Patent Publication Number: US-10770304-B2

Title: Hybrid double patterning method for semiconductor manufacture

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/393,339, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,483,120, filed Apr. 24, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/704,367, filed Sep. 14, 2017, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,276,394, incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) industry has experienced rapid growth. In the course of IC evolution, functional density (i.e., the number of interconnected devices per chip area) has generally increased while geometry size (i.e., the smallest component (or line) that can be created using a fabrication process) has decreased. This scaling down process generally provides benefits by increasing production efficiency and lowering associated costs. Such scaling down has also increased the complexity of processing and manufacturing ICs and, for these advances to be realized, similar developments in IC manufacturing are needed. 
     For example, as the geometry sizes shrink, it generally becomes difficult for conventional photolithography processes to form semiconductor features having these small sizes. One approach to this issue uses a double patterning (DP) method. A typical DP method decomposes an IC layout into two subsets and fabricates a photomask for each subset. A wafer is patterned with the two photomasks in two lithography processes. Images of the two lithography processes overlay with one another to collectively produce a denser image on the wafer. In traditional DP methods, the two lithography processes have the same resolution, which in some cases limits the minimum critical dimension (CD) that can be produced by the DP methods. Improvements in these areas are desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is emphasized that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale and are used for illustration purposes only. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of an integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing system and an associated IC manufacturing flow, which may benefit from aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D  illustrate a flow chart of a method for fabricating an IC according to various aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates an exemplary IC layout, according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a graph representing the IC layout of  FIG. 3A , in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates an operation of classifying edges in a graph, according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4I, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4N, 4O, and 4P  graphically illustrate some operations of the method in  FIGS. 2A-2D , in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a block diagram of a computerized IC tool for carrying out operations of the method of  FIGS. 2A-2D , in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. 
     Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly. 
     The present disclosure in various embodiments is generally related to IC design and fabrication. Particularly, the present disclosure is related to using hybrid double patterning (DP) methods for IC fabrication. In hybrid double patterning, an IC layout is decomposed into two subsets and each of the two subsets appears in a photomask layer (or a masking layer) in a data file. The data file is then used to fabricate photomasks or converted to direct-write data patterns for maskless lithography. Two photomasks (or one photomask and one direct-write data pattern) corresponding to the two subsets are then used in two different lithography techniques for collectively patterning a wafer. As used herein, a photomask (or mask or reticle) is an apparatus used in photolithography (or lithography), such as a plate having fused quartz substrate with a patterned chromium layer for deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography, while a photomask layer is a data file (such as a GDS file) used for fabricating a photomask. 
     Using two photomasks in two different lithography techniques to pattern a same wafer layer distinguishes the hybrid double patterning from traditional double patterning that use the same lithography technique to accomplish the task. For example, hybrid double patterning may use extreme ultravoilet (EUV) lithography to produce a first subset of patterns, and use 193 nm immersion lithography to produce a second subset of patterns. In various embodiments, the two lithography techniques in hybrid double patterning can be any two of: EUV lithography; high numerical aperture (high-NA) EUV lithography; ultraviolet lithography using a wavelength of 436 nm, 405 nm, or 365 nm; DUV lithography using a wavelength of 248 nm, 193 nm, or 157 nm; immersion lithography; e-beam; and other available lithography techniques. In the case of e-beam lithography (which is maskless lithography), the “photomask” is in the form of a direct-write data pattern rather than a physical apparatus. 
     For the convenience of discussion, out of the two lithography techniques, the one with a higher resolution is referred to as L1 lithography or simply “L1,” and the other is referred to as L2 lithography or simply “L2.” Also, it is commonly understood that having a higher (lower) resolution means having a smaller (larger) resolution. In other words, L1 can produce (or resolve) smaller feature sizes than L2. For example, L1 may have a resolution of 13.5 nm, while L2 may have a resolution of 45 nm. 
     The hybrid double patterning lithography offers some benefits over traditional double patterning lithography. In one example where L1 has a higher resolution than the lithography techniques of the traditional double patterning lithography, the overall resolution of the hybrid double patterning can be higher (better) than the traditional double patterning lithography. In another example where L2 has a lower resolution but a lower cost than the lithography techniques of the traditional double patterning lithography, the overall costs of the hybrid double patterning can be lower (better) than the traditional double patterning lithography. 
     However, there are also challenges associated with hybrid double patterning lithography. One challenge is that decomposing an IC layout into two subsets suitable for two different lithography techniques can be difficult because it is no longer a simple 2-colorability problem. In the following discussion, the present disclosure provides some innovative 2-coloring methods to effectively meet this challenge. The provided methods may be performed at a design stage by design engineers and/or layout engineers. Alternatively or additionally, they may be performed at a later stage after the design stage, for example, by a foundry in a fabrication stage. 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified block diagram of an embodiment of an integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing system  100  and an IC manufacturing flow associated therewith, which may benefit from various aspects of the provided subject matter. The IC manufacturing system  100  includes a plurality of entities, such as a design house  120 , a mask house  130 , and an IC manufacturer  150  (i.e., a fab), that interact with one another in the design, development, and manufacturing cycles and/or services related to manufacturing an IC device  160 . The plurality of entities are connected by a communications network, which may be a single network or a variety of different networks, such as an intranet and the Internet, and may include wired and/or wireless communication channels. Each entity may interact with other entities and may provide services to and/or receive services from the other entities. One or more of the design house  120 , mask house  130 , and IC manufacturer  150  may be owned by separate companies or by a single company, and may even coexist in a common facility and use common resources. 
