Patent ID: 7934177
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: G03F,G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for splitting a pattern layout, the method comprising: providing the pattern layout having a plurality of features; checking, by a mask writer, the pattern layout with a design rule check (DRC) to determine the features that require splitting; coloring, by the mask writer, the features that require splitting with a first color and a second color; resolving, by the mask writer, coloring conflicts by decomposing a feature with a coloring conflict and coloring the decomposed feature with the first color and the second color; assigning, by the mask writer, the features that required splitting to a first mask layout and a second mask layout, wherein features of the first color are assigned to the first mask layout and features of the second color are assigned to the second mask layout; assigning, by the mask writer, the features that do not require splitting to one of a first area and a second area of an equalization layout, wherein the first area corresponds with areas of the first mask layout that are available for adding features and the second area corresponds with areas of the second mask layout that are available for adding features, such that the assigning equalizes pattern densities of the first area and the second area; assigning, by the mask writer, the features assigned to the first area to the first mask layout and the features assigned to the second area to the second mask layout; and forming, by the mask writer, a first mask based on the first mask layout and a second mask based on the second mask layout.