Patents by Inventor Weston Sousa

Weston Sousa 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: 11727556
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting defects on a mask are provided. One method includes generating a database reference image for a multi-die mask by simulation and detecting first defects on the mask by comparing the database reference image to images of the mask generated by an imaging subsystem for a first of the multiple dies. The method also includes generating a die reference image for the first of the multiple dies by applying one or more parameters of the imaging subsystem learned by generating the database reference image to the images generated by the imaging subsystem of one or more of the multiple dies other than the first multiple die. In addition, the method includes detecting second defects on the mask by comparing the die reference image to the images of the mask generated by the imaging subsystem for the first of the multiple dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: KLA Corp.
    Inventors: Wenfei Gu, Pei-Chun Chiang, Weston Sousa
  • Publication number: 20230098730
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting defects on a mask are provided. One method includes generating a database reference image for a multi-die mask by simulation and detecting first defects on the mask by comparing the database reference image to images of the mask generated by an imaging subsystem for a first of the multiple dies. The method also includes generating a die reference image for the first of the multiple dies by applying one or more parameters of the imaging subsystem learned by generating the database reference image to the images generated by the imaging subsystem of one or more of the multiple dies other than the first multiple die. In addition, the method includes detecting second defects on the mask by comparing the die reference image to the images of the mask generated by the imaging subsystem for the first of the multiple dies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Wenfei Gu, Pei-Chun Chiang, Weston Sousa
  • Patent number: 11557031
    Abstract: A reticle inspection system may include two or more inspection tools to generate two or more sets of inspection images for characterizing a reticle, where the two or more inspection tools include at least one reticle inspection tool providing inspection images of the reticle. The reticle inspection system may further include a controller to correlate data from the two or more sets of inspection images to positions on the reticle, detect one or more defects of interest on the reticle with the correlated data as inputs to a multi-input defect detection model, and output defect data associated with the defects of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Weston Sousa, Sterling Watson
  • Publication number: 20210158500
    Abstract: A reticle inspection system may include two or more inspection tools to generate two or more sets of inspection images for characterizing a reticle, where the two or more inspection tools include at least one reticle inspection tool providing inspection images of the reticle. The reticle inspection system may further include a controller to correlate data from the two or more sets of inspection images to positions on the reticle, detect one or more defects of interest on the reticle with the correlated data as inputs to a multi-input defect detection model, and output defect data associated with the defects of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: KLA Corporation
    Inventors: Weston Sousa, Sterling Watson