Optical Proximity Correction (including Ret) Patents (Class 716/53)
  • Patent number: 12243712
    Abstract: Methods and systems for exposing a desired shape in an area on a surface using a charged particle beam system include determining a local pattern density for the area, based on an original set of exposure information. A pre-proximity effect correction (PEC) maximum dose for the local pattern density is determined, based on a pre-determined target post-PEC maximum dose. The pre-PEC maximum dose may be calculated near an edge of the desired shape. Methods also include modifying the original set of exposure information with the pre-PEC maximum dose to create a modified set of exposure information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: D2S, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Fujimura, Harold Robert Zable, Nagesh Shirali, Abhishek Shendre, William E. Guthrie, Ryan Pearman
  • Patent number: 12210291
    Abstract: Scanner aberration impact modeling in a semiconductor manufacturing process, which may facilitate co-optimization of multiple scanners. Scanner aberration impact modeling may include executing a calibrated model and controlling a scanner based on output from the model. The model is configured to receive patterning system aberration data. The model is calibrated with patterning system aberration calibration data and corresponding patterning process impact calibration data. New pattering process impact data may be determined, based on the model, for the received patterning system aberration data. The model includes a hyperdimensional function configured to correlate the received patterning system aberration data with the new pattering process impact data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Xingyue Peng, Zhan Shi, Duan-Fu Stephen Hsu, Rafael C. Howell, Gerui Liu
  • Patent number: 12197122
    Abstract: A compensation method and system for exposure alignment are provided. The method includes: acquiring original data of an aligned pattern, performing first-order processing on the original data to obtain first-order derivative data, obtaining a compensation value based on the original data and the first-order derivative data when exposure alignment has deviation, and compensating the exposure alignment based on the compensation value. According to the compensation method for exposure alignment, the first-order derivative data is obtained by performing first-order processing on the original data, and then the compensation value is obtained based on the original data and the first-order derivative data to compensate the exposure alignment, so that the compensation accuracy is higher, and the accuracy of exposure alignment is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Sheng'an Zhang, Lei Zhao
  • Patent number: 12111567
    Abstract: Provided are a method for performing optical proximity correction (OPC) of improving an accuracy of a mask image by reflecting efficiently a mask topography effect or a coupling effect between edges of a pattern, and a method of manufacturing a mask by using OPC. The method for performing OPC includes: extracting edges for a layout of a pattern on a mask; extracting edge pairs in which widths between adjacent edges among the edges are equal to or less than a certain distance; generating a coupling edge for each of the edge pairs; generating a first mask image by applying an edge filter to the edges; and correcting the first mask image by applying a coupling filter to the coupling edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Na-rak Choi, Moon-gyu Jeong
  • Patent number: 12019973
    Abstract: Methods for reticle enhancement technology (RET) for use with variable shaped beam (VSB) lithography include determining an initial mask pattern from a desired pattern for a substrate; calculating a first substrate pattern from the initial mask pattern; determining an initial set of VSB shots that will form the initial mask pattern; calculating a simulated mask pattern from the initial set of VSB shots; calculating a second substrate pattern from the simulated mask pattern; and adjusting the initial set of VSB shots, wherein the adjusting of the initial set of VSB shots creates an adjusted set of VSB shots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: D2S, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Fujimura, P. Jeffrey Ungar, Nagesh Shirali
  • Patent number: 11988954
    Abstract: A optical proximity effect correction method includes: fabricating a test pattern mask according to design rules of a target pattern; obtaining data required by an optical proximity effect correction model, and establishing the optical proximity effect correction model; obtaining line end shortening data of the test pattern, and establishing a line end shortening rule table; determining an initial correction value according to the line end shortening rule table; and correcting the target pattern according to the initial correction value and the optical proximity effect correction model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: CHANGXIN MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Jin Xu
  • Patent number: 11973030
