Patent ID: 7625678

Claim:
A mask data creation method for creating mask data for a photomask including a mask pattern formed on a transparent substrate and a transparent portion of said transparent substrate where said mask pattern is not formed, comprising the steps of: (a) arranging a pattern corresponding to a desired exposed region of a resist formed by irradiating said resist with exposing light through said photomask; (b) determining a distance between outline shifters forming a pair and sandwiching said pattern and a width of each of said outline shifters in accordance with said pattern; (c) providing said transparent portion inside said outline shifters; (d), after the step (c), setting said transparent portion as a CD adjustment pattern; (e) providing a semi-shielding portion for transmitting the exposing light in an identical phase with respect to said transparent portion in such a manner that said transparent portion and said outline shifters are surrounded with said semi-shielding portion; (f) setting said outline shifters as phase shifters that transmit the exposing light in an opposite phase with respect to said transparent portion; (g) predicting, through simulation, a dimension of a resist pattern formed by using said mask pattern including said phase shifters and said semi-shielding portion; and (h), when said predicted dimension of said resist pattern does not accord with a desired dimension, deforming said mask pattern by deforming said CD adjustment pattern.