Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell wherein carbon nanotubes are impregnated into Korean paper, thereby enhancing electroconductivity, and a gas diffusion layer manufactured thereby. The method for manufacturing a gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell which is to manufacture a gas diffusion layer as a constituent member of a unit cell in a fuel cell, includes a support preparation step of preparing a support with Korean paper; a dispersion preparation step of dispersing a carbon substance in a solvent to form a dispersion, a coating step of coating the support with the dispersion, and a thermal treatment step of thermally treating the dispersion-coated support to fix the carbon substance to the support.

Abstract: Proposed are a wafer heating apparatus and a wafer processing apparatus using the same. More particularly, proposed are a wafer heating apparatus having an improved structure to enable efficient cooling of a terminal block, and a wafer processing apparatus using the same. A wafer heating apparatus for heating a wafer according to one embodiment includes a heater disposed below the wafer and configured to serve as a heat source, a cooling plate disposed below the heater and configured to provide cool air, and a terminal block configured to supply power to the heater and having a lower end portion in contact with the cooling plate.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a target integrated circuit (IC) layout, accessing a repository, identifying a device within the target IC layout by matching an area of the target IC layout to a source pattern, and replacing at least a portion of the area of the target IC layout with a replacement pattern. The repository stores the source pattern for the device and the replacement pattern corresponding to the source pattern.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying net text in a net list at each hierarchical level of the net list is disclosed. The identified net text is then associated with the hierarchical level in which the net text was found. Each cell in the net list can then be optimized by exploding the net list of at least one cell. Once exploded, the identified net text together with the associated hierarchical level of each progeny cell of each exploded cell is associated with the net list of the exploded cell.

Abstract: A method of pruning nets in a circuit design includes, in part, receiving data representative of net layers associated with the circuit design, and accessing a connect database associated with the circuit design. The connect database includes data representative of electrical connections associated with the circuit design. The method further includes, in part, determining whether a marker layer exists in the net layers, and pruning nets that are not connected to the marker layer if the marker layer is determined to exist. The marker layer, which is not stored in the connect database, designates a connection between at least a pair of nets in the circuit design.

Abstract: A method for making a multitude of masks for manufacturing an integrated circuit includes receiving the integrated circuit design printable using a multiple-patterning process. The design includes shapes and at least one layout conflict preventing decomposition of the design into the multitude of masks. The method further includes forming a subset of the shapes including the shapes associated with the at least one layout conflict. The method further includes categorizing the shapes of the subset into one of a multitude of topology types, generating stitch candidate solutions for the multitude of topology types, and decomposing the design into a multitude of masks. The subset of the multitude of shapes is formed by generating a first graph representative of the design, decomposing the first graph into at least three colors to form a colored graph; and identifying within the first graph, a second graph including at least one conflict edge.

Abstract: A method for making a multitude of masks for manufacturing an integrated circuit includes receiving the integrated circuit design printable using a multiple-patterning process. The design includes shapes and at least one layout conflict preventing decomposition of the design into the multitude of masks. The method further includes forming a subset of the shapes including the shapes associated with the at least one layout conflict. The method further includes categorizing the shapes of the subset into one of a multitude of topology types, generating stitch candidate solutions for the multitude of topology types, and decomposing the design into a multitude of masks. The subset of the multitude of shapes is formed by generating a first graph representative of the design, decomposing the first graph into at least three colors to form a colored graph; and identifying within the first graph, a second graph including at least one conflict edge.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for validating a design is disclosed. The method includes receiving, with the computer, the design, where the design is printable using a multiple-patterning process when the computer is invoked, and where the design includes a plurality of shapes and at least one conflict preventing decomposition of the design into a plurality of multiple-patterning masks. The method also includes forming a subset of the shapes, the subset including the shapes associated with the at least one conflict, categorizing each of the shapes of the subset into one of a plurality of topology types generating one or more stitch candidate solutions for each of the plurality of topology types, and decomposing the design into a plurality of masks.

Abstract: One method disclosed herein involves, among other things, generating a set of mandrel mask rules, block mask rules and a virtual, software-based non-mandrel-metal mask. The method also includes creating a set of virtual non-mandrel mask rules that is a replica of the mandrel mask rules, generating a set of metal routing design rules based upon the mandrel mask rules, the block mask rules and the virtual non-mandrel mask rules, generating the circuit routing layout based upon the metal routing design rules, decomposing the circuit routing layout into a mandrel mask pattern and a block mask pattern, generating a first set of mask data corresponding to the mandrel mask pattern, and generating a second set of mask data corresponding to the block mask pattern.

Abstract: Methodologies and an apparatus enabling a generation of color undeterminable polygons in IC designs are disclosed. Embodiments include: determining a plurality of first routes extending horizontally in an IC design, each of the plurality of first routes being placed on one of a plurality of equally spaced vertical positions of the IC design; determining whether a second route overlaps one of the vertical positions of the plurality of equally spaced vertical positions; and selecting a design rule for the second route based on the determination of whether the second route overlaps.