     The design house (or design team)  120  generates an IC design layout (or IC layout)  122 . The IC design layout  122  includes various geometrical patterns (e.g., polygons) designed for the IC device  160 . The geometrical patterns correspond to IC features in one or more semiconductor layers that make up the IC device  160 . Exemplary IC features include active regions, gate electrodes, source and drain features, isolation features, metal lines, contact plugs, vias, and so on. The design house  120  implements appropriate design procedures to form the IC design layout  122 . The design procedures may include logic design, physical design, place and route, and/or various design checking operations. The IC design layout  122  is presented in one or more data files having information of the geometrical patterns. For example, the IC design layout  122  can be expressed in a GDSII file format or DFII file format. 
     The mask house  130  uses the IC design layout  122  to manufacture a set of masks to be used for fabricating the various layers of the IC device  160  according to the IC design layout  122 . The mask house  130  performs data preparation  132  and mask fabrication  144 . The data preparation  132  translates the IC design layout  122  into a form that can be physically written by a mask writer. The mask fabrication  144  fabricates the set of masks (photomask or reticle). 
     In the present embodiment, the data preparation  132  includes a hybrid double patterning decomposition  134  which is configured to decompose the IC design layout  122  into two subsets suitable for two different lithography techniques (L1 and L2) employed by the fab  150 . The data preparation  132 , particularly the hybrid double patterning decomposition  134 , may produce feedback to the design house  120 , which may be used to modify (or adjust) the IC design layout  122  to make it compliant for the manufacturing processes in the fab  150 . As discussed above, the hybrid double patterning decomposition  134  may be implemented by the design house  120 , instead of by the mask house  130 , in some embodiments. The data preparation  132  may further include other manufacturing flows such as optical proximity correction (OPC), off-axis illumination, sub-resolution assist features, other suitable techniques, or combinations thereof. The details of the hybrid double patterning decomposition  134  will be discussed in later section of the present disclosure. 
     After the data preparation  132  prepares data for the mask layers, the mask fabrication  144  fabricates a group of masks including the two masks for hybrid double patterning. For example, an electron-beam (e-beam) or a mechanism of multiple e-beams is used to form a pattern on a mask based on data files derived from the IC design layout  122 . The mask can be formed in various technologies such as binary masks, phase shifting masks, and EUV masks. For example, a binary mask includes a transparent substrate (e.g., fused quartz) and an opaque material (e.g., chromium) coated on the substrate. The opaque material is patterned according to the mask data, thereby forming opaque regions and transparent regions on the binary mask. A radiation beam, such as an ultraviolet (UV) beam, is blocked by the opaque regions and transmits through the transparent regions, thereby transferring an image of the mask to a sensitive material layer (e.g., photoresist) coated on a wafer  152 . For another example, a EUV mask includes a low thermal expansion substrate, a reflective multilayer (ML) over the substrate, and an absorption layer over the ML. The absorption layer is patterned according to the mask data. A EUV beam is either absorbed by the patterned absorption layer or reflected by the ML, thereby transferring an image of the mask to a sensitive material layer (e.g., photoresist) coated on the wafer  152 . In some embodiments, the fab  150  may also employ some kind of maskless lithography, such as e-beam lithography. For example, one of the L1 and L2 may be e-beam lithography. In such a case, the data preparation  132  may prepare the direct-write data file for the maskless lithography and the mask fabrication  144  does not make a photomask for those particular layers to be produced by the maskless lithography. 
     The IC manufacturer (fab)  150 , such as a semiconductor foundry, uses the masks to fabricate the IC device  160  using, for example, lithography processes. The fab  150  may include front-end-of-line (FEOL) fabrication facility, and/or back-end-of-line (BEOL) fabrication facility. Particularly, the fab  150  implements two different lithography techniques to accomplish the hybrid double patterning on the semiconductor wafer  152 . For example, one lithography technique is EUV and the other is 193 nm immersion lithography, or one lithography technique is 193 nm immersion lithography and the other is traditional (or dry) 193 nm lithography. The two lithography techniques may be performed in any order. The first lithography technique is used to produce a first pattern on the wafer  152 , and the second lithography technique is used to produce a second pattern on the wafer  152 . The first and second patterns collectively (by addition or subtraction) form a pattern on the wafer  152 . The pattern may be used in a variety of processes. For example, the pattern may be used in an ion implantation process to form various doped regions in the wafer  152 , or in an etching process to form various etching regions in the wafer  152 . 
     The wafer  152  includes a silicon substrate or other proper substrate having material layers formed thereon. Other proper substrate materials include another suitable elementary semiconductor, such as diamond or germanium; a suitable compound semiconductor, such as silicon carbide, indium arsenide, or indium phosphide; or a suitable alloy semiconductor, such as silicon germanium carbide, gallium arsenic phosphide, or gallium indium phosphide. The wafer  152  may further include various doped regions, dielectric features, and multilevel interconnects (formed at subsequent manufacturing steps). 
       FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrate a flow chart of a method  200 , constructed according to various aspects of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the method  200  may be implemented by the hybrid double patterning decomposition  134 . The method  200  is an example, and is not intended to limit the present disclosure beyond what is explicitly recited in the claims. Additional operations can be provided before, during, and after the method  200 , and some operations described can be replaced, eliminated, or relocated for additional embodiments of the method. The method  200  is described below in conjunction with  FIGS. 3A-4P  which graphically illustrate some principles of the method  200 . In the following discussion, it is assumed that the hybrid double patterning lithography uses a first lithography technique L1 and a second lithography technique L2 where L1 has a higher (better) resolution than L2. In other words, the finest or smallest resolution (smallest spacing) that can be achieved by L1 is smaller than that can be achieved by L2. During wafer fabrication, L1 can be performed before or after L2 in the hybrid double patterning lithography. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , at operation  202 , the method  200  is provided with a layout of an IC. Referring to  FIG. 3A , an exemplary layout  300  includes geometrical patterns (polygons in this embodiment) P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , and P 4 . Each of the patterns represent an IC feature such as an active region, a gate electrode, a source or drain feature, an isolation feature, a metal line, a contact plug, a via, or another suitable IC feature. The patterns are spaced from each other. Particularly, the patterns P 1  and P 2  are spaced by a distance (or spacing) S 12 , the patterns P 2  and P 3  are spaced by a distance S 23 , the patterns P 2  and P 4  are spaced by a distance S 24 , and the patterns P 3  and P 4  are spaced by a distance S 34 . Further, in this embodiment, the distances S 12  and S 24  are smaller than a predetermined distance X, while the distances S 23  and S 34  are equal to or greater than the predetermined distance X. X represents the finest or smallest resolution (smallest spacing) that can be achieved by the lithography technique L2 in the hybrid double patterning lithography. In other words, X is the smallest distance between adjacent IC features that can be formed by L2 without shorting these adjacent IC features together. 
     At operation  204 , the method  200  ( FIG. 2A ) derives a graph representing the IC design layout. Continuing with the exemplary IC design layout  300 , a graph  350  is derived as shown in  FIG. 3B . The graph  350  includes vertices connected by edges. The vertices represent the patterns P 1  through P 4 . For the convenience of discussion, the vertices are labeled with the same alphanumeric values as the corresponding patterns. The edges represent those distances that are smaller than X. In this embodiment, the edge E 12  represents the distance S 12 , and the edge E 24  represents the distance S 24 . It is noted that the vertex P 3  is not connected by any edges because the pattern P 3  is sufficiently apart from other patterns. 
     At operation  206 , the method  200  ( FIG. 2A ) classifies the edges in the graph to be either an L1-edge or an L2-edge. Referring to  FIG. 3C , in the present embodiment, an edge is an L1-edge if the spacing represented by the edge is smaller than the resolution of L1, and an edge is an L2-edge if the spacing represented by the edge is greater than or equal to the resolution of L1 but smaller than the resolution of L2. As discussed above, when the spacing between two patterns is greater than or equal to the resolution of L2, there is no edge connecting the two vertices representing the two patterns. From a double patterning perspective, when an edge between two vertices is an L1-edge, the two corresponding patterns will be patterned separately by two lithography processes L1 and L2 because neither L1 nor L2 alone will be able to resolve the spacing there between. Similarly, when an edge between two vertices is an L2-edge, the two corresponding patterns will be patterned by one lithography process using L1 alone or by two lithography processes using L1 and L2 separately. By the same token, when there is no edge between two vertices, the two corresponding patterns may be patterned by one lithography process using L1 or L2 alone, or by two lithography processes using L1 and L2 separately. Applying the principles above, the operation  206  classifies the edges E 12  and E 24  of the graph  350  ( FIG. 3B ). 
     The IC layout  300  and the associated graph  350  are simple examples that can be processed by the method  200 . To provide a better understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, a more complex graph  400  is presented in  FIG. 4A . Referring to  FIG. 4A , the graph  400  includes a plurality of vertices  402 . Each of the vertices  402  represents an IC layout pattern which is generally a polygon.  FIG. 4B  shows edges  404  connecting some of the vertices  402 .  FIG. 4B  further illustrates that the edges  404  are classified into two types: L1-edge (solid line) and L2-edge (broken line), as discussed with respect to  FIG. 3C . The graph  400  as shown in  FIG. 4B  is a result of the operations  204  and  206  performed to an IC layout (not shown) received in the operation  202 . Remaining operations of the method  200  are discussed using the graph  400  as an example. It is noted the graph  400  is merely an example and does not limit the present disclosure. Embodiments of method  200  may be applied to any IC layouts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2A , at operation  208 , the method  200  checks if there is a loop formed by odd number of vertices connected by L1-edges. Such a loop is referred to as an odd-loop.  FIG. 4C  illustrates one such odd-loop  406 . Referring to  FIG. 4C , the loop  406  has three (an odd number of) vertices and all edges in the loop  406  are L1-edges. In comparison, another loop  408  is not an odd-loop because the loop has four vertices. Once an odd-loop is found, the method  200  proceeds to operation  210  to modify the IC layout to break the loop because the hybrid double patterning cannot properly resolve the IC patterns corresponding to the odd-loop. This is because two IC patterns connected by an L1-edge must be patterned by separate L1 and L2 processes (by the definition of L1-edge). Having an odd number of vertices in the loop means that some adjacent IC patterns in the loop will violate the above rule. In such a case, operation  210  may relocate the corresponding layout patterns to correct such violation. The operation  210  may be implemented by the mask house  130  or by the design house  120  ( FIG. 1 ). Once the IC layout is modified by the operation  210 , it is sent back to operation  202  and the above operations  204 ,  206 , and  208  repeat until the graph  400  does not contain any odd-loop. From there, the operation  200  proceeds to decomposing the vertices into two subsets, one for L1 and another for L2. The decomposition includes a step of finding vertices that have to be patterned by L1 (initial assignment), followed by steps of propagating colors from those vertices fixedly assigned to L1 to the rest of the graph. The operations  212 ,  214 , and  216  ( FIG. 2B ), and the operations  226 ,  228 ,  230 , and  232  ( FIG. 2C ), are two alternative embodiments for figuring out which vertices (corresponding IC patterns) will be patterned by the lithography process L1 (the initial assignment). The operations  218 ,  220 , and  222  ( FIG. 2D ) then propagate colors from those initial assignment to the rest of the graph. 
