Systems and methods are disclosed that remove noise from roughness measurements to determine roughness of a feature in a pattern structure. In one embodiment, a method for determining roughness of a feature in a pattern structure includes generating, using an imaging device, a set of one or more images, each including measured linescan information that includes noise. The method also includes detecting edges of the features within the pattern structure of each image without filtering the images, generating a biased power spectral density (PSD) dataset representing feature geometry information corresponding to the edge detection measurements, evaluating a high-frequency portion of the biased PSD dataset to determine a noise model for predicting noise over all frequencies of the biased PSD dataset, and subtracting the noise predicted by the determined noise model from a biased roughness measure to obtain an unbiased roughness measure.

System and method for removing noise from roughness measurements

System and method for generating and analyzing roughness measurements

System and method for generating and analyzing roughness measurements and their use for process monitoring and control

An edge detection system is provided that generates a scanning electron microscope (SEM) linescan image of a pattern structure including a feature with edges that require detection. The edge detection system includes an inverse linescan model tool that receives measured linescan information for the feature from the SEM. In response, the inverse linescan model tool provides feature geometry information that includes the position of the detected edges of the feature.

Edge detection system

Systems and methods are disclosed that remove noise from roughness measurements to determine roughness of a feature in a pattern structure. In one embodiment, a method includes generating, using an imaging device, a set of one or more images, each including an instance of a feature within a respective pattern structure. The method also includes detecting edges of the features within the pattern structure of each image using an inverse linescan model, generating a biased power spectral density (PSD) dataset representing feature geometry information corresponding to the edge detection measurements, evaluating a high-frequency portion of the biased PSD dataset to determine a noise model for predicting noise over all frequencies of the biased PSD dataset, and subtracting the noise predicted by the determined noise model from a biased roughness measure to obtain an unbiased roughness measure provided as part of a training data set to a machine learning model.

Mack Chris

Papers

Edge detection system and its use for optical proximity correction