Beyond rule-based physical verification

Wolfgang Hoppe; Thomas Roessler; J. Andres Torres

doi:10.1117/12.686604

20 October 2006 Beyond rule-based physical verification

Wolfgang Hoppe, Thomas Roessler, J. Andres Torres

Proceedings Volume 6349, Photomask Technology 2006; 63494X (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.686604
Event: SPIE Photomask Technology, 2006, Monterey, California, United States

Abstract

For advanced technology nodes, a large amount of effort must be spent to optimize area critical full-custom layouts with respect to their manufacturability. Due to the strong irregularity and two-dimensionality of these layouts, it appears impossible to fully capture the corresponding complex requirements with design rules in order to be able to perform a rule-based physical verification in form of a "design rule check" (DRC). Alternative approaches have to be found and one of them is presented in this paper. The complexity of the DRC can be significantly reduced for rules focused on process aspects. Those rules can be replaced by a "simulation rule check" (SRC), where at first process simulations (like e.g. lithography) are done and then a set of straightforward rules is applied to geometrical entities representing the simulation output instead of the layout geometry. Thus, this new set of rules works more directly on the core of the matter. The "litho-friendly design environment" (LFD) provided by Mentor Graphics offers the tools for this approach. The SRC includes intra-layer checks like area, width, and space checks as well as interlayer checks, such as overlap. To the physical designer, SRC violations are presented in a DRC like fashion, including error scoring and classification. This paper will demonstrate the application of LFD and highlight the usability of this infrastructure for layout optimization using an SRC for physical verification.

Citation Download Citation

Wolfgang Hoppe, Thomas Roessler, and J. Andres Torres "Beyond rule-based physical verification", Proc. SPIE 6349, Photomask Technology 2006, 63494X (20 October 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.686604

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