     In the first embodiment, the method  200  performs the operations  212 ,  214 , and  216  to find out which IC patterns will be patterned by the lithography process L1. Referring to  FIG. 2B , at operation  212 , the method  200  performs 2-coloring (e.g., using color “X” and color “Y”) to all vertices connected by L1-edges. This involves multiple steps, as discussed below. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4D , the operation  212  identifies “networks.” A network comprises of vertices and only L1-edges connecting the vertices. In other words, the operation  212  ignores the L2-edges when identifying networks. It is also noted that the IC layout  122  has been modified to break the odd-loop  406  ( FIG. 4C ) in the graph  400 . Referring to  FIG. 4E , operation  212  colors the vertices within each network using colors X and Y wherein two vertices connected by a common L1-edge are assigned with different colors. 
     At operation  214 , the method  200  ( FIG. 2B ) checks whether there is a network that have both an X-X pair and a Y-Y pair. As used herein, an “X-X pair” refers to two vertices within a network that are colored with X and are connected by an L2-edge, and a “Y-Y pair” refers to two vertices within a network that are colored with Y and are connected by an L2-edge.  FIG. 4F  shows one example network  450  that satisfies the above condition where vertices  453  and  454  form a Y-Y pair and vertices  455  and  456  form an X-X pair. Having such X-X and Y-Y pairs in the same network indicates that the IC layout corresponding to the network may not be correctly patterned by the hybrid double patterning lithography. Taking the network  450  as an example, if the vertex  452  is assigned with L1 (i.e., the IC pattern corresponding to the vertex  452  is patterned by L1 lithography), then the vertices  453  and  454  will have to be assigned with L2, which is a violation of the manufacturing rule because spacing between the two cannot be properly resolved by L2 lithography (by the definition of L2-edge). On the other hand, if the vertex  452  is assigned with L2 and the vertices  453  and  454  are assigned with L1,then the vertices  455  and  456  will have to be assigned with L2, which is again a violation of the manufacturing rule. 
     Once the operation  214  finds such a violation, the method  200  ( FIG. 2B ) proceeds to operation  210  to modify the IC layout  122  to prevent such X-X and Y-Y pairs in the same network. For example, operation  210  may relocate the corresponding layout patterns to correct such violation. If no such violation is found, the method  200  ( FIG. 2B ) proceeds to operation  216  to assign color “A” to any X-X pair(s) and Y-Y pair(s) in the networks. A vertex with color A indicates that the corresponding IC pattern is to be produced by L1 lithography in the fab  150 . In the graph  400  shown in  FIG. 4G , the vertices  402 A and  402 B form a Y-Y pair, the vertices  402 C and  402 D form an X-X pair. Therefore, the vertices  402 A,  402 B,  402 C and  402 D are assigned with the color A. The results are shown in  FIG. 4K . The vertices  402 A,  402 B,  402 C and  402 D serve as the starting (or initial) point of coloring the graph  400  with color A and color B. A vertex with color B indicates that the corresponding IC pattern is to be produced by L2 lithography in the fab  150 . 
       FIG. 2C  illustrates an alternative embodiment of initially coloring vertices with color A. Referring to  FIG. 2C , the method  200  proceeds from the operation  208  to the operation  226 . At operation  226 , the method  200  finds a pair of vertices connected directly by an L2-edge. There may be many such pairs in the graph  400 . The method  200  may process one pair at a time or multiple pairs simultaneously. For a given pair of vertices connected by an L2-edge, the method  200  checks (operation  228 ) if there is a path between the two vertices that are formed by even number of L1-edges. If the answer is yes, the method  200  assigns the vertices with color A at operation  230  and proceeds to operation  232 . If the answer is no, the method  200  proceeds to operation  232 . If there are more pairs to be processed (operation  232 ), the method  200  goes back to the operation  226  and the above operations repeat.  FIGS. 4H, 4I, and 4J  illustrate the above operations. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4H , the method  200  finds a pair of vertices  402 E and  402 F at the operation  226 . The vertices  402 E and  402 F are connected directly by an L2-edge  404 A. At the operation  228 , the method  200  finds that the vertices  402 E and  402 F are also connected by a path that comprises of L1-edges only, namely  404 B,  404 C,  404 D, and  404 E. Further, the number of L1-edges in the path is an even number, namely 4. Therefore, the pair of vertices  402 E and  402 F satisfies the condition of the operation  228 . The method  200  then assigns color A to the vertices  402 E and  402 F at the operation  230 . In another example shown in  FIG. 4I , even though vertices  402 J and  402 K are connected directly by an L2-edge, there is no path between the two vertices that comprises L1-edges only. Therefore, the vertices  402 J and  402 K are not colored with color A at the operation  230 . In yet another example as shown in  FIG. 4J , vertices  402 L and  402 M are connected directly by an L2-edge, and there is also a path between the two vertices that comprises L1-edges only. But the number of L1-edges in the path is not an even number. Therefore, the vertices  402 L and  402 M are not colored with color A at the operation  230 . In fact, the vertices  402 L and  402 M may be colored with colors A and B respectively, or colors B and A respectively. 
