Patent ID: 8321817

Claim:
A method, comprising: determining that a portion of an integrated circuit design complies with one or more specified pattern density criterion, and upon determining that the portion of the integrated circuit design does not comply with the one or more specified pattern density criterion, then: (a) selecting a fill pattern shape from a plurality of fill pattern shapes, (b) determining an amount of the selected fill pattern shape to be added to the portion of the integrated circuit design in order for the portion of the integrated circuit design to have a potential pattern density greater than a target pattern density, (c) determining a potential pattern perimeter-to-area ratio for the portion of the integrated circuit design if the amount of the selected fill pattern shapes is added to the portion of the integrated circuit design, and (d) determining an expected material thickness for the portion of the integrated circuit design based upon the potential pattern density and the potential pattern perimeter-to-area ratio; repeating, by a computing device, steps (a) through (d) until a successful fill pattern shape is selected that provides an expected material thickness for the portion of the integrated circuit design that is above a target material thickness; and adding, to the portion of the integrated circuit design, the amount of the successful selected fill pattern shape that provides the expected material thickness for the portion of the integrated circuit design that is above the target material thickness.