Systems and methods for patterning color assignment

1. A method for multi-patterning in layout design data, comprising:

receiving a coloring rule by a computer system;

applying the coloring rule to the layout design data in order to identify a unique uncolored geometric element corresponding to the rule, by the computer system;

when the applied rule did not identify the unique uncolored geometric element corresponding to the rule, repeat the receiving and applying processes with a different coloring rule in order to identify the unique uncolored geometric element; and

when the applied rule did identify the unique uncolored geometric element corresponding to the rule, assigning a patterning color to the unique uncolored geometric element, by the computer system.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving, applying, and assigning processes are repeated until all geometric elements in at least a predetermined portion of the layout design data have been assigned a patterning color.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving, applying, and assigning processes are repeated until a stopping criterion is met.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising propagating patterning coloring assignments through other uncolored geometric elements that are connected to the unique uncolored geometric element directly or indirectly by coloring constraints.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the coloring rule is one of:

identify an uncolored anchor geometric element;

identify an uncolored geometric element nearest to a hotspot;

identify an uncolored geometric element nearest to a center of mass/gravity of the design layout; or

identify an uncolored geometric element nearest to a specific already-colored element in the layout.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each time the receiving process is performed, a different coloring rule is used in a predetermined order.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the assigned patterning colors with the layout design data.

8. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

an accessible memory, the data processing system configured to receive a coloring rule;

apply the coloring rule to the layout design data in order to identify a unique uncolored geometric element corresponding to the rule;

when the applied rule did not identify the unique uncolored geometric element corresponding to the rule, repeat the receiving and applying processes with a different coloring rule in order to identify the unique uncolored geometric element; and

when the applied rule did identify the unique uncolored geometric element corresponding to the rule, assign a patterning color to the unique uncolored geometric element.

9. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the receiving, applying, and assigning processes are repeated until all geometric elements in at least a predetermined portion of the layout design data have been assigned a patterning color.

10. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the receiving, applying, and assigning processes are repeated until a stopping criterion is met.

11. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the data processing system is further configured to propagate patterning coloring assignments through other uncolored geometric elements that are connected to the unique uncolored geometric element directly or indirectly by coloring constraints.

12. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the coloring rule is one of:

identify an uncolored anchor geometric element;

identify an uncolored geometric element nearest to a hotspot;

identify an uncolored geometric element nearest to a center of mass/gravity of the design layout; or

identify an uncolored geometric element nearest to a specific already-colored element in the layout.

13. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein each time the receiving process is performed, a different coloring rule is used in a predetermined order.

14. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the data processing system is further configured to store the assigned patterning colors with the layout design data.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing with executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more computer systems to:

receive a coloring rule;

apply the coloring rule to the layout design data in order to identify a unique uncolored geometric element corresponding to the rule;

when the applied rule did not identify the unique uncolored geometric element corresponding to the rule, repeat the receiving and applying processes with a different coloring rule in order to identify the unique uncolored geometric element; and

when the applied rule did identify the unique uncolored geometric element corresponding to the rule, assign a patterning color to the unique uncolored geometric element.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the receiving, applying, and assigning processes are repeated until all geometric elements in at least a predetermined portion of the layout design data have been assigned a patterning color.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further storing instructions to propagate patterning coloring assignments though other uncolored geometric elements that connected to the unique uncolored geometric element directly or indirectly by coloring constraints.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the coloring rule is one of:

identify an uncolored anchor geometric element;

identify an uncolored geometric element nearest to a hotspot;

identify an uncolored geometric element nearest to a center of mass/gravity of the design layout; or

identify an uncolored geometric element nearest to a specific already-colored element in the layout.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein each time the receiving process is performed, a different coloring rule is used in a predetermined order.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , further storing instructions to store the assigned patterning colors with the layout design data.