Patent ID: 8438508
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: G03F,G06F

Abstract:
1. A method implemented by a computer, the method being for optimizing a lithographic process for imaging a portion of a design onto a substrate, the method comprising: selecting a subset of patterns from the portion of the design; optimizing an illumination source for the lithographic process for imaging the selected subset of patterns, wherein said optimizing the illumination source comprises determining, by the computer, a configuration of the illumination source that is capable of producing a desired image of the selected subset of patterns; and using the optimized illumination source for optimizing the portion of the design for being imaged in the lithographic process, wherein said optimizing the portion of the design comprises determining, by the computer, which features of the portion of the design require alteration for producing a desired image of the portion of the design when the optimized illumination source is used.