This study pursues to solve a batch of nonlinear parameter estimation (NPE) problems where a model interpreting the independent and the dependent variables is given and fixed but corresponding data sets vary. Specifically, we assume that the model does not have an explicit form and the discrepancy between a value from a data set and a corresponding value from the model is unknown. Due to the complexity of the problem, one may prefer to use heuristic algorithms rather than gradient-based algorithms, but the performance of the heuristic algorithms depends on their initial settings. In this study, we suggest two schemes to improve the performance of heuristic algorithms to solve the target problem. Most of all, we apply a Bayesian optimization to find the best parameters of the heuristic algorithm for solving the first NPE problem of the batch and apply the parameters of the heuristic algorithm for solving other NPE problems. Besides, we save a list of simulation outputs obtained from the Bayesian optimization and then use the list to construct the initial population set of the heuristic algorithm. The suggested schemes were tested in two simulation studies and were applied to a real example of measuring the critical dimensions of a 2-dimensional high-aspect-ratio structure of a wafer in semiconductor manufacturing.

• Chuljin Park(한양대학교 산업공학과) | 박철진
• Hyungjin Kim(한양대학교 산업공학과) | 김형진
• Kihun Kim(한양대학교 산업공학과) | 김기헌