Patent ID: 7114145
Filing Date: 2006-09-26
Classification: G03F,G06F,G06T,G16Z,G21K

Abstract:
1. A method for evaluating a response of a lithographic design on wafer to a change in at least one process parameter of a photolithographic process, wherein the photolithographic process uses photolithographic equipment, the method comprising: generating a pixel-based bitmap representation of a lithographic design, wherein the pixel-based bitmap includes pixel data, and wherein each pixel datum represents a pixel having a predetermined pixel size; generating a first simulated image of the lithographic design on wafer using (1) the pixel-based bitmap representation of the lithographic design and (2) a first relationship representing an imaging path of projection and illumination optics of the photolithographic process; generating a second simulated image of the lithographic design on wafer using (1) the pixel-based bitmap representation of the lithographic design and (2) a second relationship representing an imaging path of projection and illumination optics of the photolithographic process; wherein a difference between (i) the first relationship representing the imaging path of the projection and illumination optics of the photolithographic process and (ii) the second relationship representing the imaging path of the projection and illumination optics of the photolithographic process includes the change in the at least one process parameter of the photolithographic process; and determining the response of the lithographic design on wafer to the change in the at least one process parameter of the photolithographic process using the first simulated image and the second simulated image.