Patent ID: 8404403
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: G03F,G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for composing polygons of a first mask level and a second mask level into a target pattern of polygons to be formed on a substrate by sequentially printing the first mask level and the second mask level, the method comprising: receiving a design layout defining the target pattern; synthesizing, based on the target pattern, a sacrificial enabling pattern which, when added to the target pattern, increases a regularity of edges to approximate a diffraction grating; generating, as the first mask level, a grating pattern to be printed on the substrate with an exposure wavelength, the grating pattern being inclusive of the target pattern and the enabling pattern; and generating, as the second mask level, a plug pattern to be printed on the substrate with the exposure wavelength, the plug pattern to remove substantially all of the sacrificial enabling pattern from the substrate while retaining the target pattern on the substrate.