one or more dies located on the wafer. The method also includes combining the output for the centrally located die and the one or more dies based on within die positions of the output. In addition, the method includes generating the standard reference die based on results of the combining step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kris Bhaskar, Mark McCord, Santosh Bhattacharyya, Ardis Liang, Richard Wallingford, Hubert Altendorfer, Kais Maayah
  • Publication number: 20070230770
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for determining a position of inspection data in design data space are provided. One computer-implemented method includes determining a centroid of an alignment target formed on a wafer using an image of the alignment target acquired by imaging the wafer. The method also includes aligning the centroid to a centroid of a geometrical shape describing the alignment target. In addition, the method includes assigning a design data space position of the centroid of the alignment target as a position of the centroid of the geometrical shape in the design data space. The method further includes determining a position of inspection data acquired for the wafer in the design data space based on the design data space position of the centroid of the alignment target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Ashok Kulkarni, Brian Duffy, Kais Maayah, Gordon Rouse, Eugene Shifrin
  • Publication number: 20070156379
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for utilizing design data in combination with inspection data are provided. One computer-implemented method for determining a position of inspection data in design data space includes aligning data acquired by an inspection system for alignment sites on a wafer with data for predetermined alignment sites. The method also includes determining positions of the alignment sites on the wafer in design data space based on positions of the predetermined alignment sites in the design data space. In addition, the method includes determining a position of inspection data acquired for the wafer by the inspection system in the design data space based on the positions of the alignment sites on the wafer in the design data space. In one embodiment, the position of the inspection data is determined with sub-pixel accuracy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Ashok Kulkarni, Brian Duffy, Kais Maayah, Gordon Rouse