Patent ID: 7448018

Claim:
A method for employing patterning process statistics for ground rules waivers and optimization, comprising: applying Optical Proximity Correction (OPC) to alter a ground rules layout using plan of record process methods to improve mask pattern images; simulating images produced by a mask; mapping patterning process variation distributions into an intersect area distribution by creating a histogram based upon a plurality of processes for the intersect area wherein mapping includes accumulating intersect area data for random process points and sorting the intersect area data into different bins, wherein given g and h as probability distribution functions, a ratio of a Monte Carlo sample count over a total sample size is given by g(x)h(y)dxdy, and if an intersect area function is a(x,y), then a distribution function f(z) for the intersect area is: f(z)dz=∫g(x)h(y)dxdy, for z≦a(x,y)≦z+d where, g, h and f are normalized probability distribution functions such that ∫g(x)dx=1 for all x, and ∫h(y)dy=1 for all y, and ∫f(z)dz=1 for all z; and analyzing the intersect area using the histogram to provide ground rule waivers and optimization.