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a layout structure of an eFuse unit, comprising pad, link, and shield, wherein: a pad is respectively disposed on both ends of the link in a length direction; the shield and the link are at the same metal layer; the shield comprises a plurality of independent metal wires; the plurality of independent metal wires are arranged on both sides of the link; the length of each independent metal wire is greater than the width thereof; and a length direction of each independent metal wire is perpendicular to the length direction of the link. The disclosure not only forms a barrier protection layer for preventing burst metal spraying from affecting other circuits, but also can prevent spayed metal from reflecting back and connecting to a broken link, so as to improve the programming reliability of the eFuse unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Shanghai Huali Microelectronics Corporation
    Inventors: Ying Yan, Jianming Jin
  • Patent number: 11914942
    Abstract: A method for determining a deformation of a resist in a patterning process. The method involves obtaining a resist deformation model of a resist having a pattern, the resist deformation model configured to simulate a fluid flow of the resist due to capillary forces acting on a contour of at least one feature of the pattern; and determining, via the resist deformation model, a deformation of a resist pattern to be developed based on an input pattern to the resist deformation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Chrysostomos Batistakis, Roger Josef Maria Jeurissen, Koen Gerhardus Winkels
  • Patent number: 11900043
    Abstract: Disclosed is an operating method of an electronic device which includes receiving a design layout for manufacturing the semiconductor device, generating a first layout by performing machine learning-based process proximity correction (PPC), generating a second layout by performing optical proximity correction (OPC), and outputting the second layout for a semiconductor process. The generating of the first layout includes generating a first after cleaning inspection (ACI) layout by executing a machine learning-based process proximity correction module on the design layout, generating a second after cleaning inspection layout by adjusting the design layout based on a difference of the first after cleaning inspection layout and the design layout and executing the process proximity correction module on the adjusted layout, and outputting the adjusted layout as the first layout, when a difference between the second after cleaning inspection layout and the design layout is smaller than or equal to a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sooyong Lee, Dongho Kim, Sangwook Kim, Jungmin Kim, Seunghune Yang, Jeeyong Lee, Changmook Yim, Yangwoo Heo
  • Patent number: 11886788
    Abstract: A computing system may include a circuit design access engine configured to access a circuit design. The computing system may also include a duplicate section processing engine configured to partition the circuit design into multiple circuit sections and determine, from among the multiple circuit sections, an identical section set based on duplicate criteria. Circuit sections of the identical section set may satisfy the duplicate criteria with respect to one another. The duplicate section processing engine may further be configured to perform an OPC processing operation on a selected circuit section of the identical section set and apply an OPC result of the performed OPC processing operation for other circuit sections of the identical section set instead of or without performing the OPC processing operation on the other circuit sections of the identical section set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Industry Software Inc.
    Inventors: Jea Woo Park, Soohong Kim
  • Patent number: 11853660
    Abstract: A system for modeling a semiconductor fabrication process includes at least one first processor and at least one second processor. The at least one first processor is configured to provide at least one machine learning (ML) model, which is trained by using a plurality of pairs of images of a design pattern sample and a physical pattern sample. The physical pattern sample is formed from the design pattern sample by using the semiconductor fabrication process. The at least one second processor is configured to provide an input image representing a shape of a design pattern and/or a physical pattern to the at least one first processor and to generate output data defining the physical pattern and/or the design pattern based on an output image received from the at least one first processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyunjoong Kim, Jaepil Shin, Moonhyun Cha, Changwook Jeong
  • Patent number: 11829066
    Abstract: Methods of semiconductor device fabrication are provided. In an embodiment, a method of semiconductor device fabrication includes receiving a first mask design comprising a first mask function, determining a transmission cross coefficient (TCC) of an exposure tool, decomposing the TCC into a plurality orders of eigenvalues and a plurality orders of eigenfunctions, calculating a kernel based on the plurality orders of eigenvalues and the plurality orders of eigenfunctions; and determining a first sub-resolution assist feature (SRAF) seed map by convoluting the first mask function and the kernel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Yamazoe, Junjiang Lei, Danping Peng
  • Patent number: 11768442
    Abstract: A method including: obtaining an image of at least part of a substrate, wherein the image includes at least one feature of a device being manufactured in a layer on the substrate; obtaining a layout of features associated with a previous layer adjacent to the layer on the substrate; calculating one or more image-related metrics in dependence on: 1) a contour determined from the image including the at least one feature and 2) the layout; and determining one or more control parameters of a lithographic apparatus and/or one or more further processes in a manufacturing process of the device in dependence on the one or more image-related metrics, wherein at least one of the control parameters is determined to modify the geometry of the contour in order to improve the one or more image-related metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Wim Tjibbo Tel, Mark John Maslow, Koenraad Van Ingen Schenau, Patrick Warnaar, Abraham Slachter, Roy Anunciado, Simon Hendrik Celine Van Gorp, Frank Staals, Marinus Jochemsen
