Method for performing full-chip manufacturing reliability checking and correction

1. A method of generating a mask for use in an imaging process, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a desired target pattern having a plurality of features to be imaged on a substrate;

(b) simulating a wafer image utilizing the target pattern and process parameters associated with a defined process so as to generate simulated imaging results;

(c) defining a plurality of feature categories;

(d) identifying features in said target pattern having said plurality of features that correspond to at least one of said plurality of feature categories, determining errors between said simulated imaging results and said target pattern for said identified features, and recording an error value for each feature identified as corresponding to one of said plurality of feature categories; and

(e) generating a statistical summary for each of said plurality of feature categories, which indicates the error value for each feature identified as corresponding to a given feature category of said plurality of feature categories.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said error value represents a difference between a location of a feature in said target pattern and the location of the same feature in said simulated wafer image.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of features in the target design are classified into at least one of said plurality of feature categories.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

(f) identifying an error tolerance for features corresponding to one of said plurality of feature categories; and

(g) determining whether any feature identified as corresponding to one of said plurality of feature categories has an error value which exceeds said error tolerance.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of performing a corrective measure for any feature identified as having an error value which exceeds said error tolerance, said corrective measure operative to reduce the error value of the corresponding feature below said error tolerance.

6. A computer program product for controlling a computer comprising a recording medium readable by the computer, means recorded on the recording medium for directing the computer to generate files corresponding to a mask for use in a lithographic imaging process, the generation of the files comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a desired target pattern having a plurality of features to be imaged on a substrate;

(b) simulating a wafer image utilizing the target pattern and process parameters associated with a defined process so as to generate simulated imaging results;

(c) defining a plurality of feature categories;

(d) identifying features in said target pattern having said plurality of features that correspond to at least one of said plurality of feature categories, determining errors between said simulated imaging results and said target pattern for said identified features, and recording an error value for each feature identified as corresponding to one of said plurality of feature categories; and

(e) generating a statistical summary for each of said plurality of feature categories, which indicates the error value for each feature identified as corresponding to a given feature category of said plurality of feature categories.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein said error value represents a difference between a location of a feature in said target pattern and the location of the same feature in said simulated wafer image.

8. The computer program product of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of features in the target design are classified into at least one of said plurality of feature categories.

9. The computer program product of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

(f) identifying an error tolerance for features corresponding to one of said plurality of feature categories; and

(g) determining whether any feature identified as corresponding to one of said plurality of feature categories has an error value which exceeds said error tolerance.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising the step of performing a corrective measure for any feature identified as having an error value which exceeds said error tolerance, said corrective measure operative to reduce the error value of the corresponding feature below said error tolerance.

11. A device manufacturing method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substrate that is at least partially covered by a layer of radiation-sensitive material;

(b) providing a projection beam of radiation using an imaging system;

(c) using a pattern on a mask to endow the projection beam with a pattern in its cross- section;

(d) projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a. target portion of the layer of radiation-sensitive material,

wherein, in step (c), said mask is formed by a method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a desired target pattern having a plurality of features to be imaged on a substrate;

simulating a wafer image utilizing the target pattern and process parameters associated with a defined process so as to generate simulated imaging results;

defining a plurality of feature categories;

identifying features in said target pattern having said plurality of features that correspond to at least one of said plurality of feature categories, determining errors between said simulated imaging results and said target pattern for said identified features, and recording an error value for each feature identified as corresponding to one of said plurality of feature categories; and

generating a statistical summary for each of said plurality of feature categories, which indicates the error value for each feature identified as corresponding to a given feature category of said plurality of feature categories.