     From either the operation  216  or the operation  232 , the method  200  proceeds to operation  218  ( FIG. 2D ) to color the rest of vertices in the graph based on the initial coloring of color A as discussed above. It is noted that the method  200  may employ other embodiments (alternative to the operations  212 / 214 / 216  and the operations  226 / 228 / 230 / 232 ) to find out which vertices are to be assigned with color A. 
     In the present embodiment, the operation  218  colors the vertices in the graph  400  based on the following rules (1)-(4) as illustrated in  FIG. 4L : (1) if a vertex is colored with color A, then its immediate neighbor is colored with color B if the vertex and the immediate neighbor are connected by an L1-edge; (2) if a vertex is colored with color B, then its immediate neighbor is colored with color A if the vertex and the immediate neighbor are connected by an L1-edge; (3) if a vertex is colored with color B, then its immediate neighbor is colored with color A if the vertex and the immediate neighbor are connected by an L2-edge; and (4) if a vertex is colored with color A, then its immediate neighbor is temporarily not colored if the vertex and the immediate neighbor are connected by an L2-edge. For vertices that are not colored due to the rule (4), either color A or color B can be assigned (at a later coloring step), which can be utilized by the method  200  to provide process friendliness such as balancing the pattern loading of the two subsets for mask fabrication, balancing the pattern loading on the wafer during the L1 and L2 lithography processes, and avoiding some unwanted configuration on the same mask. 
     Based on the above rules and the vertices that are initially colored with color A (e.g., by the operations  212 / 214 / 216  or the operations  226 / 228 / 230 / 232 ), the operation  218  progressively assigns colors to the vertices in the graph  400  as shown in  FIGS. 4M and 4N . After the operation  218  finishes, the method  200  checks (operation  220  in  FIG. 2D ) if there is a pair of vertices that are colored with color B and are connected directly with an L2-edge. Such a pair indicates a violation of the manufacturing rules because the corresponding IC patterns are to be patterned by L2 lithography (indicated by color B) but cannot be properly resolved by L2 lithography (indicated by L2-edge). If the operation  220  finds such a pair, the method  200  proceeds to the operation  210  to modify the IC layout  122  to prevent the violation, for example, by relocating the corresponding IC patterns in the layout  122 . If the operation  220  does not find such a pair, the method  200  proceeds to operation  222  to complete the coloring process. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4N , some vertices in the graph  400  are not colored after the operation  218  finishes. This may be due to a couple of reasons. For example, some vertices may not be connected to a network that has some vertices initially colored with the color A so that the coloring process of the operation  218  does not propagate to these vertices. For another example, due to the rule (4) discussed in the operation  218 , some vertices are intentionally not colored by the operation  218  so that some process friendliness can be provided by the method  200 . At the operation  222 , the method  200  ( FIG. 2D ) assigns colors to these vertices with the consideration of process friendliness. For vertices that are isolated (not connected to other vertices through any edges), the method  200  may assign arbitrarily color A or color B to them with the consideration of process friendliness. For vertices that are in a network, the method  200  may arbitrarily pick a starting point by assigning color A or color B to any of the vertices, and then propagate the colors to the rest of the vertices in the network.  FIG. 4O  illustrates the complete color assignment to the graph  400  in accordance with an embodiment. 
     At operation  224 , the method  200  outputs the results (color assignment) of the decomposition. The first subset of IC patterns corresponding to vertices colored with color A are output for L1 lithography, and the second subset of IC patterns corresponding to vertices colored with color B are output for L2 lithography. The first and second subsets may be stored in a tangible computer-readable medium for the mask fabrication  144  or other IC processing facilities. The tangible computer-readable medium may include a floppy disc, a hard disc, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disc, a solid-state storage device, or other suitable storage medium. The data preparation  132  may perform further processes to the first and second subsets of IC patterns based on the requirement of L1 and L2 lithography processes. For example, the data preparation  132  may perform optical proximity correction (OPC), off-axis illumination, sub-resolution assist features, other suitable techniques, or combinations thereof to the first and second subsets of IC patterns separately. 
