Patent ID: 8418111
Filing Date: 2013-04-09
Classification: G03F,G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: providing a routing grid having routing tracks; designating each of the routing tracks one of at least two colors; applying a pattern layout having a plurality of features to the routing grid, wherein each of the plurality of features corresponds with at least one routing track; applying, by a computer, a feature splitting constraint to determine whether the pattern layout is a multiple patterning compliant layout, wherein the applying the feature splitting constraint to determine whether the pattern layout is the multiple patterning compliant layout includes determining whether any of the plurality of features begin and end on routing tracks of different colors and designating the pattern layout as not a multiple patterning compliant layout when any of the plurality of features begin and end on routing tracks of different colors; if the pattern layout is not a multiple patterning compliant layout, modifying the pattern layout until a multiple patterning compliant layout is achieved; and if the pattern layout is a multiple patterning compliant layout, coloring each of the plurality of features based on the color of each feature's corresponding at least one routing track, thereby forming a colored pattern layout, and generating at least two masks with the features of the colored pattern layout, wherein each mask includes features of a single color.