Patent ID: 8793627

Claim:
A method comprising: determining a limiting parameter α for manufacture of a self-aligned via (SAV) proximate to a metal 1 (M1) inner vertex; defining a coordinate system in terms of horizontal and vertical distances x and y, respectively, between the SAV and the M1 inner vertex angle; calculating the limiting parameter α as a function of x and y; simulating the calculation of α as a function of x and y; calculating a baseline angle α1 as a function of x and y; simulating calculation of the baseline angle α1 as a function of x and y; extracting a 3σ value of the baseline angle α1 from the simulation; designing a semiconductor cell with an SAV proximate to an M1 inner vertex, the cell having a limiting parameter α minimum value equal to the 3σ value of the baseline angle α1; and manufacturing a semiconductor device including the designed semiconductor cell.