The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 17, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 16, 1999
Orest Bula, Shelburne, VT (US);
Daniel C. Cole, Jericho, VT (US);
Edward W. Conrad, Jeffersonville, VT (US);
William C. Leipold, Enosburg Falls, VT (US);
Donald J. Samuels, Silverthorne, CO (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method is presented here that enables one to improve the prediction for the printed structures of circuit patterns in a microchip, thereby potentially aiding in the design of the microchip circuitry. This method comprises the steps of determining, by applying process bias and corner curvature rules to a real mask image, a simulated structure for the mask used in optical projection lithography; and determining, by applying optical and process proximity correction rules to said simulated mask structure, a more accurate prediction for the structures printed on the wafer. Preferably the simulated mask structure is determined by applying a symmetric bias consistent with a mask build process to the real mask image, adjusting predetermined features of the real mask image such as corners or narrow lines, and applying a reverse symmetric bias to the adjusted real mask image.