Patent · US Active

Method for optimization of optical proximity correction

US7694268B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
6References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 2007
Grant dateApr 6, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 11, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03F1/36
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of designing and forming a mask used for projecting an image of an integrated circuit design. After providing a mask element corresponding to a portion of a design of an integrated circuit layout, the method includes correcting the mask element using OPC techniques, and fracturing the OPC-corrected mask element into a plurality of polygonal segments. The method then includes identifying along an edge of the mask element a polygon edge having a thickness less than that which can be normally reproduced by a mask writer, and modifying configuration of the identified mask element segment to add or subtract length to an end of the polygon to create a corrected mask element having increased resolution by the mask writer. The method then includes using an electron beam or other mask writer to form a mask having the mask element with modified configuration.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.