  • Patent number: 11754930
    Abstract: A method of enhancing a layout pattern includes determining a vector transmission cross coefficient (vector-TCC) operator of an optical system of a lithographic system based on an illumination source of the optical system and an exit pupil of the optical system of the lithographic system. The method also includes performing an optical proximity correction (OPC) operation of a layout pattern of a photo mask to generate an OPC corrected layout pattern. The OPC operation uses the vector-TCC operator to determine a projected pattern of the layout pattern of the photo mask on a wafer. The method includes producing the OPC corrected layout pattern on a mask blank to create a photo mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lik Kin Ho, Chien-Jen Lai, Kenji Yamazoe, Xin Zhou, Danping Peng
  • Patent number: 11681849
    Abstract: A method for optimizing a patterning device pattern, the method including obtaining an initial design pattern having a plurality of polygons, causing at least some of the polygons to be effectively connected with each other, placing evaluation features outside the boundaries of the polygons, and creating a patterning device pattern spanning across the connected polygons based on the evaluation features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: ASML NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Duan-Fu Stephen Hsu, Xiaoyang Jason Li
  • Patent number: 11640490
    Abstract: A method of generating a mask used in fabrication of a semiconductor device includes, in part, selecting a source candidate, generating a process simulation model that includes a defect rate in response to the selected source candidate, performing a first optical proximity correction (OPC) on the data associated with the mask in response to the process simulation model, assessing one or more lithographic evaluation metrics in response to the OPC mask data, computing a cost in response to the assessed one or more lithographic evaluation metrics, and determining whether the computed cost satisfies a threshold condition. In response to the determination that the computed cost does not satisfy the threshold condition, a different source candidate may be selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Synopsys, Inc.
    Inventors: William Stanton, Sylvain Berthiaume, Hans-Jurgen Stock
  • Patent number: 11592750
    Abstract: Exposure apparatus includes illumination optical system and projection optical system for forming projected image with light from the illumination optical system. The illumination optical system forms, on pupil plane of the illumination optical system, light emission region including first and second regions. The projected image is composited from images including first image formed by first light from the first region and second image formed by second light from the second region. The first light and/or the second light is broadband light. Increase/decrease change in line width in the second image caused by defocus has different sign with respect to increase/decrease change in line width in the first image caused by defocus, and increase/decrease change in line width in image obtained by compositing the first image and the second image, which is caused by defocus, is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Manabu Hakko
  • Patent number: 11526975
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for displaying an index value in generation of a mask pattern verification model includes: calculating a first index value using a plurality of images; estimating a model on the basis of the first index value and pattern information; calculating a second index value using the model; and displaying at least one of the first index value and the second index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Watanabe, Taiki Kimura, Kazufumi Shiozawa, Kouichi Nakayama
  • Patent number: 11288429
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention may include a method for ensuring semiconductor design integrity. The method may include analyzing a photomask design for a semiconductor circuit. The photomask may include a primary electrical design necessary for the operation of the semiconductor circuit, and white space, which has no primary electrical design. The method may include inserting a secondary electrical design into the white space of the photomask design for the semiconductor circuit. The secondary electrical design may have known electrical properties for validating the semiconductor circuit design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Corliss, Derren N. Dunn, Michael A. Guillorn, Shawn P. Fetterolf
  • Patent number: 11263496
    Abstract: Methods for matching features in patterns for electronic designs include inputting a set of pattern data for semiconductor or flat panel displays, where the set of pattern data comprises a plurality of features. Each feature in the plurality of features is classified, where the classifying is based on a geometrical context defined by shapes in a region. The classifying uses machine learning techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: D2S, Inc.
