Patents by Inventor Kevin Hooker

Kevin Hooker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11720015
    Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to mask synthesis using design guided offsets. A target shape on an image surface to be fabricated using a mask based on a design of an integrated circuit is obtained. Rays are generated emanating from respective anchor points. The anchor points are on a boundary of the target shape or a boundary of a mask shape of the mask. For each ray of the rays, a distance is defined between a first intersection of the respective ray and the boundary of the target shape and a second intersection of the respective ray and the boundary of the mask shape. An analysis is performed by one or more processors, where the analysis is configured to modify the distances based on an error between the target shape and a resulting shape simulated to be on the image surface resulting from the mask shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Cecil, Kevin Hooker
  • Publication number: 20220276554
    Abstract: A system generates a mask for a circuit design while enforcing symmetry and consistency across random areas of the mask. The system builds a mask solutions database mapping circuit patterns to mask patterns. The system uses the mask solutions database to replace circuit patterns of the circuit design with mask patterns. The system identifies properties in circuit patterns of the circuit design and enforces the same property in the corresponding mask patterns. Examples of properties enforced include symmetry within circuit patterns and similarity across circuit patterns. The system combines mask patterns in different regions of the circuit and resolves conflicts that occur when there are multiple masks within a region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Christopher Cecil, Kevin Hooker
  • Patent number: 11360382
    Abstract: A system generates a mask for a circuit design while enforcing symmetry and consistency across random areas of the mask. The system builds a mask solutions database mapping circuit patterns to mask patterns. The system uses the mask solutions database to replace circuit patterns of the circuit design with mask patterns. The system identifies properties in circuit patterns of the circuit design and enforces the same property in the corresponding mask patterns. Examples of properties enforced include symmetry within circuit patterns and similarity across circuit patterns. The system combines mask patterns in different regions of the circuit and resolves conflicts that occur when there are multiple masks within a region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Christopher Cecil, Kevin Hooker
  • Publication number: 20210405522
    Abstract: Aspects described herein relate to mask synthesis using design guided offsets. A target shape on an image surface to be fabricated using a mask based on a design of an integrated circuit is obtained. Rays are generated emanating from respective anchor points. The anchor points are on a boundary of the target shape or a boundary of a mask shape of the mask. For each ray of the rays, a distance is defined between a first intersection of the respective ray and the boundary of the target shape and a second intersection of the respective ray and the boundary of the mask shape. An analysis is performed by one or more processors, where the analysis is configured to modify the distances based on an error between the target shape and a resulting shape simulated to be on the image surface resulting from the mask shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas CECIL, Kevin HOOKER
  • Publication number: 20210064977
    Abstract: A system uses machine learning models, such as neural networks for generating mask design from a circuit design. The machine learning models have inputs and outputs which are localized to a small region of the circuit design. The machine learning model takes as input features describing the circuit design in the neighborhood of a location and generates an offset distance as output. The system uses the offset distance to generate features of the mask design, for example, main features or assist features corresponding to a circuit design polygon. The system may use the offset distance for target optimization by modifying the circuit design polygon to obtain a circuit design polygon that has improved manufacturability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Christopher Cecil, Kevin Hooker, Marco Guajardo
  • Publication number: 20210018831
    Abstract: A system generates a mask for a circuit design while enforcing symmetry and consistency across random areas of the mask. The system builds a mask solutions database mapping circuit patterns to mask patterns. The system uses the mask solutions database to replace circuit patterns of the circuit design with mask patterns. The system identifies properties in circuit patterns of the circuit design and enforces the same property in the corresponding mask patterns. Examples of properties enforced include symmetry within circuit patterns and similarity across circuit patterns. The system combines mask patterns in different regions of the circuit and resolves conflicts that occur when there are multiple masks within a region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Christopher Cecil, Kevin Hooker