Circuit element function matching despite auto-generated dummy shapes

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a dummy shape pattern on a substrate, the dummy shape pattern having an X pitch and a Y pitch between dummy shapes within the dummy shape pattern;
• and
• a plurality of substantially identical circuit elements on the substrate, the circuit elements spaced apart an integer multiple of at least one of the X pitch and the Y pitch such that substantially similar dummy shapes are adjacent to each of the circuit elements.

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for designing an integrated circuit (IC) using a plurality of identical circuit elements, the program product comprising:

• program code configured to obtain an X pitch and a Y pitch of dummy shapes within a dummy shape pattern for an IC design;
• and
• program code configured to place the plurality of substantially identical circuit elements spaced apart an integer multiple of at least one of the X pitch and the Y pitch of dummy shapes to provide substantially similar dummy shapes adjacent to each of the circuit elements.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• a plurality of substantially identical circuit elements on a substrate, each circuit element having an area about the circuit element in which dummy shapes are substantially identical to dummy shapes about each other circuit element.