    Inventors: Mariusz Niewczas, Abhishek Shendre
  • Patent number: 11264206
    Abstract: Methods for fracturing or mask data preparation are disclosed in which a set of single-beam charged particle beam shots is input; a calculated image is calculated using a neural network, from the set of single-beam charged particle beam shots; and a set of multi-beam shots is generated based on the calculated image, to convert the set of single-beam charged particle beam shots to the set of multi-beam shots which will produce a surface image on the surface. Methods for training a neural network include inputting a set of single-beam charged particle beam shots; calculating a set of calculated images using the set of single-beam charged particle beam shots; and training the neural network with the set of calculated images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: D2S, Inc.
    Inventors: Akira Fujimura, Thang Nguyen, Ajay Baranwal, Michael J. Meyer, Suhas Pillai
  • Patent number: 11250199
    Abstract: Methods for generation of shape data for a set of electronic designs include inputting a set of shape data, where the set of shape data represents a set of shapes for a device fabrication process. A convolutional neural network is used on the set of shape data to determine a set of generated shape data, where the convolutional neural network comprises a generator trained with a pre-determined set of discriminators. The set of generated shape data comprises a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Center for Deep Learning in Electronics Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Suhas Pillai, Thang Nguyen, Ajay Baranwal
  • Patent number: 11216608
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising at least one modified cell block that includes a modified abutment region in which is provided a first continuous active region arranged along a first axis parallel to a vertical abutment edge for positioning adjacent other cell blocks to form a vertical abutment, including non-standard, standard, and modified cell blocks. The structure provided within the modified abutment region improves a structural and device density match between the modified cell block and the adjacent cell block, thereby reducing the need for white space between vertically adjacent cell blocks and reducing the total device area and increasing cell density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-Yu Lu, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Li-Chun Tien, Pin-Dai Sue, Yi-Hsin Ko
  • Patent number: 11150551
    Abstract: A computer-readable medium includes a program code that, when executed by a processing circuitry, causes the processing circuitry to divide a layout of a semiconductor chip into a plurality of patches, generate a plurality of segments from a layout of each of the plurality of patches, wherein a first patch of the plurality of patches includes first segments and a second patch of the plurality of patches includes second segments, calculate hash values respectively corresponding to the first segments and the second segments by using a hash function, calculate bias values of segments having a first hash value from among the first segments, calculate a representative value based on the bias values, and apply the representative value to the segments having the first hash value from among the first segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heungsuk Oh, Joobyoung Kim, Sanghun Kim, Guk Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11151297
    Abstract: A method includes positioning adjacent first through fourth active regions in a cell of an IC layout diagram, the first active region being a first type of an n-type or a p-type and corresponding to a first total number of fins, the second active region being a second type of the n-type or the p-type and corresponding to a second total number of fins, the third active region being the second type and corresponding to a third total number of fins, and the fourth active region being the first type and corresponding to a fourth total number of fins. Each of the first and second total numbers of fins is greater than each of the third and fourth total numbers of fins, and at least one of the positioning the first, second, third, or fourth active regions is performed by a processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Po-Chia Lai, Ming-Chang Kuo, Jerry Chang Jui Kao, Wei-Ling Chang, Wei-Ren Chen, Hui-Zhong Zhuang, Stefan Rusu, Lee-Chung Lu
  • Patent number: 11137690
    Abstract: A method to improve a lithographic process for imaging a portion of a patterning device pattern onto a substrate using a lithographic projection having an illumination system and projection optics, the method including: (1) obtaining a simulation model that models projection of radiation by the projection optics, wherein the simulation model models an effect of an obscuration in the projection optics, and configuring, based on the model, the portion of the patterning device pattern, and/or (2) obtaining a simulation model that models projection of radiation by the projection optics, wherein the simulation model models an anamorphic demagnification of radiation by the projection optics, and configuring, based on the model, the portion of the patterning device pattern taking into account an anamorphic manufacturing rule or anamorphic manufacturing rule ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Duan-Fu Stephen Hsu
