Patent ID: 7363207

Claim:
A method of simulating a chemical mechanical polishing process, said method comprising: obtaining a first dataset, which includes two-dimensional pattern density distribution data derived from expanding pattern density data in two dimensions based on coordinate data, and outputting said first dataset as a two-dimensional pattern density distribution image; obtaining a second dataset which includes two-dimensional height distribution data derived from multiplying said first dataset and a first measured thickness of a laminated film laminated on a semiconductor substrate; obtaining a third dataset which includes two-dimensional Fourier transformation data derived from Fourier-transforming said first dataset; obtaining a fourth dataset which includes said two-dimensional Fourier transformation data of said third dataset spatial-filtered such that only a component having a predetermined spatial frequency passes through; obtaining a fifth dataset which includes two-dimensional reverse Fourier transformation data derived from reverse Fourier-transforming said fourth dataset; obtaining a sixth dataset which includes two-dimensional height distribution data derived from multiplying said fifth dataset and a second measured thickness of said laminated film laminated on said semiconductor substrate; and simulating said chemical mechanical polishing process by performing a least squares analysis to obtain a first correlation coefficient indicating a degree of correlation between said second dataset and said first measured thickness of said laminated film, and adjusting said first correlation coefficient to cause said second dataset to match said first measured thickness of said laminated film; and simulating said chemical mechanical polishing process by performing a least squares analysis to obtain a second correlation coefficient indicating a degree of correlation between said sixth dataset and said second measured thickness of said laminated film, and adjusting said second correlation coefficient to cause said sixth dataset to match said second measured thickness of said laminated film.