Patent ID: 7979812

Claim:
A method for automatically adjusting assist features in a layout to prevent assist features from printing, the method comprising: receiving a layout; identifying an assist-feature (AF)-printing hotspot which defines a localized region within the layout, wherein the AF-printing hotspot comprises a set of assist features and one or more target patterns in proximity to the set of assist features, wherein at least one assist feature in the set of assist features is expected to print during a lithography process; modifying the AF-printing hotspot by: modifying the set of assist features within the AF-printing hotspot; and performing a local optical-proximity-correction (OPC) on the one or more target patterns within the AF-printing hotspot; performing, by computer, a lithography simulation on the modified AF-printing hotspot to determine if: a through-process-window associated with the modified AF-printing hotspot is acceptable; and no assist feature in the modified set of assist features is expected to print; and if so, replacing the AF-printing hotspot with the modified AF-printing hotspot.