Integrated circuits having in-situ constraints
First Claim
1. A method of increasing manufacturability of a design layout of an integrated circuit product fabricated using a manufacturing process performed by an integrated circuit fabrication system, comprising:
- defining an original design layout based on original design rules associated with the manufacturing process, the original design rules comprising at least global limits on relative distance between layout objects, and a design layout process comprising at least one optimization process on features of the original design layout;
generating a modified design layout by an automated design layout system, based at least on the original design layout, the original design rules, and a set of location-specific limits on relative distance between layout objects of the original design layout which are looked up from a predetermined table using patterns of layout objects in the original design layout defined by the design layout process, as look-up keys; and
outputting the modified design layout in a format suitable for use by the integrated circuit fabrication system to fabricate the integrated circuit product.
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Abstract
In accordance with the present method and system for improving integrated circuit layout, a local process modification is calculated from simulated process response variables at a set of control points. Said modification values are incorporated into the layout constraints imposed by design rules and design intent to account for manufacturing friendliness. Solving the updated constraint equation with user specified objective function produces a new layout with increased manufacturability. The new layout may further contain data tags that enable optimal process correction to be performed on selected locations, leading to reduction in data size and mask complexity. Also in accordance with this invention, physical design tools are enhanced to read and process anisotropic design rules.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of increasing manufacturability of a design layout of an integrated circuit product fabricated using a manufacturing process performed by an integrated circuit fabrication system, comprising:
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defining an original design layout based on original design rules associated with the manufacturing process, the original design rules comprising at least global limits on relative distance between layout objects, and a design layout process comprising at least one optimization process on features of the original design layout; generating a modified design layout by an automated design layout system, based at least on the original design layout, the original design rules, and a set of location-specific limits on relative distance between layout objects of the original design layout which are looked up from a predetermined table using patterns of layout objects in the original design layout defined by the design layout process, as look-up keys; and outputting the modified design layout in a format suitable for use by the integrated circuit fabrication system to fabricate the integrated circuit product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of producing a mask design layout for an integrated circuit product for fabrication by an integrated circuit fabrication system according to a manufacturing process, comprising:
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storing in a memory, a description of an original mask design layout based on original mask design rules associated with the manufacturing process, the original mask design rules comprising at least; global limits on relative distance between layout objects within the mask design layout, and a mask design layout process comprising at least one optimization process on features of the original mask design layout; looking up a set of location-specific limits on relative distance between layout objects of the original mask design layout from a predetermined table, using patterns of layout objects in the original mask design layout defined by the mask design layout process, as look-up keys; generating, by an automated mask design layout system, a modified mask design layout from the original mask design layout, wherein the set of location-specific limits on relative distance between layout objects of the original mask design layout regionally modify the original mask design rules; and outputting the modified mask design layout in a format suitable for use by the integrated circuit fabrication system to fabricate the integrated circuit product. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification