Patent Document ID: 7681172
Application ID: 11699805
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for accurately predicting an apodization effect in an optical lithography system for manufacturing an integrated circuit, the method comprising: collecting an apodization effect induced spatial transmission profile from the optical lithography system; using one or more computers for: constructing an apodization model based on the spatial transmission profile, which involves fitting an enhanced Gaussian model based on the spatial transmission profile, wherein the enhanced Gaussian model is proportional to e −C(ρ·σ) n , wherein ρ is a normalized radial position, σ and n are fitting parameters, σ is the Gaussian Sigma, n controls an attenuation rate of a transmission coefficient, and C is a predetermined positive value; and enhancing a lithography model for the optical lithography system by incorporating the apodization model into the lithography model, wherein the enhanced lithography model accurately predicts the effects of apodization on the optical lithography system.