Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for forming an integrated circuit device, comprising:using a layout program running on a computer, generating a mask layout design of geometrical shapes that correspond to target features of a circuit design to be formed in or on a substrate;making a mask having mask features corresponding to the mask layout of geometric shapes directed by the layout program; andforming features of the integrated circuit device according to the mask features by imaging the mask features by directing a beam through the mask in a lithography process onto a semiconductor substrate that is at least partially covered with a resist;wherein generating the mask layout design includes:placing a first shape associated with a first target feature at a first location corresponding to a first intersection point of a grid having a plurality of grid units with grid side dimensions defined by a given targeted minimum pitch Pmin established for the target feature;determining a first pitch restriction area within which another feature may be placed only at a location corresponding to an intersection point of a first local area portion of the grid having N×N grid units less four corner units with N>1 and centered on the first intersection point;placing a second shape associated with a second target feature at a second location different from the first location, either at any location outside the first pitch restriction area or at any location within the pitch restriction area corresponding to a second intersection point within the first local area portion of the grid. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the target features are vias or contact holes. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein N=3. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining a second pitch restriction area within which a third feature may be placed only at a location corresponding to an intersection point of a second local area portion having N×N grid units less four corner units with N>1 of a grid having a plurality of grid units with grid side dimensions defined by the given targeted minimum pitch Pmin, and centered on the second intersection point; andplacing a third shape associated with a third target feature at a third location different from the first and second locations, the third location being either at any location outside both the first and second pitch restriction areas, or at any location corresponding to a common intersection point within both of the first and second pitch restriction areas, or at any location within only one of the first or second pitch restriction areas the or at a location corresponding to an intersection point within only one of the first and second pitch restriction areas. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to generating the mask layout design, inputting a circuit design into a computer aided design software package running on the computer to form a three dimensional geometric image layout of the device. 6. A method for forming an integrated circuit device, comprising:using a layout program running on a computer, generating a mask layout design of geometrical shapes that correspond to target features of a circuit design to be formed in or on a substrate;making a mask having mask features corresponding to the mask layout of geometric shapes directed by the layout program; andforming features of the integrated circuit device according to the mask features by imaging the mask features by directing a beam through the mask in a lithography process onto a semiconductor substrate that is at least partially covered with a resist;wherein generating the mask layout design includes:placing a first shape associated with a first target feature at a first location corresponding to a first intersection point of a grid having a plurality of grid units with grid side dimensions defined by a given targeted minimum pitch Pmin established for the target feature;determining a first pitch restriction area within which another feature may be placed only at a location corresponding to an intersection point of a first local area portion of the grid having N×N grid units less four corner units with N>1 and centered on the first intersection point;placing a second shape associated with a second target feature at a second location different from the first location within the pitch restriction area corresponding to any second intersection point within the first local area portion of the grid;determining a second pitch restriction area within which a third feature may be placed only at a location corresponding to an intersection point of a second local area portion of the grid having the N×N grid units less four corner units and centered on the second intersection point, the second pitch restriction area overlapping the first pitch restriction area; andplacing a third shape associated with a third target feature at a third location different from the first and second locations, the third location being either at any location outside of the combined first and second pitch restriction areas, or at any location corresponding to a third intersection point within the combined first and second pitch restriction areas. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the third shape is placed outside of the combined first and second pitch restriction areas, and further comprising determining a third pitch restriction area within which a fourth feature may be placed only at a location corresponding to an intersection point of a third local area portion having N×N grid units less four corner units with N>1 of a second grid having a plurality of grid units with grid side dimensions defined by the given targeted minimum pitch Pmin, and centered on the third intersection point. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the target features are vias or contact holes. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein N=3. 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the target features are vias or contact holes. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein N=3.