Patent ID: 9519745
Filing Date: 2016-12-13
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. A method comprising: determining an initial block mask having a first inner vertex for forming a metal routing layer of an integrated circuit (IC); adding an assistant metal portion within the metal routing layer; determining a modified block mask based on the assistant metal portion for forming the metal routing layer; determining a first line end of the metal routing layer; determining a first VIA connection to the metal routing layer at the first line end determining a second line end of the metal routing layer within a same track as the first line end; determining a second VIA connection to the metal routing layer at the second line end; and modifying the metal routing layer to connect the assistant metal portion to routing lines of the metal routing layer, the assistant metal portion providing a routing resource for a third VIA connection, wherein the first inner vertex of the initial block mask corresponds to forming the first line end, wherein the modified block mask satisfies a routing violation of the metal routing layer with respect to the first VIA connection, and wherein the modified block mask satisfies a routing violation of the metal routing layer between the first VIA connection and the second VIA connection.