High performance design rule checking technique
US8719738B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 2012 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2111/04
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Roughly described, a design rule data set is developed offline from the design rules of a target fabrication process. A design rule checking method involves traversing the corners of shapes in a layout region, and for each corner, populating a layout topology database with values that depend on respective corner locations. After the layout topology database is populated, the values are compared to values in the design rule data set to detect any design rule violations. Violations can be reported in real time, while the user is manually editing the layout. Preferably corner traversal is performed using scan lines oriented perpendicularly to edge orientations, and scanning in the direction of the edge orientations. Scans stop only at corner positions and populate the layout topology database with what information can be gleaned based on the current scan line. The different scans need not reach each corner simultaneously.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.