Abstract: In a standard cell, dummy transistors have p-type and n-type dummy gate electrodes. The dummy transistors are in an OFF state all the time. The gate length of each of the dummy gate electrodes is extended over an end portion of a diffusion region toward the inside of the standard cell. Thus, the total surface area and the total perimeter of respective gate electrodes of all transistors provided in the standard cell are increased. As a result, for example, even though shapes of gate electrodes of transistors vary between the standard cell and each of other standard cells, transistor characteristics are substantially equal among the standard cells. Therefore, variations in delays of signals generated between the standard cells can be suppressed.

Abstract: A circuit simulation apparatus has a means to acquire data regarding a transistor, a model parameter generation unit for generating a model parameter representing effects of stress upon the transistor active region caused by the isolation region, and a simulation execution unit for evaluating characteristics of the transistor using a simulation program associated with the model parameter. The model parameter includes a term regarding width of the transistor active region, a term regarding width of the peripheral active region, and a term regarding width between the transistor active region and the peripheral active region.

Abstract: The effective distance Deff_i between a well boundary and an active region of a transistor is used as a parameter for expressing a well proximity effect. For example, a delay library is created using the rising time Tslew of a signal input to the gate, load capacitance Cload at the output side and Deff_i. The use of the effective distance Deff_i between the well boundary and the transistor allows very simple modeling to be accurately performed, so that a gate-level simulation considering a well proximity effect at an LSI level is enabled.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a diffusion region which is formed in the semiconductor substrate and serves as a region for the formation of a MIS transistor; an element isolation region surrounding the diffusion region; at least one gate conductor film which is formed across the diffusion region and the element isolation region, includes a gate electrode part located on the diffusion region and a gate interconnect part located on the element isolation region, and has a constant dimension in the gate length direction; and an interlayer insulating film covering the gate electrode. The semiconductor device further includes a gate contact which passes through the interlayer insulating film, is connected to the gate interconnect part, and has the dimension in the gate length direction larger than the gate interconnect part.

Abstract: A target workpiece inspection apparatus comprises an optical image acquiring unit to acquire an optical image of a target workpiece, a reference image generating unit to generate a reference image to be compared, a difference judging unit to judge whether an absolute value of difference between pixel values of the images in each pixel at a preliminary alignment position between the images is smaller than a threshold value, a least-squares method displacement calculating unit to calculate a displacement amount displaced from the preliminary alignment position, by using a regular matrix for a least-squares method obtained from a result judged, a position correcting unit to correct an alignment position between the optical image and the reference image to a position displaced from the preliminary alignment position by the displacement amount, and a comparing unit to compare the optical image and the reference image whose alignment position has been corrected.

Abstract: A pattern inspection apparatus includes a first unit configured to acquire an optical image of pattern, a second unit configured to generate a reference image to be compared, a third unit configured to calculate elements of a normal matrix for a least-squares method for calculating a displacement amount displaced from a preliminary alignment position, a forth unit configured to estimate a type of the reference image pattern, by using some of the elements of the normal matrix, a fifth unit configured to calculate the displacement amount based on the least-squares method, by using a normal matrix obtained by deleting predetermined elements depending upon the type of the pattern, a sixth unit configured to correct an alignment position between the optical image and the reference image to a position displaced by the displacement amount, and a seventh unit configured to compare the optical image and the reference image.

Abstract: By using, as a model expression, an expression showing an inverse proportion between a change rate ?Idsat/Idsat of saturated current value and a product of a gate protrusion length E1 and a gate width Wg of a transistor and a coefficient, modeling is executed for a transistor property that depends on the gate protrusion length. This provides a circuit simulation that takes into consideration the gate protrusion length of a gate electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a diffusion region which is formed in the semiconductor substrate and serves as a region for the formation of a MIS transistor; an element isolation region surrounding the diffusion region; at least one gate conductor film which is formed across the diffusion region and the element isolation region, includes a gate electrode part located on the diffusion region and a gate interconnect part located on the element isolation region, and has a constant dimension in the gate length direction; and an interlayer insulating film covering the gate electrode. The semiconductor device further includes a gate contact which passes through the interlayer insulating film, is connected to the gate interconnect part, and has the dimension in the gate length direction larger than the gate interconnect part.

Abstract: In a cell comprising an N well and a P well, a distance SP04 from a center line of a contact N-type region to an N well end of the N well is set to be a distance which causes a transistor not to be affected by resist. A distance from a well boundary to the center line of the contact N-type region is equal to SP04. A design on the P well is similar to that on the N well. Thereby, modeling of the transistor in the cell can be performed, taking into consideration an influence from resist in one direction. Also, by fabricating a cell array which satisfies the above-described conditions, design accuracy can be improved.

Abstract: A CBCM circuit is capable of separately measuring each component of a measuring target capacitance. A node (N1) is electrically connected to a terminal (P2) between the drains of PMOS and NMOS transistors (MP2, MN2). As a target capacitance forming part, a coupling capacitance (Cc) is formed between the node (N1) and a node (N2). The node (N2) is connected to a pad (58) through the terminal (P2) and an NMOS transistor (MN3), and a node (N3) is connected to a terminal (P3) between the drains of PMOS and NMOS transistors (MP1, MN1). A reference capacitance (Cref) is formed at the node (N3) as a dummy capacitance. Currents (Ir, It) supplied from a power source to the nodes (N3, N1) are measured with current meters (61, 62), respectively and a current (Im) induced from the node (N2) and flowing to a ground level is measured with a current meter (63).