Abstract: Methodologies and an apparatus enabling a generation of color undeterminable polygons in IC designs are disclosed. Embodiments include: determining a plurality of first routes extending horizontally in an IC design, each of the plurality of first routes being placed on one of a plurality of equally spaced vertical positions of the IC design; determining whether a second route overlaps one of the vertical positions of the plurality of equally spaced vertical positions; and selecting a design rule for the second route based on the determination of whether the second route overlaps.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for validating a design is disclosed. The method includes receiving, with the computer, the design, where the design is printable using a multiple-patterning process when the computer is invoked, and where the design includes a plurality of shapes and at least one conflict preventing decomposition of the design into a plurality of multiple-patterning masks. The method also includes forming a subset of the shapes, the subset including the shapes associated with the at least one conflict, categorizing each of the shapes of the subset into one of a plurality of topology types generating one or more stitch candidate solutions for each of the plurality of topology types, and decomposing the design into a plurality of masks.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern includes defining a plurality of patterns, defining a plurality of pitch violating patterns that contact the plurality of patterns and correspond to regions between the patterns, classifying the plurality of pitch violating patterns into a first region and a second region that is adjacent to the first region, selecting one of the first region and the second region, and forming an initial pattern defined as the selected first or second region. The selecting includes performing at least one of i) selecting a region that contact dummy patterns, ii) selecting a region of a same kind as one region, and iii) selecting a region that contacts a concave part of an enclosure from the first region and the second region.

Abstract: Methodologies and an apparatus enabling a generation of color undeterminable polygons in IC designs are disclosed. Embodiments include: determining a plurality of first routes extending horizontally in an IC design, each of the plurality of first routes being placed on one of a plurality of equally spaced vertical positions of the IC design; determining whether a second route overlaps one of the vertical positions of the plurality of equally spaced vertical positions; and selecting a design rule for the second route based on the determination of whether the second route overlaps.

Abstract: One method disclosed herein involves, among other things, generating a set of mandrel mask rules, block mask rules and a virtual, software-based non-mandrel-metal mask. The method also includes creating a set of virtual non-mandrel mask rules that is a replica of the mandrel mask rules, generating a set of metal routing design rules based upon the mandrel mask rules, the block mask rules and the virtual non-mandrel mask rules, generating the circuit routing layout based upon the metal routing design rules, decomposing the circuit routing layout into a mandrel mask pattern and a block mask pattern, generating a first set of mask data corresponding to the mandrel mask pattern, and generating a second set of mask data corresponding to the block mask pattern.

Abstract: Methodologies and an apparatus enabling a generation of color undeterminable polygons in IC designs are disclosed. Embodiments include: determining a plurality of first routes extending horizontally in an IC design, each of the plurality of first routes being placed on one of a plurality of equally spaced vertical positions of the IC design; determining whether a second route overlaps one of the vertical positions of the plurality of equally spaced vertical positions; and selecting a design rule for the second route based on the determination of whether the second route overlaps.

Abstract: One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, patterning a hard mask layer using three patterned photoresist etch masks, wherein a first feature corresponding to a portion, but not all, of a cross-coupling gate contact structure is present in a first of the three patterned photoresist etch masks and a second feature corresponding to a portion, but not all, of the cross-coupling gate contact structure is present in a second or a third of the three patterned photoresist etch masks, patterning a layer of insulating material using the patterned hard mask layer as an etch mask, and forming a cross-coupling gate contact structure in a trench in the layer of insulating material.

Abstract: One method disclosed herein involves, among other things, generating a set of mandrel mask rules, block mask rules and a virtual, software-based non-mandrel-metal mask. The method also includes creating a set of virtual non-mandrel mask rules that is a replica of the mandrel mask rules, generating a set of metal routing design rules based upon the mandrel mask rules, the block mask rules and the virtual non-mandrel mask rules, generating the circuit routing layout based upon the metal routing design rules, decomposing the circuit routing layout into a mandrel mask pattern and a block mask pattern, generating a first set of mask data corresponding to the mandrel mask pattern, and generating a second set of mask data corresponding to the block mask pattern.

Abstract: A method of forming a pattern includes defining a plurality of patterns, defining a plurality of pitch violating patterns that contact the plurality of patterns and correspond to regions between the patterns, classifying the plurality of pitch violating patterns into a first region and a second region that is adjacent to the first region, selecting one of the first region and the second region, and forming an initial pattern defined as the selected first or second region. The selecting includes performing at least one of i) selecting a region that contact dummy patterns, ii) selecting a region of a same kind as one region, and iii) selecting a region that contacts a concave part of an enclosure from the first region and the second region.

Abstract: Provided are a system for analyzing a mask topography, which can reduce calculation time and increase calculation accuracy in consideration of a mask topography effect, and a method of forming an image using the system. The system and method simultaneously obtains a first electric field using a Kirchhoff method without considering a pitch formed on a mask and obtains a second electric field using an electromagnetic field analysis method considering the pitch, and then determines a third electric field on a pupil surface of a projection lens by combining the first electric field and the second electric field of forming an image, so as to calculate the image of an optical lithography system which includes an illumination system and a projection optical system and to which the projection lens belongs.