Patent ID: 6838212

Claim:
A method for producing scatter lines in at least one mask structure present as a file in which the mask structure has mask structure elements on a mask plane and the mask structure is for fabricating integrated electrical circuits, the method which comprises: step 1) determining edges or edge pairs bounding the mask structure elements on the mask plane, and producing scatter lines parallel to the edges or edge pairs, depending on a respective distance from other mask structure elements; step 2) producing scatter lines as narrow rectangles having predetermined distances and predetermined widths such that the scatter lines run beside the edges determined in step 1 or run centrally between the edge pairs determined in step 1, the scatter lines having lengths corresponding to lengths of the edges, which are associated with the scatter lines; step 3) inspecting the scatter lines produced in step 2 to determine whether the scatter lines produced in step 2 comply with a first predetermined distance from the original mask structure elements, and shortening or eliminating ones of the scatter lines produced in step 2 falling below the first predetermined distance; and step 4) pairwise inspecting the scatter lines produced in step 2 and in step 3 to determine whether the scatter lines produced in step 2 and in step 3 comply with a second predetermined distance from one another, and shortening or eliminating ones of the scatter lines produced in step 2 and in step 3 falling below the second predetermined distance.