Abstract: A pattern inspection apparatus uses a die-to-database comparison method which compares detected pattern data obtained from an optical image of a pattern of a plate to be inspected with first reference pattern data obtained from designed pattern data in combination with a die-to-die comparison method which compares the detected pattern data with second reference pattern data obtained by detecting an area to be a basis for repetition. A computer detects presence of a plurality of repeated pattern areas from layout information contained in the designed pattern data, reads the arrangement, the number, the dimension and the repeated pitch of the repeated pattern areas, and automatically fetches an inspection area of the die-to-die comparison method.

Abstract: In a standard cell in which an active area and a gate conductor are provided, the active area has a largest length in a gate width direction at an end thereof in a gate length direction.

Abstract: A data searching unit 12 of a data searching apparatus 10 obtains according to a searching request including a search condition specified by a data searching application 16, metadata which satisfy the search condition from a data storage unit 11, and instructs an external communication unit 15 to request searching of data to a data providing apparatus 20 with the same search condition.

Abstract: A pattern inspection apparatus determines a difference of the measured dislocation of respective alignment marks of an opaque pattern and a phase shifting pattern (measurement difference), in addition to a difference between the both alignment mark positions in design (design difference). A difference between the measurement difference and the design difference is set as a difference in alignment mark position between the opaque pattern and the phase shifting pattern in a reference pattern which is later used in inspection. In this manner, by correcting one pattern data with respect to the other pattern data in the reference pattern, the displacement generated in the both patterns can be reflected, and the reference pattern data regarding an image of a sample which is actually observed can be created.

Abstract: A sample inspection apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes a first SSD calculating unit which calculates the displacement amount from a preliminary alignment position of an optical image and a reference image to a position where the SSD of a pixel value of the optical image and a pixel value of the reference image is minimized, and a least-square method calculating unit which calculates the displacement amount by a least-square method from the preliminary alignment position of the optical image and the reference image, wherein the alignment position of the optical image and the reference image is corrected to a position where the smaller SSD of the minimum SSD obtained as the result of the calculation by the first SSD calculating unit and the SSD obtained as the result of the calculation by the determined by the least-square method calculating unit is obtained.

Abstract: A system for operation verification of a semiconductor integrated circuit has a central processing unit, a design layout memory unit storing design layout information including the design layout configuration of the semiconductor integrated circuit, and a predicted final layout memory storing a predicted final layout configuration predicted by the central processing unit by adding an optical proximity effect to the design layout configuration. The system further has a netlister which describes a procedure for causing the central processing unit to produce a plurality of net lists in which different physical values are registered for a common element in the predicted final layout configuration, a netlist memory unit the plurality of net lists, and a circuit simulator which describes a procedure for causing the central processing unit to perform operation verification of the semiconductor integrated circuit by using an arbitrary one of the plurality of net lists.

Abstract: In designing a semiconductor integrated circuit, circuit information used for circuit simulation is extracted from measurement values of electric characteristics of a device included in TEG and parameters included in a netlist are modified using the measurement values and simulation values. Circuit simulation is carried out using the thus modified netlist to lead to a decrease in error in the circuit simulation which is caused due to difference between design dimension and actual finished dimension, thereby preventing an increase in design margin and a yield lowering by malfunction.

Abstract: A method for designing a semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a step (a) of setting basic patterns including a plurality of active region/gate patterns each including a gate and an active region and a dummy gate while taking account of patterns of gates on the respective sides of each gate; a step (b) of forming a plurality of basic pattern combinations by combining some of the basic patterns; and a step (c) of forming a standard cell by combining some of the plurality of basic pattern combinations. The plurality of basic pattern combinations include a single transistor (large width), a single transistor (small width), and parallel connected N transistors (large width), for example.

Abstract: An isolation which is higher in a stepwise manner than an active area of a silicon substrate is formed. On the active area, an FET including a gate oxide film, a gate electrode, a gate protection film, sidewalls and the like is formed. An insulating film is deposited on the entire top surface of the substrate, and a resist film for exposing an area stretching over the active area, a part of the isolation and the gate protection film is formed on the insulating film. There is no need to provide an alignment margin for avoiding interference with the isolation and the like to a region where a connection hole is formed. Since the isolation is higher in a stepwise manner than the active area, the isolation is prevented from being removed by over-etch in the formation of a connection hole to come in contact with a portion where an impurity concentration is low in the active area.

Abstract: In layout design of a semiconductor device including a device forming region formed on a substrate; an isolation region formed on the semiconductor substrate so as to surround the device forming region; a gate electrode formed on the device forming region; and a gate interconnect connected to the gate electrode and formed on both sides of the device forming region on the isolation region, the semiconductor device is designed as follows: The gate interconnect has a first portion with a larger dimension along the gate length direction than the gate electrode on one side of the device forming region and has a second portion with a larger dimension along the gate length direction than the gate electrode on the other side of the device forming region; and a distance between the first portion and the device forming region is equal to a distance between the second portion and the device forming region.