Patent ID: 7562337

Claim:
A method of performing optical proximity correction (“OPC”) verification, comprising using one or more information processing systems to perform steps including: performing initial OPC verification at a first computational intensity to identify features of concern in at least one of optical proximity corrected data relating to shapes of the photomask, optical proximity corrected data relating to an aerial image to be obtained using the photomask, or optical proximity corrected data relating to a photoresist image to be obtained in a photoimageable layer using the photomask; identifying a plurality of areas of the at least one of the photomask, aerial image or photoresist image which incorporates the identified features of concern, the plurality of identified areas occupying substantially less area than a total area of the photomask which is occupied by features; performing enhanced OPC verification at a second computational intensity greater than the first computational intensity, the enhanced OPC verification being limited to the plurality of identified areas; and determining problems, if any, of the at least one of the photomask, aerial image or photoresist image based on the results of performing the enhanced OPC verification.