Patent ID: 7356374
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: G03F,G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method of processing mask data by converting design data in a form of an electronic circuit design data file for use in manufacturing a photomask having substantially transparent and substantially opaque features into a data format suitable for a specific photomask manufacturing processing comprising the steps of: entering the design data using a specific form of the electronic circuit design data; inputting requirements for processing an order for a photomask made in accordance with the design data; obtaining information identifying which one of a plurality of photomask manufacturing equipment shall be used to manufacture the photomask; sizing the design data to facilitate process movement of the substantially transparent and substantially opaque features in the photomask; fracturing at least a portion of the design data into a substantially ready-to-write format compatible with the specific photomask manufacturing processing; verifying the integrity of the fractured design data; merging two or more sets of data generated from one or more of the following data types: (i) the entered design data; (ii) the sized design data; (iii) the fractured data; and (iv) the verification of the fractured data; conditioning said data set to be compatible with said mask manufacturing process and said photomask manufacture equipment; and sending the conditioned data set to a remote manufacturing system associated with the specific photomask manufacturing processing.