     In the above discussion, the method  200  classifies edges into two types: L1-edge and L2-edge (operation  206 ). In another embodiment, the method  200  may employ more than two types of edges. For example, in addition to L1-edge and L2-edge, the method  200  may use a third type of edge: link3 as indicated in  FIG. 4P . For example, there may exist two IC patterns that can be resolved (or patterned) by either L1 lithography or L2 lithography resolution-wise. However, they are preferred to be patterned by L2 lithography for better process performance, such as higher contrast during photo exposure. To further this embodiment, the rules discussed in the operation  218  may be expanded to accommodate this third type of edge, e.g., by adding two rules (5) and (6) below: (5) if a vertex is colored with color A, then its immediate neighbor is colored with color B if the vertex and the immediate neighbor are connected by a link3 edge; (6) if a vertex is colored with color B, then its immediate neighbor is temporarily not colored if the vertex and the immediate neighbor are connected by a link3 edge. All operations of the method  200  may remain the same except that the operation  218  follows the rules (1)-(6) in this embodiment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , shown therein is an illustrative computerized IC tool  500  for implementing embodiments of the method  200  described above. The computerized IC tool  500  may be a design tool used by the design house  120  or a mask data preparation tool used by the mask house  130  ( FIG. 1 ). The computerized IC tool  500  includes a microprocessor  502 , an input device  504 , a storage device  506 , a video controller  508 , a system memory  510 , a display  514 , and a communication device  516 , all interconnected by one or more buses  512 . The storage device  506  could be a floppy drive, hard drive, CD-ROM, optical drive, or any other form of storage device. In addition, the storage device  506  may be capable of receiving a floppy disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable medium. In one example, the input device  504  and the storage device  506  collectively receive a design layout (e.g., the design layout  122 ). In an embodiment, the storage device  506  may contain computer-executable instructions which, when read by the microprocessor  502 , cause the microprocessor  502  to perform the method  200  as discussed above. Further, the communication device  516  could be a modem, network card, or any other device to enable the IC tool  500  to communicate with other tools. 
     The computerized IC tool  500  may implement the method  200  using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Exemplary hardware includes processor-capable platforms, such as personal computers or servers, and hand-held processing devices such as smart phones, tablets, and personal digital assistants. Further, hardware may include other physical devices that are capable of executing machine-readable instructions, such as field programmable gate array (FPGA) and application specific integrated circuits (ASIC). Software includes any machine code stored in any memory medium, such as RAM or ROM, and machine code stored on other devices (such as floppy disks, flash memory, or a CD ROM, for example). Software may include source or object code, for example. In addition, software encompasses any set of instructions capable of being executed in a client machine or server. 
     Combinations of software and hardware could also be used for providing enhanced functionality and performance for certain embodiments of the present disclosure. One example is to directly manufacture software functions into a silicon chip such as an FPGA or an ASIC. Accordingly, it should be understood that combinations of hardware and software are also included within the definition of the computerized IC tool  500  and are thus envisioned by the present disclosure as possible equivalent structures and equivalent methods. 
     Computer-readable mediums in the present disclosure include passive data storage, such as a random access memory (RAM) as well as semi-permanent data storage such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM). In addition, an embodiment of the present disclosure may be embodied in the RAM of a computer to transform a standard computer into the computerized IC tool  500 . 
     The computerized IC tool  500  may be designed to work on any specific architecture. For example, the computerized IC tool  500  may be designed to work on a single computer, local area networks, client-server networks, wide area networks, internets, hand-held and other portable and wireless devices and networks. 
     Although not intended to be limiting, the present disclosure provides many benefits to semiconductor manufacturing processes. For example, embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods for hybrid double patterning which may take advantages of a higher resolution of a lithography process and low costs of another lithography process. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide efficient ways of decomposing an IC layout for hybrid double patterning, including checking potential violations of manufacturing rules at an early stage of fabrication. Embodiments of the provided methods can be easily integrated into existing design and fabrication flow. 
     In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) with a first lithography technique and a second lithography technique different from the first lithography technique. The method includes providing a layout of the IC, the layout having a set of IC patterns; and deriving a graph from the layout, the graph having vertices and edges that connect some of the vertices, the vertices representing the IC patterns, the edges being classified into at least two types, a first type of edges connecting two vertices that are to be patterned separately with the first and second lithography techniques, a second type of edges connecting two vertices that are to be patterned in a same process using the first lithography technique or to be patterned separately with the first and second lithography techniques. The method further includes decomposing, using a computerized IC tool, the vertices into a first subset and a second subset, wherein the IC patterns corresponding to the first subset are to be patterned on a wafer using the first lithography technique, and the IC patterns corresponding to the second subset are to be patterned on the wafer using the second lithography technique. 
     In an embodiment, after the step of deriving, the method further includes checking if there is a loop formed by odd number of vertices connected by edges of the first type; and on condition that there is such a loop, modifying the layout to break the loop. 
     In an embodiment, after the step of deriving, the method further includes assigning colors X and Y to all vertices that are connected by edges of the first type, wherein two vertices connected by a common edge of the first type are assigned with different colors. In a further embodiment, after the step of assigning colors X and Y, the method further includes identifying a network of vertices that are connected to each other through edges of the first type; checking if there are two pairs of vertices in the network such that a first pair are assigned with the same color X and are connected directly by an edge of the second type and a second pair are assigned with the same color Y and are connected directly by another edge of the second type; and on condition that there are such two pairs, modifying the layout to prevent such two pairs. In another further embodiment, after the step of assigning colors X and Y, the method further includes assigning initially color A to all pairs of vertices that are assigned with the same color X or same color Y and are connected directly by an edge of the second type; and placing vertices with color A into the first subset. After the step of assigning initially color A, the method may further include assigning color B to all vertices that are not colored with colors A or B and are connected to vertices with color A directly by an edge of the first type; after the step of assigning color B, assigning subsequently color A to all vertices that are not colored with colors A or B and are connected to vertices with color B directly by an edge of the first or second type; repeating the steps of assigning color B and assigning subsequently color A to rest of the vertices in the graph; and placing vertices with color A into the first subset and vertices with color B into the second subset. 
