<title>Automatic defect classification system for semiconductor wafers</title>

The problem of automated defect classification has been recognized as one of the biggest challenges to successful integration of automated inspection into wafer manufacturing process. The high degree of customization required for each application adds another dimension to the inherent difficulties. For example, the input to an automatic classifier of printed circuit boards defects will be completely different from the input to a semiconductor defect classifier. Also, the heuristics used for classification will differ greatly. Furthermore, even in similar applications, different manufacturers will have different notions of how defects ought to be classified. In this paper we describe a system which attempts to automate the defect classification process, offering a high degree of adaptivity, customization and automation, with special emphasis on minimizing the need for input from a skilled user. Using Orbot's wafer inspection system, we concentrated on classification of defects on patterned wafers.