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:
Dec. 22, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 20, 2006
Locating critical dimension(s) of a layout feature in an ic design by modeling simulated intensities
Hua Song, San Jose, CA (US);
Lantiang Wang, Fremont, CA (US);
Zongwu Tang, Pleasanton, CA (US);
SYNOPSYS, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
A computer is programmed to perform lithography simulation at a number of locations in a transverse direction relative to a length of a feature of an IC design, to obtain simulated intensities at the locations. The computer is further programmed to determine constants of a predetermined formula that models a trend of the simulated intensities as a function of distance (in the transverse direction), by curve-fitting. The computer is also programmed to compute a value ('CD predictor') based on the just-determined constants, the formula and a known threshold intensity for a given position along the feature's length. The just-described process, of lithography-simulation, followed by curve-fitting, followed by CD predictor computation, is repeatedly performed to obtain a number of CD predictors at a corresponding number of positions along the feature's length. The CD predictors are used to identify a position of a critical dimension, for use in, for example, layout verification.