Fabric-independent multi-patterning

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing system to:

• access a set of coloring constraints to apply to geometric elements of a circuit design without accessing a fabric layer that defines a layout of the geometric elements of the circuit design, the set of coloring constraints applicable to multi-patterning the geometric elements of the circuit design to support manufacture of circuit layers using multiple manufacturing steps;
• and
• perform, independent of the fabric layer, a pattern coloring process according to the set of coloring constraints to determine a color assignment for each geometric element of the geometric elements of the circuit design.

A system comprising:

• a coloring constraint access engine configured to access a set of coloring constraints to apply to geometric elements of a circuit design without accessing a fabric layer that defines a layout of the geometric elements of the circuit design, the set of coloring constraints applicable to multi-patterning the geometric elements of the circuit design to support manufacture of circuit layers using multiple manufacturing steps;
• and
• a fabric-independent multi-patterning engine configured to perform, independent of the fabric layer, a pattern coloring process according to the set of coloring constraints to determine a color assignment for each geometric element of the geometric elements of the circuit design.