     In a further embodiment, after the step of repeating, the method may include checking if there is a pair of vertices that are colored with color B and are connected by an edge of the second type; and on condition that such pair exists, modifying the layout. Alternatively, after the step of repeating, the method may include, on condition that there are vertices that are not colored with either color A or color B, assigning color A or color B to the vertices to balance mask loading between the first and second subsets. 
     In another alternative embodiment, after the step of repeating, the method further includes fabricating a first photomask with the IC patterns corresponding to the first subset of vertices; and fabricating a second photomask with the IC patterns corresponding to the second subset of vertices. Furthermore, the method may include performing a first lithography process to a wafer using the first lithography technique to produce a first subset of etch mask patterns corresponding to the first subset of vertices; performing a second lithography process to the wafer using the second lithography technique to produce a second subset of etch mask patterns corresponding to the second subset of vertices; and etching the wafer using both the first and the second subsets of etch mask patterns. 
     In an embodiment, after the step of deriving, the method further includes locating a pair of vertices connected by an edge of the second type; checking if there is a path between the pair of vertices through only edges of the first type; on condition that such a path exists and the number of edges of the first type on the path is even, assigning initially color A to the pair of vertices; and placing vertices with color A into the first subset. In a further embodiment, after the step of assigning initially color A, the method includes assigning color B to all vertices that are not colored with colors A or B and are connected to vertices with color A directly by an edge of the first type. After the step of assigning color B, the method further includes assigning, subsequently, color A to all vertices that are not colored with colors A or B and are connected to vertices with color B directly by an edge of the first or second type; repeating the steps of assigning color B and assigning subsequently color A to rest of the vertices in the graph; and placing vertices with color A into the first subset and vertices with color B into the second subset. 
     In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) with a first lithography technique and a second lithography technique having a lower resolution than the first lithography technique. The method includes providing a layout of the IC, the layout having a set of IC patterns; deriving a graph from the layout by representing the IC patterns with vertices and representing spacing between IC patterns with edges connecting the corresponding vertices; and classifying the edges into two types, a first type of edges connecting two vertices that are to be patterned separately with the first and second lithography techniques, a second type of edges connecting two vertices that are to be patterned in a same process using the first lithography technique or to be patterned separately with the first and second lithography techniques. The method further includes decomposing the vertices into a first subset and a second subset, wherein the IC patterns corresponding to the first subset are to be patterned on a wafer to form a first etch mask using the first lithography technique, and the IC patterns corresponding to the second subset are to be patterned on the wafer to form a second etch mask using the second lithography technique, wherein the first and second etch masks collectively transfer the IC patterns onto the wafer. 
     In an embodiment, after the step of classifying, the method further includes checking if there is a loop formed by odd number of vertices connected by edges of the first type. In another embodiment, after the step of classifying, the method further includes assigning colors X and Y to all vertices that are connected by edges of the first type, wherein two vertices connected by a common edge of the first type are assigned with different colors. 
     In an embodiment, after the step of assigning colors X and Y, the method further includes initially assigning color A to all pairs of vertices that are assigned with the same color X or same color Y and are connected directly by an edge of the second type; and placing vertices with color A into the first subset. In a further embodiment, after the step of initially assigning color A, the method further includes assigning color B to all vertices that are not colored with colors A or B and are connected to vertices with color A directly by an edge of the first type. After the step of assigning color B, the method further includes subsequently assigning color A to all vertices that are not colored with colors A or B and are connected to vertices with color B directly by an edge of the first or second type. The method further includes repeating the steps of assigning color B and subsequently assigning color A to rest of the vertices in the graph; placing vertices with color A into the first subset; and placing vertices with color B into the second subset. 
     In yet another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) with a first lithography technique having a first resolution and a second lithography technique having a second resolution larger than the first resolution. The method includes providing a layout of the IC, the layout having a set of IC patterns; and deriving a graph from the layout, the graph having vertices and edges that connect some of the vertices, the vertices representing the IC patterns, the edges representing spacing between the IC patterns that are smaller than the second resolution. The method further includes classifying the edges into at least two types, a first type representing spacing that is smaller than the first resolution, a second type representing spacing that is equal to or greater than the first resolution but smaller than the second resolution. The method further includes decomposing the vertices into a first subset and a second subset, wherein the IC patterns corresponding to the first subset are to be patterned on a wafer using the first lithography technique, and the IC patterns corresponding to the second subset are to be patterned on the wafer using the second lithography technique, wherein at least one of deriving, classifying, and decomposing is performed by a computerized IC tool. 
     In an embodiment, after the step of classifying, the method further includes assigning colors X and Y to all vertices that are connected by edges of the first type, wherein two vertices connected by a common edge of the first type are assigned with different colors. In a further embodiment, after the step of assigning colors X and Y, the method includes assigning color A to all pairs of vertices that are assigned with the same color X or same color Y and are connected directly by an edge of the second type; and progressively coloring rest of vertices with colors A and B by performing: assigning different colors to two vertices directly connected by an edge of the first type; assigning color A to a vertex that is directly connected to a vertex with color B by an edge of the second type; and assigning either color A or color B to a vertex that is directly connected to a vertex with color A by an edge of the second type. The method further includes placing vertices with color A into the first subset and vertices with color B into the second subset. 
