Patent ID: 7086031
Filing Date: 2006-08-01
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a patterned reticle, comprising: providing a design which is ultimately to be printed in radiation-sensitive material utilizing the patterned reticle, the design having at least two features which are at different locations but otherwise desired to be identical to one another; utilizing a set of design rules to develop a first approximation of a pattern layout for the patterned reticle; the first approximation comprising a first set of layout elements corresponding to the at least two features; the first set of layout elements being substantially identical to one another; performing an optical proximity correction on the first approximation of the pattern layout to form a second approximation of the pattern layout, the second approximation comprising a second set of layout elements which are derived from the first set of layout elements through the optical proximity correction, the layout elements within the second set being substantially identical to one another; adding additional layout elements to the second approximation to form an adjusted second approximation of the pattern layout, the additional layout elements being asymmetric relative to the at least two features so that the layout elements corresponding to the at least two features within the adjusted approximation are not substantially identical to one another; and utilizing the adjusted second approximation to tape a pattern onto a reticle to form the patterned reticle.