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. 12, 2011
Filed:
Jan. 30, 2009
Sunggon Jung, Hwasung, KR;
Levi D. Barnes, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Xiaohai LI, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Robert M. Lugg, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Sooryong Lee, Seoul, KR;
Sunggon Jung, Hwasung, KR;
Levi D. Barnes, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Xiaohai Li, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Robert M. Lugg, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Sooryong Lee, Seoul, KR;
Synopsys, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US);
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that adjusts assist features in a layout to prevent assist features from printing. During operation, the system receives a layout. The system then identifies an assist-feature (AF)-printing hotspot in the layout, wherein the AF-printing hotspot includes a set of assist features and one or more target patterns in proximity to the set of assist features. At least one assist feature in the set of assist features is expected to print during a lithography process. Next, the system modifies the AF-printing hotspot by: (1) modifying the set of assist features; and (2) performing optical-proximity-correction (OPC) on the one or more target patterns. The system then performs a lithography simulation on the modified AF-printing hotspot to determine if: (1) a through-process-window associated with the modified AF-printing hotspot is acceptable; and (2) no assist feature in the modified set of assist features is expected to print. If so, the system replaces the AF-printing hotspot with the modified AF-printing hotspot.