Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a EUV mask measurement tool having a source assembly that generates a high power extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light beam, a detector assembly including a projection optics system and a CCD camera, a stage for supporting a patterned mask, the pattern mask including a plurality of predetermined test sites, a processor programmed to determine a site specific best focus plane for each of the plurality of predetermined test sites on the patterned mask, and a program module to generate instructions to move the stage to the best focus plane for each of the plurality of predetermined test sites on the patterned mask. In addition, a method for generating a site specific best focus plane for each of the plurality of predetermined test sites using a continuous scanning process that provides a continuous image output from the test site.

Abstract: A technique includes filtering a sampled representation of an object that might be observed in a scanning beam image with a plurality of filters to produce a plurality of intermediate images. The intermediate images are combined to generate a simulated image that predicts what would be observed in the scanning beam.