  • Patent number: 11113445
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology relate to techniques of hotspot detection. Pinching-type hotspot candidates and bridging-type hotspot candidates are first identified in the layout design based on predetermined criteria. Simulation is then performed to derive aerial image intensity values for a plurality of sites on each of the pinching-type and bridging-type hotspot candidates. Pinching-type hotspots are determined from the pinching-type hotspot candidates based on one or more machine learning models for pinching-type hotspots, and bridging-type hotspots are determined from the bridging-type hotspot candidates based on one or more machine learning models for bridging-type hotspots. The input vector for the machine learning models is the aerial image intensity values for the plurality of sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Industry Software Inc.
    Inventors: Jea Woo Park, Juan Andres Torres Robles
  • Patent number: 11092885
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes randomly placing a plurality of standard cells from a library in which the standard cells are pre-stored, designing an interconnection pattern in which the standard cells are connected randomly to each other, connecting the standard cells according to the interconnection pattern to generate a virtual layout, performing an optical proximity correction operation on the virtual layout using an optical proximity correction (OPC) model, and forming and verifying a mask corresponding to the virtual layout on which the optical proximity correction operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Inventors: Akio Misaka, Noyoung Chung, Woonhyuk Choi
  • Patent number: 11086230
    Abstract: A method for optimization to increase lithographic apparatus throughput for a patterning process is described. The method includes providing a baseline dose for an EUV illumination and an initial pupil configuration, associated with a lithographic apparatus. The baseline dose and the initial pupil configuration are configured for use with a dose anchor mask pattern and a corresponding dose anchor target pattern for setting an illumination dose for corresponding device patterns of interest. The method includes biasing the dose anchor mask pattern relative to the dose anchor target pattern; determining an acceptable lower dose for the biased dose anchor mask pattern and the initial pupil configuration; unbiasing the dose anchor mask pattern relative to the dose anchor target pattern; and determining a changed pupil configuration and a mask bias for the device patterns of interest based on the acceptable lower dose and the unbiased dose anchor mask pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Duan-Fu Stephen Hsu, Jingjing Liu
  • Patent number: 11042687
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to lithographic apparatuses and processes, and more particularly to tools for optimizing illumination sources and masks for use in lithographic apparatuses and processes. According to certain aspects, the present disclosure significantly speeds up the convergence of the optimization by allowing direct computation of gradient of the cost function. According to other aspects, the present disclosure allows for simultaneous optimization of both source and mask, thereby significantly speeding the overall convergence. According to still further aspects, the present disclosure allows for free-form optimization, without the constraints required by conventional optimization techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Luoqi Chen, Jun Ye, Yu Cao
  • Patent number: 11023648
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for pattern matching and classification are disclosed. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method of performing pattern matching according to a puzzle-matching the methodology includes analyzing an original source layout pattern and determining a signature for the original source layout pattern. A target layout is scanned to search for one or more portions of the target layout that have a signature that matches or is similar to the signature of the original source pattern. Similar patterns are searched based on a signature comparison of the source pattern and the target layout. In some examples of the disclosed technology, it is possible to match partial context to the original source pattern. In some examples, matches can be made in the target layout for different orientations of layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Industry Software Inc.
