Patent Document ID: 8589828
Application ID: 13398923
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for mask design, the method comprising: creating a mask design database, wherein the mask design database corresponds to a mask and contains a frame area and a die area comprising one or more dies; identifying one or more fiducial features within the frame area; identifying an idle frame area within the frame area, wherein the idle frame area excludes the one or more fiducial features and wherein the idle frame area has a density; determining a reference density for the idle frame area based on a reference idle frame area of a reference mask design, wherein the reference mask design corresponds to a reference mask and wherein the mask is configured to be aligned with the reference mask; modifying, using a computer, the idle frame area of the mask design database such that the density of the idle frame area of the mask design database corresponds to the reference density; and providing the modified mask design database in a format accessible by a mask making tool.