# US 8,788,980 B2 · Method for checking die seal ring on layout and computer system

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- Number: US 8,788,980 B2
- Document ID: US8788980B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/951,095
- Filed: 2013-07-25
- Published: 2013-12-05
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2012-06-04
- Assignees: United Microelectronics Corp.
- Applicants: United Microelectronics Corp.
- Inventors: Jui-Yun Chang; Jian-Cheng Chen; I-Jen Kao; Chih-Wei Hsu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788980B2

## CPC

- G06F 30/398: Design verification or optimisation, e.g. using design rule check [DRC], layout versus schematics [LVS] or finite element methods [FEM] (optical proximity correction [OPC] design processes G03F1/36)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

The invention is directed to a method for checking a die seal ring on a layout. The method comprises steps of receiving a digital database of a layout corresponding to at least a device with a text information corresponding to the layout. Tape-out information corresponding to the layout is received. A checking process is performed according to the digital database of the layout and the tape-out information and, meanwhile, a mask design procedure for designing a mask pattern corresponding to the layout is performed by using the digital database of the layout, the text information and the tape-out information. A result of the checking process is recorded in an inspection table corresponding to the layout.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for checking a die seal ring on a layout, comprising executing, by a computer, steps of:
receiving a digital database of a layout corresponding to at least a device with a text information corresponding to the layout and receiving a tape-out information corresponding to the layout;
after receiving the tape-out information corresponding to the layout, performing a checking process according to the digital database of the layout and the tape-out information; and
recording a result of the checking process, wherein the result of the checking process comprises a double-die-seal-ring check result, a missing-die-seal-ring check result or an OK die-seal-ring check result;
after the step of performing the checking process, further comprising: when the result of the checking process is the double-die-seal-ring check result or the missing-die-seal-ring check result, issuing an alarm indicating the result of the checking process.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the text information explains the digital database of the layout.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the tape-out information reveals at least a customer demand for the mask pattern corresponding to the layout which is necessary for designing the mask pattern in the mask design procedure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of performing the checking process further comprises:
performing an analyzing process on the digital database of the layout by referring to the text information to obtain a die seal ring information corresponding to the device; and
checking the die seal ring information corresponding to the device with the tape-out information.

### Claim 5

A computer system, comprising:
a receiver for receiving a digital database of a layout corresponding to at least a device with a text information corresponding to the layout and receiving a tape-out information corresponding to the layout;
a storage media for storing a computer readable and writable program;
a processor for executing a plurality of instructions of the computer readable and writable program, wherein the instructions comprises:
after the receiver receives the tape-out information corresponding to the layout, performing a checking process according to the digital database of the layout and the tape-out information;
recording a result of the checking process, wherein the result of the checking process comprises a double-die-seal-ring check result, a missing-die-seal-ring check result or an OK die-seal-ring check result; and
a transmitter for transmitting an alarm indicating the result of the checking process when the result of the checking process is the double-die-seal-ring check result or the missing-die-seal-ring check result.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The computer system of claim 5, wherein the text information explains the digital database of the layout.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The computer system of claim 5, wherein the tape-out information reveals at least a customer demand for the mask pattern corresponding to the layout which is necessary for designing the mask pattern in the mask design procedure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The computer system of claim 5, wherein the instruction of performing the checking process comprises:
performing an analyzing process on the digital database of the layout by referring to the text information to obtain a die seal ring information corresponding to the device; and
checking the die seal ring information corresponding to the device with the tape-out information.