HIGH PERFORMANCE DESIGN RULE CHECKING TECHNIQUE

摘要

Roughly described, a design rule data set is developed offline from the design rules of a target fabrication process. A design rule checking method involves traversing the corners of shapes in a layout region, and for each corner, populating a layout topology database with values that depend on respective corner locations. After the layout topology database is populated, the values are compared to values in the design rule data set to detect any design rule violations. Violations can be reported in real time, while the user is manually editing the layout. Preferably corner traversal is performed using scan lines oriented perpendicularly to edge orientations, and scanning in the direction of the edge orientations. Scans stop only at corner positions and populate the layout topology database with what information can be gleaned based on the current scan line. The different scans need not reach each corner simultaneously.

主权项

1. A method for checking a set of layout design rules on a region of an integrated circuit layout, the layout including a plurality of shapes each having shape corners at respective locations in the layout, the method comprising:
a computer system traversing a plurality of shape corners of shapes in the region; for each particular one of the traversed shape corners, the computer system populating a layout topology database with an association between (1) an identification of the particular shape corner and (2) one or more particular values which depend upon the particular shape corner location; the computer system comparing values in the layout topology database to values in a design rule data set which is accessible to the computer system, to detect any violations of design rules in the set of design rules; and where a design rule violation is detected, reporting it to a user.