Method, program product and apparatus for translating geometrical design rules into boundary conditions in the imaging space so as to define test patterns for use in optical model calibration

1. A computer-implemented method of selecting a set of calibration test patterns to be utilized to calibrate a model for simulating the imaging performance of an optical imaging system, said method comprising the steps of:

defining design rules associated with a given imaging process;

defining a model equation representing the simulated imaging performance of said optical imaging system, said model equation establishing an imaging signal space corresponding to imaging signal values obtained using said model equation;

determining a boundary of said imaging signal space based on said design rules;

selecting calibration test patterns based on said boundary of said imaging signal space such that imaging signal values corresponding to said selected calibration test patterns and obtained using said model equation are on the boundary or within said boundary of said imaging signal space; and

storing said selected calibration test patterns, said selecting calibration test patterns being utilized to calibrate said model for simulating the imaging performance of the optical imaging system,

wherein one or more of the above steps are implemented by a computer.

2. The method of determining calibration test patterns according to claim 1 , wherein said model equation comprises a plurality of discrete functions.

3. The method of determining calibration test patterns according to claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of discrete functions comprises an eigenfunction.

4. The method of determining calibration test patterns according to claim 3 , wherein each of the eigenfunctions are mutually orthogonal.

5. A computer program product having a non-transitory computer readable medium bearing a computer program for selecting a set of calibration test patterns to be utilized to calibrate a model for simulating the imaging performance of an optical imaging system, the computer program, when executed, causing a computer to perform the steps of:

defining design rules associated with a given imaging process;

defining a model equation representing the simulated imaging performance of said optical imaging system, said model equation establishing an imaging signal space corresponding to imaging signal values obtained using said model equation;

determining a boundary of said imaging signal space based on said design rules;

selecting calibration test patterns based on said boundary of said imaging signal space such that imaging signal values corresponding to said selected calibration test patterns and obtained using said model equation are on the boundary or within said boundary of said imaging signal space; and

storing said selected calibration test patterns, said selected calibration test patterns being utilized to calibrate said model for simulating the imaging performance of the optical imaging system.

6. The computer program product according to claim 5 , wherein said model equation comprises a plurality of discrete functions.

7. The computer program product according to claim 6 , wherein each of said plurality of discrete functions comprises an eigenfunction.

8. The computer program product according to claim 7 , wherein each of the eigenfunctions are mutually orthogonal.

9. A computer-implemented method of calibrating a model for simulating the imaging performance of an optical imaging system, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting a set of calibration test patterns to be utilized to calibrate said model; and

adjusting variable parameters of said model such that a simulated imaging result of said model matches an actual imaging result of said calibration test patterns within a predefined error criteria;

wherein said selection of said set of calibration test patterns comprises:

defining design rules associated with a given imaging process;

defining a model equation representing the simulated imaging performance of said optical imaging system, said model equation establishing an imaging signal space corresponding to imaging signal values obtained using said model equation;

determining a boundary of said imaging signal space based on said design rules;

selecting calibration test patterns based on said boundary of said imaging signal space such that imaging signal values corresponding to said selected calibration test patterns and obtained using said model equation are on the boundary or within said boundary of said imaging signal space; and

storing said selected calibration test patterns, said calibration test patterns being utilized to calibrate said model for simulating the imaging performance of the optical imaging system,

wherein one or more of the above steps are implemented by a computer.

10. The method of calibrating a model for simulating the imaging performance of an optical imaging system according to claim 9 , wherein said model equation comprises a plurality of discrete functions.

11. The method of calibrating a model for simulating the imaging performance of an optical imaging system according to claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of discrete functions comprises an eigenfunction.

12. The method of calibrating a model for simulating the imaging performance of an optical imaging system according to claim 11 , wherein each of the eigenfunctions are mutually orthogonal.

13. The method of determining calibration test patterns according to claim 1 , wherein said imaging signal space has dimensions corresponding to a number of kernels in said model equation.

14. The method of determining calibration test patterns according to claim 13 , wherein selecting calibration test patterns includes:

defining a grid of points corresponding to a test structure based on said design rules;

digitizing a plurality of the kernels utilizing the grid of points;

identifying a collective region corresponding to overlapping portions of the digitized kernels; and

using the identified collective region to construct one of the selected calibration test patterns.

15. The computer program product according to claim 5 , wherein said imaging signal space has dimensions corresponding to a number of kernels in said model equation.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15 , wherein selecting calibration test patterns includes:

defining a grid of points corresponding to a test structure based on said design rules;

digitizing a plurality of the kernels utilizing the grid of points;

identifying a collective region corresponding to overlapping portions of the digitized kernels; and

using the identified collective region to construct one of the selected calibration test patterns.

17. The method of calibrating a model for simulating the imaging performance an optical imaging system according to claim 9 , wherein said imaging signal space has dimensions corresponding to a number of kernels in said model equation.

18. The method calibrating a model for simulating the imaging performance an optical imaging system according to claim 17 , wherein selecting calibration test patterns includes:

defining a grid of points corresponding to a test structure based on said design rules;

digitizing a plurality of the kernels utilizing the grid of points;

identifying a collective region corresponding to overlapping portions of the digitized kernels; and

using the identified collective region to construct one of the selected calibration test patterns.