摘要:
Provided is a system and method for assessing a design layout for a semiconductor device level and for determining and designating different features of the design layout to be formed by different photomasks by decomposing the design layout. The features are designated by markings that associate the various device features with the multiple photomasks upon which they will be formed and then produced on a semiconductor device level using double patterning lithography, DPL, techniques. The markings are done at the device level and are included on the electronic file provided by the design house to the photomask foundry. In addition to overlay and critical dimension considerations for the design layout being decomposed, various other device criteria, design criteria processing criteria and their interrelation are taken into account, as well as device environment and the other device layers, when determining and marking the various device features.
摘要:
A method comprises (a) receiving data representing a layout of a DPT-layer of an integrated circuit generated by a place and route tool, the layout including a plurality of polygons to be formed in the DPT-layer by a multi-patterning process; (b) receiving at least one identification of a subset of the plurality of polygons that are to be formed in the DPT-layer using the same photomask as each other; (c) constructing a graph of the subset of the plurality of polygons and any intervening polygons of the plurality of polygons, where the subset of the plurality of polygons are represented in the graph by a single node, the graph including connections connecting adjacent ones of the polygons in the graph that are positioned within a threshold distance of each other; and (d) identifying a multi-patterning conflict if any subset of the connections form an odd loop.
摘要:
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for identifying pre-coloring violations and for providing hints and/or warnings to a designer to eliminate the pre-coloring violations. In some embodiments, the method is performed by identifying G0-spaces within a double patterning technology (DPT) layer, of an integrated chip (IC) layout, having a plurality of pre-colored shapes. Violation paths extending between the pre-colored shapes are identified based upon the G0-spaces. Good paths (i.e., paths that will not cause a violation) and bad paths (i.e., paths that will cause a violation) between the pre-colored shapes are also identified. Hints and/or warnings are generated based upon the identified good and bad paths, wherein the hints and/or warnings provide guidance to eliminate the violation paths and develop a violation free IC layout.
摘要:
A method comprises (a) receiving data representing a layout of a DPT-layer of an integrated circuit generated by a place and route tool, the layout including a plurality of polygons to be formed in the DPT-layer by a multi-patterning process; (b) receiving at least one identification of a subset of the plurality of polygons that are to be formed in the DPT-layer using the same photomask as each other; (c) constructing a graph of the subset of the plurality of polygons and any intervening polygons of the plurality of polygons, where the subset of the plurality of polygons are represented in the graph by a single node, the graph including connections connecting adjacent ones of the polygons in the graph that are positioned within a threshold distance of each other; and (d) identifying a multi-patterning conflict if any subset of the connections form an odd loop.
摘要:
A method includes receiving data representing a layout of a DPT-layer of an integrated circuit generated by a place and route tool. The layout includes a plurality of polygons to be formed in the DPT-layer by a multi-patterning process. First and second ones of the plurality of polygons to be formed using first and second photomasks, respectively are identified. Any intervening polygons along a first path connecting the first polygon to the second polygon, and separator regions between adjacent polygons along the first path are identified. The separator regions have sizes less than a minimum threshold distance between polygons formed on the first photomask. The separator regions are counted. A multi-patterning conflict is identified, if the count of separator regions is even, prior to assigning all remaining ones of the plurality of polygons to the first or second masks.
摘要:
A method includes receiving data representing a layout of a DPT-layer of an integrated circuit generated by a place and route tool. The layout includes a plurality of polygons to be formed in the DPT-layer by a multi-patterning process. First and second ones of the plurality of polygons to be formed using first and second photomasks, respectively are identified. Any intervening polygons along a first path connecting the first polygon to the second polygon, and separator regions between adjacent polygons along the first path are identified. The separator regions have sizes less than a minimum threshold distance between polygons formed on the first photomask. The separator regions are counted. A multi-patterning conflict is identified, if the count of separator regions is even, prior to assigning all remaining ones of the plurality of polygons to the first or second masks.
摘要:
A computer implemented system comprises: a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with data representing an initial layout of an integrated circuit pattern layer having a plurality of polygons. A special-purpose computer is configured to perform the steps of: analyzing in the initial layout of an integrated circuit pattern layer having a plurality of polygons, so as to identify a plurality of multi-patterning conflict cycles in the initial layout; constructing in the computer a respective multi-patterning conflict cycle graph representing each identified multi-patterning conflict cycle; classifying each identified multi-patterning conflict cycle graph in the computer according to a number of other multi-patterning conflict cycle graphs which enclose that multi-patterning conflict cycle graph; and causing a display device to graphically display the plurality of multi-patterning conflict cycle graphs according to their respective classifications.
摘要:
A method includes receiving an identification of a plurality of circuit components to be included in an IC layout. Data are generated representing a first pattern to connect two of the circuit components. The first pattern has a plurality of segments. At least two of the segments have lengthwise directions perpendicular to each other. At least one pattern-free region is reserved adjacent to at least one of the at least two segments. Data are generated representing one or more additional patterns near the first pattern. None of the additional patterns is formed in the pattern-free region. The first pattern and the additional patterns form a double-patterning compliant set of patterns. The double-patterning compliant set of patterns are output to a machine readable storage medium to be read by a system for controlling a process to fabricate a pair of masks for patterning a semiconductor substrate using double patterning technology.
摘要:
A semiconductor chip includes a row of cells, with each of the cells including a VDD line and a VSS line. All VDD lines of the cells are connected as a single VDD line, and all VSS lines of the cells are connected as a single VSS line. No double-patterning full trace having an even number of G0 paths exists in the row of cells, or no double-patterning full trace having an odd number of G0 paths exists in the row of cells.
摘要:
A semiconductor chip includes a row of cells, with each of the cells including a VDD line and a VSS line. All VDD lines of the cells are connected as a single VDD line, and all VSS lines of the cells are connected as a single VSS line. No double-patterning full trace having an even number of G0 paths exists in the row of cells, or no double-patterning full trace having an odd number of G0 paths exists in the row of cells.