Patent ID: 7694269
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method of creating a photomask including selectively positioned sub-resolution assist features (SRAFs) in a photomask pattern for an interconnect, the method comprising: determining if a first interconnect pattern option will result in improved circuit performance compared with a second interconnect pattern option wherein the first option is designed to be formed with SRAFs and the second option is designed to be formed without SRAFs; if it is determined that the first option will result in improved circuit performance, selecting the first pattern option as a target pattern and positioning one or more SRAF patterns to facilitate patterning of the first pattern option; if it is determined that the first option will not result in improved performance, selecting the second pattern option as a target pattern; and creating the photomask based on the selected first or second pattern option; wherein the determination of improved circuit performance is made based on resistive-capacitive delay (RC delay) and crosstalk metrics.