Patent ID: 7962867

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for predicting a characteristic of an integrated circuit, comprising: using at least one processor that is programmed for performing a process, the process comprising: using a pattern-dependent model of a fabrication process to predict a variation of a characteristic of an integrated circuit that is to be fabricated in accordance with a design by the fabrication process, wherein the variation is predicted based at least in part upon an analysis of an interaction between the fabrication process and a second fabrication process for the integrated circuit, and the fabrication process and the second fabrication process for the integrated circuit are both used to fabricate the integrated circuit; and determining a placement attribute and a routing attribute for an element of the integrated circuit based at least in part on the variation of the characteristic that is predicted to improve performance or manufacturing of the integrated circuit, wherein the element comprises one or more buffer regions for one or more components in the pattern dependent model, the element comprises one or more dummy fills or one or more slotting structures for the design of the integrated circuit, and the action of determining the placement attribute and the routing attribute comprises determining whether the variation exceeds a focus limit.