Patent ID: 7861209
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
1. A system for creating a mask adapted for use in lithographic production of layout features on a substrate, comprising: storage means for storing a design mask pattern of the design layout pattern to be created on the substrate; storage means for storing a predicted layout pattern from the design mask pattern of what would be created on said substrate using said design mask pattern; processor means for successively sampling selected points of related contour edge features across said predicted layout pattern and said design mask pattern to calculate distance values between respective ones of said contour edge features; storage means for storing information representing yield curves as a function of said distance values between said contour edge features; processor means for determining from said stored information representing yield curves whether for each selected sampling point the current position of the contour edge feature of said predicted layout pattern is at a position that provides acceptable yield; and processor means for incrementally moving the said current position of contour edge feature of said predicted layout pattern toward an edge position of improved yield.