    Inventors: Jia-Tze Huang, Jonathan James Muirhead
  • Patent number: 11017145
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed are directed to systems and methods for modifying an electronic circuit design. According to embodiments, the method includes generating a circuit element of an electronic circuit layout on a graphical user interface, and generating an array group including a plurality of circuit elements. Each cell of the array group includes the same circuit element, and the array group is generated such that a change in at least one attribute of the array group is applied to each circuit element of the plurality of circuit elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashwani Kumar Sanwal, Vandana Gupta, Devendra Deshpande
  • Patent number: 11010529
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices are described herein for integrated circuit (IC) layout validation. A plurality of IC patterns are collected which include a first set of patterns capable of being manufactured and a second set of patterns incapable of being manufactured. A machine learning model is trained using the plurality of IC patterns. The machine learning model generates a prediction model for validating IC layouts. The prediction model receives data including a set of test patterns comprising scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of IC patterns. Design violations associated with an IC layout are determined based on the SEM images and the plurality of IC patterns. A summary of the design violations is provided for further characterization of the IC layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Rachid Salik, Chin-Chang Hsu, Cheng-Chi Wu, Chien-Wen Chen, Wen-Ju Yang
  • Patent number: 11010525
    Abstract: A search engine receives data describing reference geometry and generates a hash based on the reference geometry. A reference bloom filter is generated for the reference geometry based on the hash. The search engine performs a search to determine whether instances of the reference geometry are present in an integrated circuit (IC) layout. The search includes comparing the reference bloom filter with each one of a plurality of bloom filters corresponding to a plurality of subdomains of the IC layout. Based on results of the comparison, one or more subdomains of interest are identified and searched to determine whether the particular reference geometry is present in the subdomain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Bikram Baidya, John A. Swanson, Prasad N. Atkar, Vivek K. Singh, Aswin Sreedhar
  • Patent number: 10990002
    Abstract: Methods of semiconductor device fabrication are provided. In an embodiment, a method of semiconductor device fabrication includes receiving a first mask design comprising a first mask function, determining a transmission cross coefficient (TCC) of an exposure tool, decomposing the TCC into a plurality orders of eigenvalues and a plurality orders of eigenfunctions, calculating a kernel based on the plurality orders of eigenvalues and the plurality orders of eigenfunctions; and determining a first sub-resolution assist feature (SRAF) seed map by convoluting the first mask function and the kernel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Yamazoe, Junjiang Lei, Danping Peng
  • Patent number: 10977418
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including: first, second and third active regions a first gate structure over the first active region and a first part of the second active region; a second gate structure over the third active region and a second part of the second active region; a first cell region including the first gate structure, the first active region and the first part of the second active region; a second cell region including the second gate structure, the third active region and the second part of the second active region; a first border region representing an overlap of the first and second cell regions which is substantially aligned with an approximate midline of the second active region; the second gate structure overlapping the first border region; and there being a first gap which is between the first gate structure and the first border region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Sheng-Hsiung Chen, Fong-Yuan Chang, Ho Che Yu
  • Patent number: 10949601
    Abstract: A method for reducing chemo-epitaxy directed-self assembly (DSA) defects of a layout of a guiding pattern, the method comprising expanding a shape of the guiding pattern by a predetermined distance in both lateral directions to form a fin keep mask, where the fin keep mask comprises a stand-alone mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael A. Guillorn, Kafai Lai, Chi-Chun Liu, Ananthan Raghunathan, Hsinyu Tsai
  • Patent number: 10922472
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided as follows. A mask layout for forming a target pattern of a multi-height cell including a rectangular notch is generated. A preliminary rectangular mask pattern corresponding to the rectangular notch is detected from the mask layout. The multi-height cell is formed of standard cells arranged and connected to each other in a direction and the rectangular notch is disposed between two adjacent standard cells. A hexagonal mask pattern is, in response to the detecting of the preliminary rectangular mask pattern, placed on at least one short side of the preliminary rectangular mask pattern to generate a combined mask pattern. An outer boundary of the combined mask pattern remains in the mask layout and corresponds to the rectangular notch of the target pattern. A target mask and the semiconductor device are formed based on the combined mask pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myoung-ho Kang, Jae-myoung Lee
