Patent ID: RE38900

Claim:
A method for automating the manufacture of an integrated circuit by means of a computer having a processor, a display, input means, output means, and a memory storing information, said method comprising the steps of: measuring at least one process parameter for a wafer process; storing said parameter in said memory; electing a light source by said input means; utilizing information stored in said memory to determine a wavelength and a numerical aperture associated with said selected light source; determining a select minimum device feature size which can be manufactured in the wafer process based on said process parameter and said determined wavelength and numerical aperture; reading a net list stored in said memory for said integrated circuit to determine, for a given device in said circuit, based on the select minimum device feature size, a minimum manufacturable feature size; repeating the previous step for the other devices in said circuit; sizing the individual devices of the integrated circuit in accordance with said minimum manufacturable feature sizes to produce sizing information; and obtaining said sizing information through said output means to complete the design of said integrated circuit.