     In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) with a first lithography technique having a first resolution and a second lithography technique having a second resolution larger than the first resolution. The method includes providing a layout of the IC, the layout having a set of IC patterns; and deriving a graph from the layout, the graph having vertices and edges that connect some of the vertices, the vertices representing the IC patterns, the edges representing spacing between the IC patterns that are smaller than the second resolution. The method further includes classifying the edges into two types, a first type representing spacing that is smaller than the first resolution, a second type representing spacing that is equal to or greater than the first resolution but smaller than the second resolution; and using a computerized IC tool, decomposing the vertices into a first subset and a second subset. The decomposing includes locating a pair of vertices connected by an edge of the second type; on condition that there is a path between the pair of vertices through only edges of the first type and the number of edges of the first type on the path is even, assigning color A to the pair of vertices; and progressively coloring rest of vertices with colors A and B by: assigning different colors to two vertices directly connected by an edge of the first type, assigning color A to a vertex that is directly connected to a vertex with color B by an edge of the second type, and assigning either color A or color B to a vertex that is directly connected to a vertex with color A by an edge of the second type. The method further includes placing vertices with color A into the first subset and vertices with color B into the second subset. 
     In an embodiment, after the step of classifying, the method further includes checking if there is a loop formed by odd number of vertices connected by edges of the first type; and on condition that there is such a loop, modifying the layout to break the loop. In another embodiment, after the progressively coloring rest of vertices with colors A and B, the method further includes checking if there is a pair of vertices that are colored with color B and are connected by an edge of the second type; and on condition that such pair exists, modifying the layout. 
     In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) with a first lithography technique having a first resolution and a second lithography technique having a second resolution larger than the first resolution. The method includes providing a layout of the IC, the layout having a set of IC patterns; and deriving a graph from the layout, the graph having vertices and edges that connect some of the vertices, the vertices representing the IC patterns, the edges representing spacing between the IC patterns that are smaller than the second resolution. The method further includes classifying the edges into two types, a first type representing spacing that is smaller than the first resolution, a second type representing spacing that is equal to or greater than the first resolution but smaller than the second resolution; and using a computerized IC tool, decomposing the vertices into a first subset and a second subset. The decomposing includes assigning colors X and Y to all vertices that are connected by edges of the first type, wherein two vertices connected by a common edge of the first type are assigned with different colors; assigning color A to all pairs of vertices that are assigned with the same color X or same color Y and are connected directly by an edge of the second type; and progressively coloring rest of vertices with colors A and B by: assigning different colors to two vertices directly connected by an edge of the first type, assigning color A to a vertex that is directly connected to a vertex with color B by an edge of the second type, and assigning either color A or color B to a vertex that is directly connected to a vertex with color A by an edge of the second type. The method further includes placing vertices with color A into the first subset and vertices with color B into the second subset. 
     In an embodiment, after the step of classifying, the method further includes checking if there is a loop formed by odd number of vertices connected by edges of the first type; and on condition that there is such a loop, modifying the layout to break the loop. 
     In another embodiment, after the assigning colors X and Y, the method further includes identifying a network of vertices that are connected to each other through edges of the first type; and on condition that a first pair of vertices in the network are assigned with the same color X and are connected directly by an edge of the second type and a second pair of vertices in the network are assigned with the same color Y and are connected directly by another edge of the second type, modifying the layout to split the network. 
     In yet another embodiment, after the progressively coloring the rest of vertices with colors A and B, the method further includes on condition that there is a pair of vertices that are colored with color B and are connected by an edge of the second type, modifying the layout so as to remove the edge of the second type between the pair. 
     In yet another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) with a first lithography technique and a second lithography technique different from the first lithography technique. The method includes providing a layout of the IC, the layout having a set of IC patterns; and deriving a graph from the layout, the graph having vertices and edges that connect some of the vertices, the vertices representing the IC patterns, the edges being classified into at least two types, a first type of edges connecting two vertices that are to be patterned separately with the first and second lithography techniques, a second type of edges connecting two vertices that are to be patterned in a same process using the first lithography technique or to be patterned separately with the first and second lithography techniques. The method further includes, on condition that there is a loop formed by odd number of vertices connected by edges of the first type, modifying the layout to break the loop. The method further includes decomposing, using a computerized IC tool, the vertices into a first subset and a second subset, wherein the IC patterns corresponding to the first subset are to be patterned on a wafer using the first lithography technique, and the IC patterns corresponding to the second subset are to be patterned on the wafer using the second lithography technique. The decomposing includes assigning colors X and Y to all vertices that are connected by edges of the first type, wherein two vertices connected by a common edge of the first type are assigned with different colors; assigning color A to all pairs of vertices that are assigned with the same color X or same color Y and are connected directly by an edge of the second type; assigning color B to all vertices that are not colored with colors A or B and are connected to vertices with color A directly by an edge of the first type; and placing vertices with color A into the first subset and vertices with color B into the second subset. 
     In an embodiment, the method further includes after the step of assigning color B, subsequently assigning color A to all vertices that are not colored with colors A or B and are connected to vertices with color B directly by an edge of the first or second type; and repeating the steps of assigning color B and subsequently assigning color A to rest of the vertices in the graph. In a further embodiment, after the assigning colors X and Y, the method further includes identifying a network of vertices that are connected to each other through edges of the first type; and on condition that a first pair of vertices in the network are assigned with the same color X and are connected directly by an edge of the second type and a second pair of vertices in the network are assigned with the same color Y and are connected directly by another edge of the second type, modifying the layout to split the network. 
     The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that those of ordinary skill in the art may better understand the aspects of the present disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein. Those of ordinary skill in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.