  • Patent number: 10915690
    Abstract: Methods and systems for performing an electronic design. A layout of a via of an electronic design is obtained and a determination is made if the layout of the via satisfies one or more retargeting conditions, at least one of the retargeting conditions being that a first edge of a metal line is within a specified distance from a first edge of the via and a second edge of the metal line is within the specified distance from a second edge of the via, the first edge of the metal line being parallel to the first edge of the via and the second edge of the metal line being parallel to the second edge of the via; and reducing a resistance of the via by the layout of the via is retargeted in response to the retargeting conditions being satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Dongbing Shao, Yongan Xu, Shyng-Tsong Chen, Zheng Xu
  • Patent number: 10885262
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a design verification system is provided that is configured to perform actions for ensuring fabricability of a segmented design. The design verification system searches a proposed segmented design for a paintbrush pattern to determine a positive paintbrush loss, and searches for an inverse paintbrush pattern to determine a negative paintbrush loss. The design verification system combines the positive paintbrush loss and the negative paintbrush loss to obtain a total paintbrush loss that indicates whether or not the proposed segmented design is fabricable. If the total paintbrush loss indicates that the proposed segmented design is not fabricable, the design verification system updates the proposed segmented design based on a gradient of the total paintbrush loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Brian Adolf, Jesse Lu, Martin Schubert
  • Patent number: 10852635
    Abstract: A photolithography model used in an optical proximity correction process modifies an image output intensity of a point disposed along a two dimensional plane and having coordinates (x,y) in accordance with a gradient of a convolution of a mask value at the point and a sampling pattern function selected at the point. The sampling pattern function includes, in part, a first subset of sampling patterns and a second subset of sampling patterns. The first subset of sampling patterns includes first and second nodes. The second subset of sampling patterns include first and second antinodes. The gradient of the convolution of the mask value and the first and second nodes of the first subset are scaled by a first coefficient. The gradient of the convolution of the mask value and the first and second antinodes of the second subset are scaled by a second coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SYNOPSYS, INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Chieh Kuo, Jensheng Huang, Lawrence S. Melvin, III
  • Patent number: 10853545
    Abstract: Devices, methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and other embodiments are described for automatic gate-level functional safety (FS) analysis and associated circuit design operations. One embodiment involves accessing register transfer level (RTL) design data, and accessing a set of FS data associated with an initial circuit design describing one or more failure modes associated with a plurality of circuit elements, an associated FS design criterion for each failure mode of the one or more failure modes, and one or more associations between the plurality of circuit elements and the one or more failure modes. The embodiment then involves generating a gate-level netlist using the RTL design data, mapping the one or more associations between the plurality of circuit elements from the RTL design data and the one or more failure modes to the gate-level netlist, and generating an updated set of FS data using the mapping of the one or more associations to the gate-level netlist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alessandra Nardi, Francesco Lertora, Antonino Armato, Deepak Soi
  • Patent number: 10852648
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a mask pattern correction system includes the following configuration. A stress analysis circuitry divides a layout of a circuit pattern formed using a design mask formed in accordance with mask design data into correction regions, and acquires a displacement amount from the regions. A correction value calculation circuitry calculates a displacement correction value from the displacement amount. A correction map generation circuitry generates a correction map based on a correction value difference of the displacement correction values. A mask position correction circuitry allocates the regions to a layout of the circuit pattern, performs displacement correction of a mask pattern on the design mask by the displacement correction values, and creates a correction mask based on the displacement correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Hino, Hiromitsu Mashita, Masahiro Miyairi, Hiroshi Yoshimura, Taiga Uno, Sachiyo Ito, Shinichirou Ooki, Kenji Shiraishi, Hirotaka Ichikawa, Yuto Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10816893
    Abstract: A method for correction of an optical proximity effect, comprising: parsing and dividing the periphery of a design pattern to obtain segments to process; for a segment having a corner comprising a segment side (101) and an adjacent side (102) forming a corner relation with the segment side, setting a target point according to the following principle: when the length of the adjacent side (102) is greater than a preset length, the target point is set at the location of the outer end point (104) of the segment side; when the length of the adjacent side (102) is less than or equal to the preset length, the target point is set between the vertex (103) of the corner and the outer end point (104) of the segment side, and the less the length of the adjacent side (102), the further the target point from the location of the outer end point (104); and adjusting, according to a simulation difference of the target point, the design pattern until it conforms to a design target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CSMC TECHNOLOGIES FAB2 CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jinyin Wan
  • Patent number: 10812079
    Abstract: An integrated circuit system-on-chip (SOC) includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of components made up of transistors formed in the substrate, and a plurality of interconnection lines providing electrical connectivity among the components. Use of a channel-less design eliminates interconnection channels on the top surface of the chip. Instead, interconnection lines are abutted to one another in a top layer of metallization, thus preserving 5-10% of chip real estate. Clock buffers that are typically positioned along interconnection channels between components are instead located within regions of the substrate that contain the components. Design rules for channel-less integrated circuits permit feed-through interconnections and exclude multi-fanout interconnections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chetan Bisht, Harry Scrivener, III
  • Patent number: 10769346
    Abstract: Disclosed is an approach for implementing placement for an electronic design, where when a dragged object is moved into a desired area, existing objects in that location are automatically moved as necessary in correspondence to the movement of the dragged object. Existing objects are only moved if they are causing a spacing violation or overlap with the dragged object being moved, either directly or indirectly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Yu, Hui Xu, Karun Sharma, Sandipan Ghosh
  • Patent number: 10699950
    Abstract: A method of tailoring BEOL RC parametrics to improve chip performance. According to the method, an integrated circuit design on an integrated circuit chip is analyzed. The analysis comprises calculating Vmax for vias and metal lines in the integrated circuit design over a range of sizes for the vias and the metal lines. Predicted use voltage for applications on the integrated circuit chip is determined. The size or the location of at least one of the vias and the metal lines is tailored based on performance parameters of the integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ELPIS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Baozhen Li, Kirk D. Peterson, John E. Sheets, II, Terry A. Spooner
  • Patent number: 10691869
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology relate to techniques of pattern-based resolution enhancement. Surrounding areas for a plurality of geometric layout elements in a layout design are partitioned into geometric space elements. The plurality of geometric layout elements and the geometric space elements are grouped, through pattern classification, into geometric layout element groups and geometric space element groups, respectively. Optical proximity correction is performed for each of the geometric layout element groups and sub-resolution assist feature insertion is performed for each of the geometric space element groups. The results are applied to the plurality of geometric layout elements and the geometric space elements in the layout design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Mentor Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Ahmed Abouelseoud, Sherif Hany Riad Mohammed Mousa, Jonathan James Muirhead
  • Patent number: 10671786
    Abstract: A mask layout is received. An interaction-free mask model is applied to the mask layout. An edge interaction model is applied to the mask layout. The edge interaction model describes an influence due to a plurality of combinations of two or more edges interacting with one another. A thin mask model is applied to the mask layout. A near field is determined based on the applying of the interaction-free mask model, the applying of the edge interaction model, and the applying of the thin mask model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Jen Lai, Xin Zhou, Danping Peng
  • Patent number: 10606165
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a mask pattern verification method includes: calculating mask pattern data; calculating an optical image and a resist image; calculating a first feature amount and a second feature amount, using a plurality of algorithms; in each of the plurality of algorithms, comparing the first feature amount with a first threshold, and detecting a critical point candidate in a first pattern; in each of the plurality of algorithms, comparing the second feature amount with a second threshold, and detecting a critical point in the first pattern; and selecting at least one of the plurality of algorithms, and displaying a detection result of the critical point corresponding to a selected algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: TOSHIBA MEMORY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yayori Toriu, Masanari Kajiwara, Fumiharu Nakajima